Newburyport Documentary Film Festival

The 21st Newburyport Documentary Film Festival (NBPT DOCU FEST) To Feature More Than 30 Films and Free Events From Local, National, and International Filmmakers September 26-28, 2025 Each September, the seaside hamlet of Newburyport comes alive, uniting filmmakers and audiences to celebrate this truly original American form of narrative storytelling. The 21st version of the NBPT DOCU FEST (September 26-28, 2025) will feature over 30 films from local, regional, national, and international filmmakers. Since the first recognized documentary over 100 years ago (1922’s Nanook of the North), audiences have enjoyed and learned about multiple perspectives on human life. Documentaries provide the world with a deeper understanding of past events and offer a glimpse into what we might face. In Support of Emerging Talent – The YES Award NBPT DOCU FEST launched the YES Award (Young Emerging-Filmmakers Showcase) in 2021, creating a platform celebrating new and emerging filmmakers. The YES Award is a juried competition, with a $1,000 first prize, within the festival’s in-person forum. The YES program features films showcasing the work of current and recent graduates from over 50 colleges and universities nationwide, perhaps their first opportunity to present their work to the general public.