Salem Film Fest Sets 2027 Dates For 20th Annual Documentary Festival

SALEM, MA — Salem Film Fest organizers have announced dates for its 20th annual documentary film festival in 2027.

The largest documentary film festival in New England is set for March 18 through March 21. and will feature feature-length films, shorts programs, filmmaker Q&As, musical performances, and live events designed to connect audiences with visiting filmmakers.

Screenings are planned at the Peabody Essex Museum, Cinema Salem, the Salem Armory Regional Visitor Center and Salem Access Television.

It will offer free community events, including Mass Reality Check and Keeping It Reel, which showcase documentary shorts created by Massachusetts college and high school students.

The festival will also host its Docs-in-Progress program, described as a professional development opportunity for New England filmmakers with documentary works-in-progress. In addition to screenings, the festival invites the community to attend happy hours, evening parties and other events with visiting filmmakers.

"I can’t tell you how excited I am to be celebrating the 20th year of Salem Film Fest," SFF Co-Director Joe Ferrari said. "I'm eager to work with our team to bring an amazing slate of documentaries and their makers to Salem to enrich the community conversation about the important issues depicted in our films."

Advanced sales of discounted five- and 10-ticket packs will begin Friday, Nov. 27, here and will continue through the end of 2026. The full film program is expected to be unveiled online and at a special event in late February at Cinema Salem.

Ten awards are planned for SFF 2027, including the Special Jury Award and Award for Journalism, both of which include cash prizes, according to the announcement. The festival also said it will present the American Cinematographer Magazine Award, awarded by Editor-in-Chief Stephen Pizzello, along with the Audience Award, the Cultrera Cuts Edit Award, the Best Short Award and awards tied to its student documentary competitions.

A new award will be unveiled for the 20th anniversary in remembrance of Beki Ferrari.