SHOWROOM

The Monadnock International Film Festival (MONIFF) returns to Keene for its fourteenth annual festival with an expanded slate of 100+ features and shorts. The 2026 festival will take place October 2-4 in downtown Keene at the Showroom, Keene Public Library, Birdies, Brewbakers/Nova Arts, and, for the first time, the Cheshire County Historical Society. The 10-day virtual program runs from October 6-15.
The films will fall into the following tracks: foreign films, regional and local films, and social issue films. They showcase compelling stories from around the world, including France, Austria, China, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Bermuda, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Switzerland, and Italy. Films dealing with poverty, the criminalization of people experiencing homelessness, the current political climate, and voting rights will be screened, followed by Q&amp;A discussions with guest filmmakers. Academy Award winner Ernest Thompson (On Golden Pond) and Emmy winner Gordon Clapp, with Lisa Bostnar, star in “The Constituent,” a sharp, funny tale of a prolific letter writer who gets a (not so) friendly visit from the recipient of his ire, a United States Senator. Q&amp;A follows, moderated by Dan White of Florentine Films.
A festival highlight is the Jonathan Daniels awards ceremony on Saturday night. In honor of Keene’s Civil Rights hero, this annual award is given to a filmmaker whose film combines artistic excellence with awareness of a social justice issue. In partnership with Monadnock Grown, this year’s award will go to the documentary “Fork in the Road,” which celebrated its World Premiere at the Sonoma International Film Festival and is a Redford Center-supported film screened at the Climate Film Festival in NYC. Co-directed by Vivian Sorenson and Jonathan Nastasi, with narration by Nick Offerman, the film follows small farmers, visionary chefs, and innovators working to heal the land, improve our food systems, and transition to a regenerative future for people and the planet.

“MONIFF is committed to giving exposure to local and regional filmmakers whose films often fly under the radar while also bringing significant independent films like Adams Apple, Fork in the Road, People vs. Politics, and Tails of the Himalayas…of Dogs &amp; Devotees to the Monadnock region,” said Deirdre Fitzgerald, MONIFF board chair and festival programmer. 

Opening night at 6:00 pm at the SHOWROOM brings a special screening of “Not a Photograph: The Mission of Burma Story,” which documents the resurrection of the seminal post-punk band Mission of Burma, beginning in 2002 and continuing to the present. Following the film screening and Q&amp;A, audience members can head to NOVA ARTS/Brewbakers for a special concert featuring Roger Clark Miller, guitarist/vocalist/co-leader in the highly influential post-punk band Mission of Burma. 

“Tails of the Himalayas…of Dogs &amp; Devotees,” directed by four-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Harpreet Kaur, will screen on Saturday, October 3, at the Showroom followed by a Q&amp;A moderated by Kathy Collinsworth, Executive Director of the Monadnock Humane Society. As part of the film’s #PressForPaws campaign, local rescue dogs will walk the festival’s red carpet on Friday, October 2, starting at 5:00 pm. The documentary explores the devoted relationships between street dogs and their human caregivers in the Himalayas, capturing a moving portrait of loyalty, faith, and community resilience. Following its international premiere at the BAFTA-qualifying Carmarthen Bay Film Festival in Wales, the film is launching its U.S. festival tour to celebrate compassion and animal advocacy.


Films that highlight little-known history and the people at their center include “Transforming the Beautiful Game: The Clyde Best Story” about Bermudian teenager Clyde Best, who broke into England’s First Division Football (Soccer) and became the first Black superstar of football/soccer’s modern television era. Enduring racism while inspiring millions, Best emerged as the Jackie Robinson of English football, breaking barriers through his on-field excellence and quiet resilience. Another film, “The Last Seat in the House,” explores the life and legacy of Bill Hanley, the pioneering sound engineer known as the “Father of Festival Sound.” Hanley will join director John Kane for the Q&amp;A.


About MONIFF
Monadnock International Film Festival (MONIFF) celebrates our world’s diversity through independent films that educate, enrich, and engage audiences. Founded in 2011, MONIFF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit: moniff.org and facebook.com.

Local Event: 14th Annual Monadnock International Film Festival

Cheshire County

Keene

New Hampshire

14th Annual Monadnock International Film Festival

The Monadnock International Film Festival (MONIFF) returns to Keene for its fourteenth annual festival with an expanded slate...

New York City comes to New Hampshire this November when Nona’s Supper Club, a hilarious, heartfelt, and highly interactive new musical, makes its New Hampshire debut at the historic Flying Monkey Movie House &amp; Performance Center in Plymouth.
With only three performances - Saturday, November 21 at 2 PM and 7 PM, and Sunday, November 22 at 2 PM audiences are invited to step into the world of the Abalafia family and become part of the action as their story unfolds.
A Family. A Legacy. A Musical. You’re Invited.
Nona’s Supper Club is a comedic, campy new musical about a New York City family-owned restaurant on the brink of disaster. At the center of the story is Twyla, a determined grandchild who is trying to convince their grandmother, Millie “Nona” Abalafia, to retire and save the family business. But what begins as a seemingly straightforward plan quickly becomes complicated by long-buried secrets, romantic entanglements, family rivalries, and one very questionable chef.
The audience are invited guests at the family’s reopening celebration, interacting directly with the characters and becoming part of the evening as the family’s carefully constructed plans begin to unravel.
Rather than simply watching from the sidelines, audience members have opportunities to engage with the characters and influence the energy of the evening. The result is a lively, spontaneous theatrical experience where every performance has the potential to be a little different.
Featuring an electrifying original score ranging from infectious pop anthems to show-stopping ballads, Nona’s Supper Club is a joyous and heartfelt musical about family, identity, love, memory, and how far we’ll go to save the people — and the places — we call home.
“Heartfelt, funny, immersive, and delicious—the kind of experience that reminds you why live theatre (and family dinners) matter. We went expecting a fun evening and left feeling like family.”— Nicole Steinthal, NS Lifestyles
“A hilarious and poignant multigenerational tale of love, legacy, and letting go.” 
— New York Weekly Times
From New York City to New Hampshire
After its development and performances Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway in New York City, Nona’s Supper Club now heads north for a special limited engagement at one of New Hampshire’s most beloved historic performance spaces!

Local Event: Nona's Supper Club

Grafton County

Plymouth

Nona's Supper Club

New York City comes to New Hampshire this November when Nona’s Supper Club, a hilarious, heartfelt, and highly interactive new...

Nearby Communities

State Edition

National Edition

Events and Things to Do in Fitzwilliam, NH

Friday, October 2

14th Annual Monadnock International Film Festival

OCT

2

9:00 AM

SHOWROOM, 20 Commercial St, Keene, NH

Also around town...

Please confirm event details with the organizers before attending

Friday, October 2

Saturday, November 21

14th Annual Monadnock International Film Festival