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&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&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 & 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&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 & Devotees,” directed by four-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Harpreet Kaur, will screen on Saturday, October 3, at the Showroom followed by a Q&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&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.