OUR SIGNATURE PROGRAMS
of original and live events. Read about our one-of-a-kind Signature Programs below.
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Screenwriters Tribute
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Garden Events
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Late Night Storytelling
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In Their Shoes®
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Comedy Roundtable
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Live Podcast Taping
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Morning Coffee With ...®
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Staged Readings
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Talks
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Free Community Events
Screenwriters Tribute
The Nantucket Film Festival’s most esteemed awards recognize writers and filmmakers from film and television for their significant contributions to the art of storytelling. These honors are presented annually during the film festival at a gala celebration.
SCREENWRITERS TRIBUTE AWARD
The Screenwriters Tribute Award is the highest honor presented by the Festival. Established in 1998, this award honors an individual whose history in screenwriting has made a distinct impact on American cinema. The Screenwriters Tribute Award is not a “lifetime achievement” award, but rather an acknowledgment of the indelible mark these artists have made on the hearts and minds of people all over the world through their writing for the screen. These writers link us to our past and provide a glimpse into our future.
EXCELLENCE IN TELEVISION WRITING AWARD
In 2015, the Nantucket Film Festival created a new honor to recognize writing for the “small” screen. But there’s nothing small about the achievements we hope to commend with this award: television and episodic writing holds a deep and increasingly profound place in American cultural life, even as the very definitions of what “screenwriting” means changes and the mediums by which people experience “television” are constantly shifting. What remains timeless, though, are the gifts of a great storyteller. This award celebrates those artists whose vision and passion keep us watching episode after episode.
NEW VOICES IN SCREENWRITING AWARD
Every once in a while, a writer bursts onto the independent film scene, making noise with a combination of an already recognizable style and a compelling yet fresh take on a genre or tried-and-true narrative, and since 2010, we’ve been shining the spotlight on these exciting new talents with this honor. These screenwriters think outside the box and still manage to engage audiences, critics, and the industry alike.
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT IN NON-FICTION + FICTION FILMMAKING AWARD
Some of today’s most gifted cinematic storytellers work outside of scripted characters and plots. We honor these non-fiction filmmakers with our Special Achievement in Filmmaking + Storytelling. When it comes to imagination, scope, and heart, these directors more than equal their “fiction” colleagues. The greatest filmmakers in the non-fiction realm strive for a discerning fidelity to reality while simultaneously staying true to their instincts as a storyteller. What emerges are works that audiences will continue to cherish for decades to come.
COMPASS ROSE AWARD FOR CAREER ACHIEVEMENT
The Compass Rose Award Career Achievement recognizes the work of an outstanding artist whose contribution to the world of acting has been profound and served as an inspiration to writers to create new material. Though this prestigious awards was created to recognize actors, we also celebrate the individual’s entire body of work as directors, producers, writers and beyond.
Garden Events
Born out of the pandemic in 2020, our Garden Series has become a beloved staple of the film festival. Conversations, screenings and events are held in the gardens of private homes all over the island, set to cocktails and canapés.
Past Highlights include: Ruth Reichl + The Politics of Food, Late Night Storytelling, Screenwriters Roundtable, Summer of Soul (…or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised, Queen of Beach Reads with Elin Hilderbrand, The Making of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel with Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, Breaking Loose – Conversation and Music with Kelsey Grammer and Rachel Winter
Late Night Storytelling
Is a festival favorite marquee event, where NFF welcomes a group of handpicked storytellers who share 5 to 10-minute lively stories centered around a theme. These stories are told and performed in front of our audiences with no scripts. They are personal, funny, and sad, and make for an unforgettable evening. The evening includes cocktails and nibbles. The very funny Ophira Eisenberg has served as host since 2015.
Memorable Storytellers include Ben Stiller, Anne Mera, Brian Williams, Fred Willard, Peter Farrelly, Mike Birbiglia, Michael Ian Black, Kristen Schall, Sarah Silverman, and so many more …
In Their Shoes®
Each year NFF® hosts in-depth conversations with a noted screenwriters, actors, or directors, providing our audience a rare glimpse into the life and work of these living legends.
Memorable conversations include Steve Martin, Charlie Kaufman, Spike Jonze, Glenn Close, Molly Shannon, Nancy Meyers, Oliver Stone, Barry Levinson, and last years conversation between Joan Baez and Maureen Orth.
Comedy Roundtable
The insightful, inspiring, and hilarious All-Star Comedy Roundtable is forever favorite signature program with the leading talents in comedy. Led by a moderator, these comedic legends reveal what goes on behind the scenes as they talk about their writing, directing, and performing.
Memorable roundtables included comedy greats like Jim Carey, Jerry Seinfeld, Aziz Ansari, Sarah Silverman, Mike Meyers, Bridget Everett, Andy Sandberg, Seth Meyers, Bill Hader, Thomas Middleditch, Ben Schwartz, Jenny Slate, Chris Rock, Whitney Cummings, and Ben Stiller.
Live Podcast Taping
Take a chance to step inside the live studio of some of the most hilarious, insightful and popular podcasts around. Our first live-taping began in 2018 with the NPR’s much loved Ask Me Another® and continued in 2019 with Little Known Facts with Ilana Levine and Leslie Dixon.
Morning Coffee With ...®
What better way to spend your mornings than with the most talented writers, actors, directors, and producers in the film industry over a cup of coffee? Start your Festival day with this beloved Festival program, a panel conversation with our filmmakers in the beautiful garden of the Sister Ship restaurant. Tea and assorted pastries provided.
Staged Readings
Come hear new screenplays from emerging and noted screenwriters alike. Actors read from screenplays that are works-in-progress. The audience and the writers will share the opportunity to witness an actor’s first impulse when exposed to the written word.
Past readings include HOWARD BEACH (written by John Turturro), BOB FISHER’S MY ROOMMATE (written by Spencer Sloan), STRANGE CALLS (written by Donick Cary), THE LOST CAUSE (written by Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor), SPECTACLE, PART ONE OF THE MARK ROSEN CHRONICLES (written by Stacy Weiss and Dan Chariton), A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES (written by Steven Soderbergh and Scott Kramer), LOVE-40 (written by Warren Leight) DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE (written by Frank Novak), PEACE, LOVE & WAR (written by Pete Nelson)
Past casts include Lake Bell, Mike Birbiglia, Tom Cavanagh, Donick Cary, Macaulay Culkin, Rory Culkin, Alan Cumming, Mos Def, Will Ferrell, Dave Foley, Heather Graham, David Krumholtz, Robert Sean Leonard, Rosie Perez, Stephen Root, Paul Rudd, Winona Ryder, Amy Sedaris, Cara Seymour, Alice Smith, Ben Stiller, John Turturro, Chris Matthews, Steven Weber, Fred Willard, Damian Young, Steve Zahn
TALKS
Over the years, we have held many different forms of conversations, panels and talks. This includes many memorable Screenings & Talks, our since retired Tea Talks, and TV and Talks, and our festival favorite, Morning Coffee With…®. We’ve also continuously returned to exciting panel conversations such as Women Behind The Words and Deep Dives.
Memorable past talks have included TV and Talks with Severance, The Keepers; Afternoon Tea Talks with Gabourey Sidibe, Gillian Jacobs, and Lake Bell; Deep Dive Conversations with Lynn Novick; Women Behind the Words panels with Nicole Holofcener, Allison Williams, Michaela Watkins and Ophira Eisenberg; Screenings and Talks like Learning to Live with Sharks and Native American (Mis)Representation.
Free Community Events
The Nantucket Film Festival could not be made possible without the local island community; these free events strive to celebrate and give back with special guests, activities and giveaways!
Memorable community events have included our #RisingAbove Art Installation in partnership with ReMain, the Skate Jam at the Nantucket Skatepark, a Free Book Signing and Conversation with Jenny Han and Lola Tung, Surf Clinics, Free Beach Screenings – La Bamba – 30th Anniversary (NFF 2017), The Princess Bride (NFF 2006), Jeep Rides Around Nantucket, Roxanne and A Lunchtime Conversation: The Art of Comedy Writing with Bobby Farrelly, Jim Taylor, Andrew Wilson, Luke Wilson and Owen Wilson, and Island Baseball Games!