Eastern Massachusetts film festivals to check out in 2023

Everyone knows about the Sundance and Cannes film festivals, where the year's big movies make their debuts to critics, stars and potential Oscar voters. Closer to home, though, local, specialized film festivals give movie lovers the opportunity to experience the creative output of many lesser-known, smaller-scale filmmakers.

Many festivals take place in Boston, but areas outside the city play host to a number of unique events across multiple genres, from horror and documentary to comedies and music videos. We compiled the following list of some of the film festivals scheduled to take place in Massachusetts this year; for even more options, visit the Massachusetts Film Bureau's website.

On the big screen:Strange Maynard film festival coming in May

Boston Underground Film Festival

Brattle Theater, Cambridge, March 22-26

The Boston Underground Film Festival (BUFF) has been entertaining audiences for over 20 years, celebrating "unconventional stories, idiosyncratic voices, fever dreams, nightmarish visions, and all manner of cinematic forms, in service of an audience ravenous for an annual sensory bacchanalia from beyond the mainstream," according to its website. The historic Brattle Theater has been BUFF's home since 2012.

Salem Film Festival

Salem and Beverly, March 23 to April 2

Founded in 2007 and held across two locations in Salem and two locations in Beverly, the Salem Film Festival is the state's largest international documentary film festival. This year's event will be held in a hybrid format with in person and virtual screenings alongside Q&A sessions with filmmakers and celebratory events.

Strange Maynard Independent Film Festival

Fine Arts Theater, Maynard, Saturday, May 6

A new event this year, the Strange Maynard Independent Film Festival will feature five hours of strange and bizarre short films with an emphasis on funny, creepy, weird, or all of the above. Program Director Erica Stockwell-Alpert, a filmmaker herself, said positive experiences showing her work at other local film festivals drove her to create her own.

Provincetown International Film Festival

Provincetown, June 14-18

Now in its 25th year, the Provincetown International Film Festival annually attracts over 10,000 visitors to see its lineup of over 80 features and shorts from around the world. The largest cultural event on the Lower Cape, the festival is "dedicated to showcasing new achievements in independent film and honoring the work of emerging as well as acclaimed directors, producers and actors," according to its website.

Newburyport Documentary Film Festival

Newburyport, September (dates TBD)

The Newburyport Documentary Film Festival is both an annual event in September and a year-round series of programs. Held since 2004, the festival's goal is "to present thought-provoking, high-caliber and entertaining documentary film to the vibrant cultural community of greater Newburyport," according to its website. The dates for this year's festival have yet to be announced.

Shawna Shea Memorial Film Festival

Uxbridge, Sept. 20-23

The Shawna Shea Memorial Film Festival, a multi-day program of independent, fringe cinema, marked its 10th year in 2022. The festival is in support of the Shawna Foundation, which honors the life of the festival's namesake, who died in a car crash in 1999; it seeks to "support and showcase artists in filmmaking, performance arts and creative endeavors with a focus on underrepresented communities."

Lonely Seal International Screenplay and Music Festival

Arlington, Oct. 4-8

Housed in a 106-year-old Arlington cinema house, the Lonely Seal festival is entering its sixth year in 2023, highlighting what they call "stories aching to be told." Films range from comedy and drama to thrillers, sci-fi, and horror, documentaries, shorts, music videos, music and more.