With Salem Film Fest just around the corner, and our Opening Night film TIME AND WATER nearly sold out, our programmers have handpicked a selection of must-see films to help you plan your schedule. These Programmers' Picks highlight some of the most thought-provoking and captivating documentaries in this year’s festival slate—films that have stuck with us long after the credits rolled. Dive in and discover what’s not to be missed!
ELEPHANTS & SQUIRRELS
Sunday, March 29 @ 12:00pm
We are honored to present the U.S. Premiere of this new film! A recorded Q&A with Director Gregor Brändli to follow the screening.
This film is nominated for our Award for Journalism.
“With remarkable nuance, the film embodies an ethic of care over confrontation, creating space for dialogue rooted in memory, repatriation, and accountability.” - Emily Abi-Kheirs, Program Director
FIUME O MORTE!
Saturday, March 28 @ 1:00pm
Recorded Q&A with producer Vanja Jambrović to follow!
This film is nominated for our Special Jury Award.
"FIUME O MORTE! is a film that embodies the proverb “Truth is stranger than fiction” - it is equal parts fever dream, historic deep dive, and an entertaining romp reenacted by local townspeople of a relatively unknown (to most) chapter of history - Italian poet, playwright and army general Gabriele D’Annunzio’s 1919 occupation of the port city free state of Fiume, the present day Croatian city of Rijeka." - Jeff Schmidt, Programmer Emeritus
TRACES OF HOME
Saturday, March 28 @ 6:20pm
Director Colette Ghunim will be in attendance for live Q&A!
This film is nominated for our Special Jury Award.
"Tracing the ghosts of her parents' past, Colette invites us into a deeply personal reckoning with the American migrant experience. This is a vital meditation on the ties between where we come from and who we become." - Monica Cohen, Programmer
NIÑXS
Sunday, March 29 @ 12:15pm
Recorded Q&A with Director Kani Lapuerta to follow the screening!
This film is nominated for our Cultrera Cuts Edit Award.
"I'm very proud to see Salem Film Fest continuing to support stories of trans people by trans people. NINXS is a joyful, imaginary, and heartfelt film. It challenges documentary form in it's self-aware narration and has a wit and humor I hope inspires other to keep telling their own stories." - Saul Argenbright, Programmer
TO USE A MOUNTAIN
Sunday, March 29 @ 12:25pm
Director Casey Carter will be in attendance for live Q&A!
This film is nominated for our Award for Journalism.
"TO USE A MOUNTAIN's thoughtful, unique sound design functions like a subconscious mind; the artfully-crafted, just-under-the-surface audio layer feels like it's watching the film's main audio/visuals in real time with the audience and attempting to understand the story in abstract, non-linear, but incredibly intuitive ways as it goes along." - Joel Roston, Programmer
GRANDMA & ISABELLA
Friday, March 27 @ 4:05pm
This short film precedes the feature length film THEYDREAM (dir. William D. Callabero). Director Hannah Engelson will be in attendance alongside William for post-screening live Q&A!
"An intimate and enthralling window into a relationship that explores what it means to be a primary caregiver.” - Stephen Jackson, Programmer
