Are you a high school student with a documentary film?
Submit your entry for Salem Film Fest 2026, taking place March 26-29, 2026 in Salem, MA. Keeping it Reel is a showcase for Massachusetts high school students to present their short documentary and experimental documentary films. Open to current high school students (individuals or groups) who live in Massachusetts. Entries must be 10 minutes or less in duration.
Please note the following rules and guidelines for entry:
Submissions are FREE! There is no entry fee.
Films must have been completed in 2025 or 2026.
All forms of documentary are welcome.
No unauthorized use of copyrighted images or music is allowed.
Films that have been previously considered will not be reviewed again.
Entries will be judged by a panel of filmmakers and industry professionals.
Festival tickets and prizes will be provided by Salem Film Fest and our sponsors.
Submission deadline is February 25, 2026.
Sponsored By:
Congratulations to all of our 2025 Keeping It Reel film participants!
OUR KINK HAIR
Directed by Eyerusalem Demie
Cambridge Rindge and Latin School
4 minutes
A very personal statement to all black women who have had others tell them “your natural hair is so messy, kinky, hard to take care of”. With this video, the director is able to explore herself as an artist and a young woman.
THE HEROES OF THE COLD WAR
Directed by Ryan Williams & Jonathan Bertone
Westwood High School
4 minutes
The story of the world’s closest moment to nuclear armageddon told through animation and media.
PAINT DRAW STEAL
Directed by Emma Rose
Natick High School
6 minutes
An artist's viewpoint on how AI impacts her as AI is working to replace creativity.
STEVEN’S VISION JOURNEY
Directed by Steven De Angelis
Cotting School
3 minutes
This film explores the challenges a vision impaired person faces on a daily basis that an ordinary person would not realize, or care for, if not otherwise shown.
OUTBOUND
Directed by Avi Nagin
Buckingham Browne and Nichols
4.5 minutes
An exploration of train-life courtesy of the MBTA.
CHAOTIC WRESTLING: BEHIND THE BIRTHPLACE OF STARS
Directed by Nathan Kilton
Billerica Memorial High School
10 minutes
Behind the curtain look at New England's largest independent wrestling company, Chaotic Wrestling.
UP ON THE SOAPBOX
Directed by Natalye Smith
Cambridge Rindge and Latin School
2 minutes
An exploration of creativity turbulence. A collection of beautiful shots of moments.
THE LIFE OF A FILIPINO VENDOR
Directed by Melissa Panaligan
Billerica Memorial High School
4 minutes
An in-depth view of a day in the life of a Filipino drink vendor, located on the beach.
A CELEBRATION OF LIFE
Directed by Terris Jones
Westwood High School
4.5 minutes
A conversation with one’s past self.
PICTURE THIS
Directed by Zoe Avery
Maynard High School
2 minutes
So...what exactly are we doing with all these pictures we take on our phones?
MAKING MAGIC IN MARBLEHEAD
Directed by Aoife Sullivan
Marblehead High School
9.5 minutes
Just outside of Salem, in Marblehead, architect Tom Saltsman creates a Halloween Spectacle in his driveway each year. This piece asks how these projects began and dives into this past year's creation.
