Amplifying Voices Film Festival 2026: Free Films Celebrating Diverse Stories at The Cabot

The Amplifying Voices Film Festival 2026 returns to The Cabot in Beverly, MA on March 12–13 with two days of free film screenings celebrating stories by and about people of color. Now in its fourth year, the festival has quickly become one of the North Shore’s most meaningful cultural traditions. Additionally, this year’s lineup features powerful documentaries, an international shorts program, and talkback conversations with filmmakers. Tickets available here.

Who Curates the Amplifying Voices Film Festival?

The festival’s programming reflects serious curatorial expertise. Sabrina Avilés, the Founder and Executive Director of CineFest Latino Boston, and Lisa Simmons, the Co-founder and Artistic/Executive Director of The Roxbury International Film Festival, collaborate to select each year’s films.

Avilés is an award-winning filmmaker, educator, and 2023 Brother Thomas Fellow. She founded CineFest Latino Boston in 2022 as the only film festival in Massachusetts dedicated to showcasing stories by and about Latinos. Furthermore, her work uses film to challenge stereotypes and reveal the complex issues facing Latinx communities.

Simmons has spent more than 27 years building the Roxbury International Film Festival into the largest festival in New England, celebrating people of color. Notably, MovieMaker Magazine recognized RoxFilm as one of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World.” Together, these two curators bring decades of expertise in independent film and community storytelling to Beverly’s historic theater.

What’s Showing on Opening Night? The Librarians

The Amplifying Voices Film Festival 2026 opens on Thursday, March 12 at 7 PM with The Librarians, a documentary directed by Kim A. Snyder. The 92-minute film follows librarians across the country as they confront sweeping book bans targeting titles focused on race and LGBTQIA+ stories. In Texas, the Krause List targets 850 books, triggering nationwide censorship efforts at an unprecedented rate.

As tensions escalate, the film connects the dots from heated school and library board meetings to the underpinnings of extremism fueling these efforts. Despite facing harassment, threats, and laws aimed at criminalizing their work, the librarians’ rallying cry for the freedom to read serves as a chilling cautionary tale. A talkback session will follow the screening, with details to be announced.

An opening reception begins at 5:30 PM before the film. Consequently, attendees can connect with fellow community members before settling in for the evening’s screening.

What Short Films Are Featured on Friday?

On Friday, March 13, a short series runs from 5:30 PM to 7 PM, featuring six films from directors working across the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and Haiti. All foreign-language films are subtitled in English.

The program opens with Chelis, a 14-minute documentary by director Mariana Tames. Set in Mexico, the film portrays 98-year-old Chelis as she faces the final stage of life alongside her compassionate nurse, Mónica. Their daily routine reveals both the monotony and the dignity of elderly care.

Next, I Don’t Know if I’ll Have to Say Everything Again, directed by Vitória Fallavena and Thassilo Weber, tells the story of Fernando, who meets his mother weekly at a café in Brazil. Each visit, he tells her he is gay. However, Ana has Alzheimer’s, and the film raises the question of whether she truly forgets or chooses not to remember.

Aquí y Allá, a 10-minute documentary by Isabella Breton, explores the Dominican community’s migration and evolution through the lens of photographer Winston Vargas. The film examines Dominican identity, adaptation, and resilience in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood.

Then, Ro & Stardust by director Eunice Lewis follows a free-spirited teen who fulfills her terminally ill grandmother’s dying wish of building a rocket ship to launch her into outer space. Meanwhile, Sea Charm by Chaney Carlson-Bullock offers a short silent memorial film honoring the late Dale Bick Carlson, Marvin Olds, and Langston Hughes. The piece weaves together jazz music and Hughes’ poetry to celebrate his signature style.

The shorts series closes with Fou by director Gabriyèl Barlatier, a 14-minute narrative in which a hyper-religious Haitian grandmother cooking for her prayer night gets stuck watching a spirited preteen with an identity disorder.

Friday’s Feature: Paquito D’Rivera Documentary

The Amplifying Voices Film Festival 2026 concludes on Friday, March 13 at 8 PM with Paquito D’Rivera: From Carne y Frijol to Carnegie Hall, a 72-minute documentary by director Juan Mandelbaum. The film celebrates the Cuban-born clarinetist, saxophonist, and composer who has earned 16 Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards over his remarkable career.

Paquito D’Rivera defected from Cuba in 1980 at substantial personal cost. Since then, he has proven himself a restless musical genius. The documentary captures his constant exploration of diverse musical styles, from jazz to classical to Latin music. Filmed in New York, Boston, Wolf Trap, Miami, and Uruguay, the production includes collaborations with pianist Chucho Valdés and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

A talkback with director Juan Mandelbaum and film composer and guitarist Claudio Ragazzi immediately follows the screening. As a result, audiences will hear directly from the creative team behind this compelling portrait.

Why Does This Festival Matter for the North Shore?

When The Cabot launched Amplifying Voices in 2023, it represented a deliberate investment in programming that deepens empathy, expands understanding, and advances important conversations on the North Shore. The Cabot has been a cornerstone of Beverly’s cultural life for over a century. This festival adds a vital new chapter to that legacy.

Specifically, Amplifying Voices brings Boston-caliber film curation to Essex County through its partnership with CineFest Latino Boston and The Roxbury International Film Festival. That collaboration connects Beverly audiences to two of Massachusetts’ most respected independent film organizations. Moreover, the involvement of civic, arts, and educational organizations across the North Shore ensures the festival reaches beyond typical arts audiences.

For Creative Collective, events like Amplifying Voices illustrate exactly why cultural programming matters for regional economic development. They bring people downtown, spark conversations, and strengthen the ties between communities across the North Shore.

Frequently Asked Questions About Amplifying Voices 2026

Is the Amplifying Voices Film Festival free?

Yes. All Amplifying Voices screenings are free and open to the public. An opening reception on Thursday, March 12 at 5:30 PM requires a separate ticket. Visit The Cabot’s Amplifying Voices program page for ticket details.

Where is the Amplifying Voices Film Festival held?

All screenings take place at The Cabot, located at 286 Cabot Street in Beverly, MA. Metered and free parking is available on Cabot Street and surrounding side streets. Municipal lots on Pond Street sit just one block from the theater.

What is the full Amplifying Voices 2026 schedule?

Thursday, March 12:

• 5:30 PM — Opening Reception
• 7:00 PM — The Librarians (Documentary, 92 min) with talkback

Friday, March 13:

• 5:30–7:00 PM — Shorts Series (six films)
• 8:00 PM — Paquito D’Rivera: From Carne y Frijol to Carnegie Hall (Documentary, 72 min) with talkback

For the complete program, visit The Cabot’s Amplifying Voices 2026 Program.

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