In a world increasingly hungry for authentic stories and meaningful change, the Salem Film Fest returns March 27-30, 2025, bringing powerful documentaries that challenge, inspire, and motivate action. Following its motto “Come to Salem, see the world,” this filmmaker-friendly festival showcases documentaries that aren’t just compelling to watch—they’re catalysts for conversation and change.
If you’re looking for films that make you think deeply and feel compelled to act, this curated guide highlights the most disruptive, thought-provoking selections from the 2025 lineup and everything you need to know to attend.
Films That Demand Attention & Action
For Social Justice Advocates
HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY (Opening Night)
Thursday, March 27th, 7:30 PM @ Cinema Salem
Follow ACLU attorney Chase Strangio, the first openly transgender person to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court, as he battles Tennessee’s 2023 ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth. With the filmmaker attending for a live Q&A, this opening night selection immediately sets the tone for a festival centered on pressing social issues.
BLACK SNOW
Sunday, March 30th, 3:00 PM @ Cinema Salem
When an abandoned mine catches fire in a remote Siberian coal mining city, pushing toxic gas into homes, residents turn to homemaker-turned-journalist Natalia Zubkova for help. This environmental justice story showcases how ordinary citizens become extraordinary activists when their community’s health is at stake.
LIFE AFTER
Saturday, March 29th, 6:30 PM @ Cinema Salem
This timely documentary revisits Elizabeth Bouvia’s 1983 “right to die” case that ignited national debate about autonomy, dignity, and the value of disabled lives. With disability justice at the forefront of many policy conversations, this film offers crucial historical context for today’s advocates.
For Environmental Changemakers
AS THE TIDE COMES IN
Friday, March 28th, 2:00 PM @ Peabody Essex Museum
Climate change threatens the very existence of Mandø, a tiny Danish island where 27 residents face increasingly severe weather and flooding. This intimate portrait of a community on the frontlines of climate change transforms statistics into human stories.
THE SHEPHERD AND THE BEAR
Saturday, March 29th, 2:45 PM @ Peabody Essex Museum
Set in the majestic French Pyrenees, this film explores the complex conflict between wildlife conservation and traditional shepherding after the reintroduction of brown bears. It’s a nuanced look at environmental ethics when rewilding efforts clash with multigenerational human livelihoods.
For Cultural & Political Activists
HOMEGROWN
Saturday, March 29th, 3:30 PM @ Cinema Salem
An unflinching chronicle following three right-wing activists campaigning for Donald Trump in summer 2020 and working to build a movement. For those seeking to understand America’s deepening polarization, this documentary provides uncomfortably close access to perspectives that have reshaped American politics.
ARTIFACT WAR
Saturday, March 29th, 6:00 PM @ National Park Visitor Center
Against the backdrop of the Syrian Civil War, an intrepid professor and his archaeology students stand between thieves looting ancient artifacts from museums and sites for wealthy Western collectors. This tense documentary highlights cultural preservation as resistance during wartime.
WE NEVER LEFT
Sunday, March 30th, 2:45 PM @ National Park Visitor Center
As civil protests ignite across Lebanon in October 2019, three young expatriates in New York find ways to participate in the revolution from afar. This exploration of diaspora activism offers insights for anyone interested in transnational movements and digital solidarity.
For Personal Transformation
SONGS FROM THE HOLE
Friday, March 28th, 6:35 PM @ Cinema Salem
Through clear-eyed narration and lyrical journal entries, incarcerated musician James “JJ’88” Jacobs reveals his innermost struggles as a person who has both committed and experienced violent harm. This unflinching look at restorative justice challenges conventional narratives about crime and punishment.
THE FLAMINGO
Friday, March 28th, 9:30 PM @ Cinema Salem
In her sixties, Mary Phillips embarks on a bold pursuit of pleasure, stepping into new realms of intimacy, adventure, and self-discovery. This celebration of late-life reinvention disrupts ageist stereotypes and invites viewers to consider their own relationship with desire and fulfillment.
Festival Logistics: Your Guide to Attending
Tickets & Pricing
Purchase Options:
- Online (recommended): Through Eventive at salemfilmfest.com/films
- In-Person: At SFF Ticket Desks at Cinema Salem, Peabody Essex Museum during festival hours
Pricing:
- Individual tickets: $16
- 5-ticket pack: $75 ($1 off each ticket)
- 10-ticket pack: $145 ($1.50 off each ticket)
Pro Tip: Ticket packs must be redeemed for specific screenings and don’t guarantee seats, so reserve your spot for popular films early!
Key Venues
Screening Locations:
- Cinema Salem: 1 East India Square Mall
- Peabody Essex Museum: 161 Essex Street
- National Park Service Salem Armory: 2 New Liberty Street
Social Events:
- Opening Kick-Off Party: Thursday, 5:00 PM @ Old Town Hall
- Filmmaker Happy Hour: Friday, 4:00 PM @ East Regiment Beer Co.
- SFF Social: Friday, 9:00 PM @ Sea Level Oyster Bar
- Wine Tasting with Filmmakers: Saturday, 4:00 PM @ Salem Wine Imports
- Closing Night Wrap Party: Sunday, 7:30 PM @ The Counter at Hotel Salem
Attending Tips for Maximum Impact
- Prioritize Q&As: Many of the most provocative films feature filmmaker Q&As where you can ask questions and connect with the creators. Look for “Filmmaker Attending, Live Q&A” notations in the schedule.
- Engage Beyond Screenings: The social events provide unique opportunities to discuss films directly with filmmakers and fellow attendees in a more casual setting.
- Diverse Perspectives: For a truly mind-expanding experience, don’t just see films about topics you already care about. Challenge yourself with documentaries that explore unfamiliar cultures, perspectives, or issues.
- Plan Your Schedule: With multiple venues and overlapping showtimes, plan your festival experience strategically to catch the films that most interest you.
- Support the Filmmakers: Remember that Salem Film Fest operates under a ticketing revenue share model with filmmakers directly, so your attendance directly supports these independent creators.
Why Salem Film Fest Matters
In an era of algorithmic echo chambers and content designed for passive consumption, documentary film festivals like Salem Film Fest serve a crucial function: creating spaces for genuine connection, challenging conversation, and collective witnessing of our complex world.
Founded in 2007 by filmmakers and film enthusiasts, this festival remains committed to programming that sparks conversations that “inspire, educate, and entertain, fostering a deeper understanding of how nonfiction films can shift perspectives and catalyze change.”
Whether you attend a single screening or immerse yourself in the full four-day experience, Salem Film Fest offers a rare opportunity to engage with cinema that doesn’t just reflect our world—it aims to transform it.
Salem Film Fest runs March 27-30, 2025. For the complete schedule and to purchase tickets, visit salemfilmfest.com.
