As the 18th annual Salem Film Fest draws to a close this Sunday, March 30th, we’re highlighting some of the most compelling documentaries you won’t want to miss on the festival’s final day. From intimate portraits of family dynamics to powerful stories of cultural resilience, these films offer thought-provoking perspectives from around the globe. Tickets: Eventive
BLACK SNOW
Cinema Salem | 3:00 PM | Filmmaker Attending with Live Q&A
When residents of a remote Siberian coal mining city discover that an abandoned mine has caught fire, pushing toxic gas into their homes, they turn to homemaker-turned-journalist Natalia Zubkova for help. This New England premiere from director Alina Snow offers a gripping look at environmental activism in one of the world’s most challenging regions. With a runtime of 100 minutes, this Russian-language documentary (with English subtitles) showcases the power of grassroots journalism in the face of ecological disaster.
ASSEMBLY
Cinema Salem | 5:40 PM | Closing Night Film
The festival’s closing night feature follows internationally acclaimed artist Rashaad Newsome as he embarks on his most ambitious project yet – a multimedia exhibition and performance at New York’s historic Park Avenue Armory. This 99-minute East Coast premiere, co-directed by Newsome and Johnny Symons, offers an illuminating glimpse into the intersection of art, performance, and cultural expression.
THERE WAS, THERE WAS NOT & THE FLOWERS STAND SILENTLY, WITNESSING
Cinema Salem | 12:20 PM
This powerful double feature begins with THE FLOWERS STAND SILENTLY, WITNESSING (17 min), where a Palestinian filmmaker based in Scotland unearths a rarely-seen Scottish film archive of Palestinian wild flowers and sets out to reclaim the footage. This short is followed by THERE WAS, THERE WAS NOT (94 min), which follows four women living in the Republic of Artsakh, an unrecognized country reckoning with the aftermath of one war while on the precipice of another. Director Emily Mkrtichian’s New England premiere offers a moving portrait of resilience in uncertain times.
THIRD ACT
Peabody Essex Museum | 2:45 PM
Generations of artists call Robert A. Nakamura “The Godfather of Asian American film,” but his son, Tad, calls him Dad. Director Tadashi Nakamura’s East Coast premiere (91 min) explores the complex relationship between a groundbreaking filmmaker and his son, offering an intimate look at family, legacy, and the power of storytelling across generations.
WE NEVER LEFT & SHIP OF FOOLS
National Park Visitor Center | 2:45 PM | Filmmakers Attending with Live Q&A
This compelling double feature begins with SHIP OF FOOLS (30 min), where amid the tumult of Beirut, filmmaker Alia Haju meets Abu Samra, a man training to gain superpowers. The program continues with WE NEVER LEFT (84 min), which follows three young Lebanese expats in New York as they find their own ways to take part in the revolution from afar when civil protests ignite across Lebanon on October 17, 2019. Director Loulwa Khoury will be present for a post-screening Q&A, offering audiences a chance to delve deeper into this New England premiere.
Ticket Information:
- Individual tickets: $16
- Available online through Eventive or at the SFF Ticket Desk at venue locations
- Please arrive early as seating is limited
Join us for these final day screenings and help celebrate another successful year of documentary storytelling at Salem Film Fest. Don’t forget to stop by the Closing Night Wrap Party at The Counter at Hotel Salem at 7:30 PM to toast the filmmakers and festival organizers!
