The ninth annual New Hampshire Film Festival will take place from Oct. 15 to 18 in downtown Portsmouth. Festival organizers have opened a call to filmmakers from around the world to submit their work, and many entries have already arrived.  

Submissions are accepted in the categories of feature narrative, feature documentary, short comedy, short drama, short documentary, student, animation and screenplay. A panel of judges will select films for acceptance. The festival will announce prizes and juries during the coming months as other details are finalized. Past prizes have included cash, software and equipment.

“A ton of film and screenplay entries have already poured into the N.H. Film Festival offices,” festival director Nicole Gregg said in a press release. “We urge filmmakers and writers to enter as early as possible this year so that we can keep up with the incredible response we’ve been so fortunate to experience.”

Filmmakers and writers from more than 20 countries entered more than 600 films and 100 screenplays in 2008, and organizers say more than 6,000 people attended the four-day festival.

Filmmakers from the Granite State will be highlighted during New Hampshire Night on Thursday, Oct. 15.
“NHFF is about great film and we are committed to giving local filmmakers a venue to share their work as well as experience a world class festival in their own backyard,” Gregg said.

Last year, the New Hampshire Documentary Film Award went to “Communities and Consequences,” written and directed by Jay Childs; and the New Hampshire Film of the Year Award went to “Sick Sex,” directed by Justin Nowell and co-written by Justin and Thomas Nowell.  

For more information, visit www.nhfilmfestival.com. Filmmakers can enter with upload services at www.withoutabox.com. The deadline for early bird submissions is July 15, while late entries close on Aug. 5 and online entries close on Aug. 15.