Boston, MA
6 Bay State film fests and events to soak up this summer – The Boston Globe
Nantucket Film Festival
Described by executive director Mystelle Brabbée as a film festival “incubator” 30 miles out to sea, the annual Nantucket Film Festival celebrates screenwriters and storytellers and promotes signature programming, including garden conversations and “Morning Coffee With,” designed to bring the island community together.
Sibling duo and Nantucket natives Jill and Jonathan Burkhart founded the festival in 1996; Brabbée joined the team the following year and has helped expand its programming over the decades to include interactive, live events that put attendees in discussion with those in front of and behind the camera. Noteworthy appearances this year include screenwriter Kerry Ehrin, actor and comedian Jason Mantzoukas, and documentarian Ken Burns.
“This festival is able to thrive because the town supports it, and people want to come,” said Brabbée. “All the audiences that we bring in, they love that festival environment.”
“The Water Connection” is one of the overarching themes of this year’s festival, Brabbée said, noting that programming includes films and live events related to the impact of climate change on water both locally and globally. “Chasing Time,” for instance, is a short film following environmental photographer James Balog, while “Shaped by Water” is a documentary exploring the relationship between athletes and water.
Nantucket Film Festival, June 19-24, nantucketfilmfestival.org
Roxbury International Film Festival
For the 26th year, the Roxbury International Film Festival, a staple of the Boston film festival circuit, brings films from around the world to locations throughout the neighborhood. The festival returns this summer for in-person and online events, including feature-length and short film screenings, live script readings, filmmaker hangouts, and more.
The festival originally was a local showcase before growing into an international film festival, though it’s still committed to displaying the creative lifeblood of Roxbury.
Lisa Simmons, artistic and executive director of the festival, said the people “in this community are storytellers. Whether it’s through music, poetry, visual arts, theater, there are a lot of folks in this community who are creative people.”
For the past two-plus decades, the festival has devoted itself to telling the many unique experiences of people of color, at home and around the world.
“For audiences who can come to a festival over 10 days and at any given moment see themselves on the screen, that’s the most important thing,” Simmons said. “This community is not a monolith.”
Roxbury International Film Festival. In person June 20-28, online June 27-July 2. roxfilmfest.com
Woods Hole Film Festival
Mainland Cape Cod boasts the oldest film festival in the state. The Woods Hole Film Festival has held annual screenings for more than 30 years; its upcoming programming will showcase 100-plus films over the span of eight days.
“Our programming tends to include films that are relevant to the work that happens here,” said founder and director Judy Laster. “We probably have more of a science focus in our selections than other festivals might.”
Following this theme, the WHFF will screen “76 Days,” a film that follows Steven Callahan as he navigates the open ocean after a whale sinks his sailboat, and “Follow the Journey,” a deep dive into the lives of whales.
Woods Hole is a hub for ocean science, with several local institutions dedicated to education and research about the planet’s largest ecosystem. Laster recommends checking out the Woods Hole Science Aquarium, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Ocean Science Discovery Center, the Nobska Lighthouse, and area restaurants.
“We include lots of films around music or comedy or animation, things that are a little bit lighter because our main competition isn’t other festivals — it’s the beach,” said Laster.
For those interested in attending, Laster recommends solidifying travel plans as soon as possible: “It’s the height of summer,” she said. “It can be crowded around here.”
Woods Hole Film Festival, July 27-Aug. 3, woodsholefilmfestival.org
Martha’s Vineyard Film Society Documentary Week
The Martha’s Vineyard Film Society’s Documentary Week kicks off its annual programming in late July, in time for the island’s busy season. The organization hosts half a dozen film festivals annually, the majority of which take place between May and August.
Executive Director Richard Paradise recognized Doc Week as a need nearly a decade ago, opting to show one documentary each night for eight nights. Programming this year includes “Girls State,” a documentary that considers what our democracy would look like in the hands of teenage girls, and “Donyale Luna: Supermodel,” which follows the life of a pioneering Black supermodel.
“It’s a little easier to get the filmmakers to come and attend — like, who wouldn’t want to be on Martha’s Vineyard in August?,” said Paradise. “Each documentary we show, we always have people there to talk about the documentary afterwards, and it’s become a mainstay of our August programming.”
Martha’s Vineyard Film Society’s Doc Week, July 29-Aug. 2, mvfilmsociety.com
Lonely Seal International Film, Screenplay, and Music Festival
California resident Hammad Zaidi started his film festival in Arlington because “I wanted to find a city with an incredibly high level of intelligence, with a lot of universities, and with a lot of open-mindedness,” he said, calling from his home in Redondo Beach.
Since 2018, Zaidi’s Lonely Seal Festival has been a fixture of Arlington’s Regent Theatre, with feature-length films, documentaries, shorts, and music videos from around the world. The festival’s full lineup will be revealed next Thursday, but a few highlights he teased include the documentary “The Water of Life: A Whisky Film” and the 45th anniversary screening of The Who’s 1979 film “The Kids Are Alright,” directed by Jeff Stein, brother of Regent Theatre co-owner Leland Stein.
Zaidi, who heads a distribution company called Lonely Seal Releasing, said a mission of the festival is to spotlight diverse voices — including female, LGBTQ+, and disabled filmmakers — and stories that other festivals wouldn’t typically show.
Zaidi says he’s had great experiences at other film festivals, but “I’d always tell my friends, if I ever had one, I would do this differently.”
Lonely Seal International Film, Screenplay, and Music Festival. Aug. 20-25. Use code “GLOBESEAL” for 20 percent off tickets and passes. lonelysealfestival.com
Parks Movie Nights
Throughout August, 11 public parks across the Greater Boston area will become free outdoor movie theaters as a part of the city’s annual Parks Movie Nights program. From “Encanto” in East Boston to “A Million Miles Away” at Jamaica Pond under a meteor-shower sky, there are plenty of opportunities for people to camp out under the stars and screens.
“I love parks, I love being outside, and it’s so fun for me to be able to activate [the parks] in this way,” said Steve Kruszkowski, program manager of Parks Movie Nights. “Good memories are created with your friends and family at movie nights.”
Other films and locations include “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” at Peters Park in the South End, “Elemental” at Healy Playground in Roslindale, and “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” at Malcolm X Park in Roxbury. Each movie begins at dusk, and free popcorn will be provided while supplies last.
Parks Movie Nights. August. boston.gov/movie-nights
Adri Pray can be reached at adri.pray@globe.com. Follow her @adriprayy. Henry Bova can be reached at henry.bova@globe.com.
As we reckon with summer’s departure, there are a variety of fun-filled events to welcome the first signs of fall. Visit two “carnivals,” each with its own twist: huzzah and hurrah with medieval jest at the Brighton Bazaar’s Knight Carnival or tinker and test interactive exhibits at the Cambridge Science Carnival. Also, Somerville celebrates its prized, local invention, Marshmallow Fluff, with the 20th annual Fluff Festival, complete with sticky games and extra sugary challenges.
Here are six no-cost activities and events for the week of Sept. 15-21, as well as two ways to save on the arts this season.
BOOK LOVERS UNITE If a book club had a silent disco equivalent, it might be the Boston Figurative Art Center’s BYOBook event. Unlike a traditional book club, everyone brings whatever book they’re currently reading to a guided discussion with fellow readers from 7-7:30 p.m. After, attendees are welcomed to read as they please on the studio’s couches or lounge area. Snacks and beverages from the studio will be available. Sept. 17, 7-9 p.m. Boston Figurative Art Center, 285 Washington St., Somerville. bostonfac.com
KNIGHT MARKET The Brighton Bazaar, in collaboration with roving merchant curators Medieval Merriment, will transform into the first-ever Knight Carnival for a night of Middle Ages-themed mischief. Immerse yourself in a live sword fight between armored knights from local melee club North Horde, a creature puppet show, fantasy-inspired musicians, a site-wide scavenger hunt, and a costume contest for attendees dressed in their Ren Faire best. If you have gold in your inventory to spend, vendors will be selling trinkets all night. Sept. 18, 5-10 p.m. Charles River Speedway, 525 Western Ave., Brighton. facebook.com/thebrightonbazaar
AUTUMN LEAVES The Boston Landing Fall Crawl celebrates the arrival of the season with a reptile show with snakes and lizards, pony rides, and pumpkin decorating. DJ Dukes will play a live set from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., and country singer Louis Bello will pick up from 2-4 p.m. Meanwhile, from noon-2 p.m., attendees can join a line dancing lesson. Churros are on the house (while supplies last), and barbecue eats and other Southern staples will be available for purchase. Sept. 20, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Boston Landing, 92 Guest St. bostonlanding.co
MARSHMALLOW MADNESS Don’t expect to come out of this one clean: Somerville, the birthplace of Marshmallow Fluff, celebrates this sticky-sweet legacy with the 20th annual Fluff Festival. In addition to live music and entertainment, the event will host unique games for prizes, including Fluff jousting, where participants use pool noodles with Fluff to knock others off a balance beam, and a Fluff hair-styling contest, where Fluff and Teddy peanut butter are provided for contestants to style the best ’do. .Attendees who arrive by cycle can access two free bike valets — one in front of Gracie’s Ice Cream and another by the intersection of Somerville Avenue and School Street. The fest is free to attend, but marshmallow-y foods and drinks will be available for purchase. Sept. 20, 2-6 p.m. 366 Somerville Ave., Somerville. flufffestival.com
UP, UP, AND AWAY The City of Quincy celebrates its 400th birthday with a Hot Air Balloon and Laser Light Show at Merrymount Park. On Pageant Field, attendees can play lawn games or journey 60 feet in the air in tethered hot air balloons. Meanwhile, roving costumed performers and food trucks can be found on Adams Field. At 9 p.m., the laser show begins, projecting streams and beams onto the overhead balloons and trees. Sept. 20, 4-10 p.m. Merrymount Park, Quincy. Reserve free balloon ride vouchers on the event’s website. quincy400.com
SCIENTIFIC WONDERS More than 150 booths showcasing STEAM’s finest (and most fun) will occupy the 17th annual Cambridge Science Carnival. Visit a robot petting zoo — featuring robots of the underwater, basketball, and gummy bear varieties — check out hands-on booths to make stomp rockets, sugar glass, or bath bombs. Members of the MIT Physics Department will perform demonstrations at 1 and 3:15 p.m., and the hosts of the “Tumble Science” children’s podcast will perform interactive songs at 1:45 p.m. Sept. 21, noon-4 p.m. Kendall/MIT Open Space, 292 Main St., Cambridge. cambridgesciencecarnival.org
Deals and Steals
FINE FOR FIVE Starting Sept. 18, the Museum of Fine Arts kicks off its $5 Third Thursdays programming. On the third Thursday of each month, from 5-10 p.m., general admission is pay-as-you-wish with a $5 minimum. A crisp Lincoln grants access to the main galleries, as well as special after dark programming exclusive to each event — this month is Latinx Heritage Night featuring drop-in art sessions to make Puerto Rican beaded bracelets and Ex-Votos paintings, live sets by the Rafa Moreno Band and DJ Montro, and special spotlight talks and guided tours. mfa.org
SYMPHONY SEASON PASS Full-time Boston students with a valid college ID can take study breaks with an (award-winning) symphony when they purchase a $20 H+H Masterpass. The exclusive pass can be redeemed to access up to eight Handel and Haydn Society performances through the 2025-26 season. (Some exclusions apply.) handelandhaydn.org/concerts-tickets/masterpass
Check individual event websites for the most up-to-date information.
Send info on free events and special offers at least 10 days in advance to ryan.yau@globe.com.
Ryan Yau can be reached at ryan.yau@globe.com.
Walker Buehler’s Red Sox tenure came to an unceremonious end on August 29 when he was released to clear a roster spot for top prospect Payton Tolle to make his major league debut. His Phillies tenure, however, got off to a pretty good start Friday night.
Buehler, who signed a minor league deal with Philadelphia within a couple days of Boston cutting him, got the start at Citizens Bank Park against the Royals and delivered, holding Kansas City to one run on five hits while striking out three batters and walking just one in five innings. Philadelphia, won, 8-2, and Buehler got the win, marking his first such result since August 8, when he turned in one of his best performances in a Red Sox uniform and tossed six shutout innings in San Diego.
For Buehler, who owned a 5.45 ERA in 112 ⅓ innings for Boston, it was the third outing since July 1 in which he didn’t issue multiple walks. In 23 games (22 starts) for Boston, he issued free passes at a rate of 4.4 per nine innings. He also allowed 22 home runs.
The Phillies added Buehler to the mix in an effort to give their top starters — Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez, Jesús Luzardo and Aaron Nola — some extra chances to rest down the stretch. For now, he’s slotting into Philadelphia’s rotation as a sixth option, but he could serve a bullpen role come October if he’s pitching well and manager Rob Thomson wants to try to tap into the playoff magic Buehler has provided throughout his career. The 31-year-old, who recorded the final out of the World Series last fall at Yankee Stadium, has a career 3.04 postseason ERA in 19 appearances and has pitched three times in the World Series.
“He fits right into that mold of being a Philadelphia baseball player,” Buehler’s new teammate, Bryce Harper said, according to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb. “Just a lot of fun to be around him. Obviously, he’s pitched in big moments, deep into the postseason. So getting a guy like that in our clubhouse is huge for us. And he went out there and did a great job tonight.”
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