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| New Hampshire Film Association | |
|---|---|
| Name | New Hampshire Film Association |
| Formation | 1970s |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Headquarters | Concord, New Hampshire |
| Region served | New Hampshire, New England, United States |
| Fields | Film, Television, Media Production |
New Hampshire Film Association The New Hampshire Film Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting film industry activity across New Hampshire, supporting productions from independent documentary film makers to regional television series, facilitating location services and fostering connections among industry professionals. It functions as a nexus between production companies, municipal film offices like Manchester, New Hampshire, cultural institutions such as the Currier Museum of Art, and academic programs at institutions including University of New Hampshire and Dartmouth College. The association works with state agencies, regional festivals, and national organizations to encourage on-location shooting, talent development, and archival initiatives.
Founded in the 1970s amid a revival of regional production, the association emerged alongside the rise of state-level film commissions such as the Massachusetts Film Office and the Vermont Film Commission, responding to increased interest from filmmakers following successes like On Golden Pond and Jaws. Early efforts aligned with cultural policy debates in the New Hampshire General Court and initiatives by governors including John H. Sununu and John Lynch to expand media visibility. Through the 1980s and 1990s the association collaborated with festivals such as the Sundance Film Festival affiliates and the Newport International Film Festival, while hosting panels featuring figures connected to works like The Dead Zone and Mystic Pizza. In the 2000s it adapted to digital shifts influenced by companies like Netflix and Amazon Studios, and by the 2010s partnered with academic programs at Boston University and Northeastern University to build workforce pipelines.
The association is governed by a board drawing members from municipal offices in Concord, New Hampshire and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, production companies active in New England, regional post-production houses in Providence, Rhode Island and Portland, Maine, and representatives from unions including International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and the Screen Actors Guild. Membership categories include independent filmmakers, student chapters from University of New Hampshire and Dartmouth College, commercial production firms, location managers who have worked on titles like The Cider House Rules, and service providers such as equipment rental houses and casting directors who have credits on Law & Order. The association maintains liaison roles with trade groups including the Independent Film & Television Alliance and civic partners like the New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Programming includes an annual industry conference that echoes formats used at the Tribeca Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival, regional workshops modeled after Slamdance Film Festival forums, and a showcase series similar to the Telluride Film Festival sidebar programs. The association runs masterclasses taught by professionals with credits on films like The Shawshank Redemption and Good Will Hunting, hosts location scouting tours comparable to initiatives by the New York City Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, and organizes co-productions with public media outlets such as New Hampshire Public Radio and PBS. Seasonal events include a winter screening series and summer production bootcamps that parallel programs at South by Southwest and Raindance Film Festival.
Services provided encompass location assistance comparable to services from the California Film Commission, permitting coordination liaising with county offices in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire and Rockingham County, New Hampshire, and a database of local crews and vendors with ties to post-production facilities in Boston, Massachusetts and Cambridge, Massachusetts. The association facilitates tax incentive advisement referencing models used in New York Film Tax Credit legislation and assists with logistics for shoots in state parks managed by the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation. It curates archival access with institutions such as the Library of Congress and helps productions tap into historical resources at the New Hampshire Historical Society.
The association administers awards celebrating achievements by regional artists, echoing honors given at the Independent Spirit Awards and regional critics' circles like the Boston Society of Film Critics. Categories recognize excellence in directing, cinematography, sound design, and community impact, often spotlighting filmmakers who have gone on to wider recognition at festivals like Sundance Film Festival and awards including the Academy Awards. Honorary awards have been presented to figures associated with films such as Field of Dreams and television projects akin to The Sopranos, acknowledging contributions to on-location production and regional storytelling.
Key partnerships include collaborations with educational institutions such as Keene State College and Manchester Community College, cultural venues like the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse and the Capitol Center for the Arts (Concord, New Hampshire), and media organizations including New England Public Media. The association runs youth outreach modeled after programs at the National Film Festival for Talented Youth and partners with workforce development boards and philanthropic organizations such as the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation to expand access to apprenticeships, mentorships, and screenwriting labs that have parallels at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
By attracting shoots that employ local crew and vendors, the association contributes to hospitality and service sectors in municipalities including Laconia, New Hampshire and Nashua, New Hampshire, and enhances regional tourism tied to film heritage sites like those featured in On Golden Pond. Economic analyses align with studies from entities such as the Motion Picture Association showing multiplier effects in lodging and catering, while cultural impacts include increased visibility for New Hampshire narratives in outlets like The Boston Globe and national coverage by broadcasters such as NPR. The association’s efforts have supported career pathways for creators who've later worked on productions screened at festivals like Telluride Film Festival and rewarded by institutions such as the Peabody Awards.
Category:Film organizations in the United States Category:Culture of New Hampshire