The Independent Film Festival Boston (IFFBoston) is an annual film festival that showcases the best in independent cinema from around the world.
Named Boston's Best Film Festival by Boston Magazine in 2016 and 2017, IFFBoston (Independent Film Festival Boston) will celebrate its 23rd year with its 2026 event. IFFBoston has steadily become the premiere festival in New England and developed a noted national reputation for its quality as a regional festival.
According to Ty Burr of The Boston Globe, "The Independent Film Festival Boston has become the major game in town: a smartly programmed and risk-taking festival that balances 'big' indie films with the best in local filmmaking."
The next event will take place from April 22 to April 29, 2026, in various venues across the Greater Boston area, including the historic Somerville, Brattle, and Coolidge Corner Theatres.
The festival exhibits a quality selection of narrative features, documentary features, short films, animated films, and experimental films. Along with emerging talent, it has hosted a number of special guests, including Director Lulu Wang, Director/Writer/Comedian Bo Burnham, Actor/Writer Daveed Diggs, Actor/Writer/Director Eva Victor, Actor/Writer/Director Zoe Lister-Jones, Actor/Writer Jason Segal, Writer/Director Rian Johnson, Director James Ponsoldt, Actor/Director Lena Dunham, Actor/Director Steve Buscemi, Director Albert Maysles, Director John Waters, Writer/Director/Actor Miranda July, Director Harmony Korine, Director Guy Maddin, Director Bobcat Goldthwait, Actor Kevin Kline, Director Alan Ball, Director/Actor Melvin Van Peebles, Comedian Denis Leary, Actor Michael Cera, Actor Chris Cooper, Actor Sir Ben Kingsley, Actor Hal Holbrook, Actor Clea Duvall, Actor Famke Janssen, Actor Danny Huston, Actor John Hawkes, Actor Jesse Eisenberg, Actor Robert Vaughn, Actress/Director Julie Delpy, Actor Jim Sturgess, Actress Illeana Douglas, Comedian Bob Odenkirk, Comedian Fred Armisen, Comedian Rob Cordry, Actor Bill Pullman, Actor Dylan Baker, Actor Will Arnett, Actress Eliza Dushku, Actor James Urbaniak, Actor Fran Kranz, Actor/Writer/Director Lake Bell, Actor Aidan Gillen, and Professor Noam Chomsky, among many others.
Along with quality programming, IFFBoston prides itself on treating filmmakers respectfully. Selected feature-length filmmakers are offered transportation as well as hotel accommodations. All accepted filmmakers are provided with festival all-access passes. The festival provides a filmmaker's lounge stocked with abundant food, drink, desserts, games, press interview areas, and other treats generously sponsored by local vendors.