About the Festival

Presenting the best of new fiction, documentary and experimental filmmaking by international filmmakers, the Massachusetts Multicultural Film Festival, one of the nation’s longest-standing university-based film festivals, seeks to cultivate an appreciation of film and the moving image, to inspire audiences to a deeper understanding of the world's cultures through film, and to celebrate past, present and future achievements of international filmmaking within a university setting. Our culturally diverse films are screened for the benefit of students, faculty, and the interested public, with critical introductions by scholars and filmmakers.
 
The MMFF was founded by Prof. Catherine Portuges and Prof. Jacqueline Urla in 1993.  Since 1994 Catherine Portugues became the heart and soul of the festival, curating and directing 25 seasons. She was followed by Shawn Shimpach who directed three seasons (2017, 20018 and 2019). Daniel Pope served as Assistant Curator, became Director of the festival in 2020, and worked together with Assistant Curator Nefeli Forni Zervoudaki for a virtual edition during the Covid pandemic. Daniel Pope is currently directing the festival with the Guest Curator Mariana Ivanova and the Assistant Curator Celia Sainz. The Festival is presented by the Interdepartmental Program in Film Studies Program, directed by Barbara Zecchi.  

Please check out this year's program
Festival screenings at UMass Amherst are free and open to the public. 

A one-credit colloquium (FILM 296F) is available to undergraduate students. UMass Amherst students may enroll through SPIRE.

For questions about the festival, if you wish to donate to the festival, or if you would like your film to be screened at the festival, please contact Celia Sainz, assistant curator, or Barbara Zecchi, Program Director.