FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Tickets for all screenings go on sale
Friday, March 6, at 10 a.m.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25
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PARALYZED BY HOPE: THE MARIA BAMFORD STORY
6:30 PM
MARTHA’S VINEYARD PLAYHOUSE
1 hr. 56 min.
Followed by a discussion with co-director Neil Berkeley and film subject Maria BamfordBlurring the line between performance and personal struggle, this intimate documentary follows the brilliantly funny comedian, actor, and bestselling author as she transforms her experiences with mental illness into fearless, boundary-pushing comedy.
THURSDAY, MARCH 26
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DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
5 PM
MARTHA’S VINEYARD PLAYHOUSE
49 min.
This short-film program pairs two candid portraits of place-based communities shaped by labor, environment, and shared values. When Dishwashers Were Kings captures Telluride’s disappearing ski bum culture, while Si La Isla Quiere (Island Willing) explores life on Chile’s remote Robinson Crusoe Island. -

NUISANCE BEAR
5 PM
GRANGE HALL
1 hr. 30 min.
Followed by a discussion with directors Gabriela Osio Vanden and Jack WeismanIn Churchill, Manitoba, also known as the “polar bear capital of the world,” a migrating bear becomes more than a nuisance, forcing us to question who owns the wild. This immersive documentary, guided by an Inuit narrator, won a grand-jury prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
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DINNER AT THE GRANGE
7–8 PM
Baozi (Steamed Buns)Mushroom or chicken, with pickled vegetables, served with a spicy peanut and cabbage salad
$23
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PARALYZED BY HOPE: THE MARIA BAMFORD STORY
7:30 PM
MARTHA’S VINEYARD PLAYHOUSE
1 hr. 56 min.
Followed by a discussion with co-director Neil Berkeley and film subject
Maria BamfordBlurring the line between performance and personal struggle, this intimate documentary follows the brilliantly funny comedian, actor, and bestselling author as she transforms her experiences with mental illness into fearless, boundary-pushing comedy.
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HEARTWORM
8 PM
GRANGE HALL
1 hr. 46 min.
Followed by a discussion with directors Miriam Louise Arens and Mitchell ArensShot entirely on Martha’s Vineyard, this emotionally resonant sci-fi drama follows a grieving woman who attempts to save her husband from becoming trapped in a digital world.
FRIDAY, MARCH 27
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MARY OLIVER: SAVED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD
4 PM
GRANGE HALL
1 hr. 31 min.Followed by a discussion with director Sasha Waters
Grounded in her own words, this intimate documentary looks at the life and legacy of the bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet whose deep attention to nature continues to offer comfort to millions and has reshaped how people connect to poetry.
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HEARTWORM
5 PM
MARTHA’S VINEYARD PLAYHOUSE
1 hr. 46 min.
Followed by a discussion with directors Miriam Louise Arens and Mitchell ArensShot entirely on Martha’s Vineyard, this emotionally resonant sci-fi drama follows a grieving woman who attempts to save her husband from becoming trapped in a digital world.
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DINNER AT THE GRANGE
6–7 PM
Chicken Meatball or Eggplant Subs
Sourdough focaccia, tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and Parmesan, served with crunchy iceberg lettuce salad, red onion, and garlic breadcrumbs$24
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WHEN A WITNESS RECANTS
7 PM
GRANGE HALL
1 hr. 52 min.
Followed by a discussion with director and producer Dawn Porter and film subjects Alfred Chestnut, Ransom Watkins, and Andrew StewartA 1983 Baltimore school murder led to three teens' wrongful imprisonment for 36 years. In this compelling new documentary, author Ta-Nehisi Coates investigates how this case affected the accused, witnesses, and their community.
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FOLLOWING HARRY
8 PM
MARTHA’S VINEYARD PLAYHOUSE
1 hr. 30 min.Followed by a discussion with director and producer Susanne Rostock
This intimate documentary follows singer, actor, and activist Harry Belafonte in the final twelve years of his life, as he mentors a new generation of civil-rights defenders while continuing his lifelong fight for justice.
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"LATE" NIGHT AT THE GRANGE
9–10 PM
Join us in the main hall as we toast to the MVFF with drinks and tasty bites from Chef Nina Levin of Stoney Hill Pizza!
SATURDAY, MARCH 28
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MARY OLIVER: SAVED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD
10 AM | 1 hr. 31 min.
MARTHA’S VINEYARD PLAYHOUSE
Followed by a discussion with director Sasha Waters
Grounded in her own words, this intimate documentary looks at the life and legacy of the bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet whose deep attention to nature continues to offer comfort to millions and has reshaped how people connect to poetry.
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SEIZED
10 AM
GRANGE HALL
1 hr. 34 min.
Followed by a discussion with director Sharon LieseWhen police raid the offices of a century-old, independent weekly newspaper in Kansas, it sets off a fierce debate over press freedom and constitutional rights. This Sundance award-nominated documentary reveals how a small-town newsroom can become a battleground for democracy itself.
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LUNCH AT THE GRANGE
12–1 PM
Detroit-Style PizzaYour choice of cheese or pepperoni, served with a chopped radicchio salad
$23
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COOKIE QUEENS
1 PM
GRANGE HALL
1 hr. 31 min.Followed by a discussion with director Alysa Nahmias and film subjects Nikki, Olive, and Shannon Elizabeth
In this joyful, heartwarming, and genuinely sweet documentary, girlhood and ambition collide as four young girls strive to be crowned the top-selling “Cookie Queen” during Girl Scout Cookie season.
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NARRATIVE SHORTS
1 PM
MARTHA’S VINEYARD PLAYHOUSE
47 min.This short-film program brings together four stories that explore ambition, memory, resilience, and connection. From a young athlete facing a defining moment, to a refugee’s life recalled through animation, to an artist confronting unexpected limitations, and a father rediscovering his sense of purpose, these films reflect the quiet courage found in everyday struggles.
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EVERYBODY TO KENMURE STREET
3:15 PM
MARTHA’S VINEYARD PLAYHOUSE
1 hr. 35 min.
A recent winner of a Sundance special jury award for civil resistance, this urgent documentary chronicles how one Scottish neighborhood came together to prevent two of its residents from being deported. -

FOLLOWING HARRY
4 PM
GRANGE HALL
1 hr. 30 min.Followed by a discussion with director and producer Susanne Rostock
This intimate documentary follows singer, actor, and activist Harry Belafonte in the final twelve years of his life, as he mentors a new generation of civil-rights defenders while continuing his lifelong fight for justice.
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POETIC LICENSE
5:30 PM
MARTHA’S VINEYARD PLAYHOUSE
1 hr. 57 min.In this sharp yet tender comedy, two inseparable college seniors see their lifelong bond tested when they both fall for the same older woman, drawing her into a complicated web of love, rivalry, and reinvention.
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DINNER AT THE GRANGE
6:15–7:30 PM
Chicken or Tofu KatsuServed with cucumber salad, steamed rice, and chili crisp
$26
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THE CHRISTOPHERS
7:30 PM
GRANGE HALL
1 hr. 40 min.In director Steven Soderbergh’s latest razor-sharp comedy-drama, the estranged children of a once‑renowned artist hire a struggling forger to complete their father’s unfinished paintings, in hopes of profiting from his legacy.
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WHEN A WITNESS RECANTS
7:45 PM
MARTHA’S VINEYARD PLAYHOUSE
1 hr. 52 min.
Followed by a discussion with director and producer Dawn Porter and film subjects Alfred Chestnut, Ransom Watkins, and Andrew StewartA 1983 Baltimore school murder led to three teens' wrongful imprisonment for 36 years. In this compelling new documentary, author Ta-Nehisi Coates investigates how this case affected the accused, witnesses, and their community.
SUNDAY, MARCH 29
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COOKIE QUEENS
10 AM
MARTHA’S VINEYARD PLAYHOUSE
1 hr. 31 min.Followed by a discussion with director Alysa Nahmias and film subjects Nikki, Olive, and Shannon Elizabeth
In this joyful, heartwarming, and genuinely sweet documentary, girlhood and ambition collide as four young girls strive to be crowned the top-selling “Cookie Queen” during Girl Scout Cookie season.
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JANE ELLIOTT AGAINST THE WORLD
10:15 AM
GRANGE HALL
1 hr. 39 min.
In 1968, a teacher in rural Iowa launched a bold classroom experiment that would change her life and the national conversation on race. This timely documentary reveals how her work continues to challenge and provoke in a divided world. -

LUNCH AT THE GRANGE
12–1 PM
Potato, Turmeric, and Leek SoupCreamy potato soup with garlic croutons, served with an herbed green salad
$22
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SEIZED
12:45 PM
MARTHA’S VINEYARD PLAYHOUSE
1 hr. 34 min.When police raid the offices of a century-old, independent weekly newspaper in Kansas, it sets off a fierce debate over press freedom and constitutional rights. This Sundance award-nominated documentary reveals how a small-town newsroom can become a battleground for democracy itself.
-

EVERYBODY TO KENMURE STREET
1 PM
GRANGE HALL
1 hr. 35 min.
A recent winner of a Sundance special jury award for civil resistance, this urgent documentary chronicles how one Scottish neighborhood came together to prevent two of its residents from being deported. -

BROKEN ENGLISH
3:30 PM
GRANGE HALL
1 hr. 39 min.
Rock icon Marianne Faithfull makes her final artistic statement in this experimental documentary that takes us through her six decades of music, fame, and reinvention. Tilda Swinton, George MacKay, and Nick Cave are among the supporting cast. -

VINEYARD SHORTS
3:45 PM
MARTHA’S VINEYARD PLAYHOUSE
1 hr. 7 min.
The short films in this program celebrate the Island’s history, culture, and seasonal rhythms in all their quirky, enduring, and extraordinary forms. From the epic solo ocean voyage in Pacific Lady, to Indigenous women restoring traditions in Women of Wampum, these films highlight stories of resilience, connection, and creativity. The stop-motion animation of The Off Season, Episode 1 brings humor and handmade charm, while local legends, community events, and the working waterfront come alive in The Crunch and Circuit Films’ The Gateway to Martha’s Vineyard. -

DINNER AT THE GRANGE
5:15–6:30 PM
Veggie or Pork LasagnaButternut squash and kale, or braised pork, served with roasted broccolini
$27
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THE CHRISTOPHERS
6:15 PM
MARTHA’S VINEYARD PLAYHOUSE
1 hr. 40 min.In director Steven Soderbergh’s latest razor-sharp comedy-drama, the estranged children of a once‑renowned artist hire a struggling forger to complete their father’s unfinished paintings, in hopes of profiting from his legacy.
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TUNER
6:30 PM
GRANGE HALL
1 hr. 49 min.A romantic thriller from Oscar-winning director Daniel Roher (Navalny), this film follows a piano tuner whose unusually acute ear helps him discover an unexpected talent for cracking safes, pulling him into a risky new world that tests his ambition, relationships, and moral limits.