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Mission

Transforming lives and communities through the power of film and filmmaking.

Our Vision

A world that celebrates the power of storytelling to deepen our shared connection and humanity.

We Do This By

  • Celebrating the joy of film.
  • Educating and inspiring the film-makers and film-lovers of today and tomorrow.
  • Challenging audiences with content that inspires, engages, and enlightens.
  • Generating dialogue and the open exchange of ideas in our communities.
  • Collaborating with industry, business, and the non-profit community to support economic development through the arts.

Our Operating Principles

  • We honor, welcome and celebrate the diversity of our community.
  • We strive to be entrepreneurial, nimble, and flexible.
  • We place the needs of our constituents at the center of our decision-making.
  • We hold each other accountable to ourselves and our community.
  • We are fierce advocates of the transformative power of storytelling.

Montclair Film's Evolution

2011

The Montclair Film Festival was created. An organization was formed and began to raise the funds needed for the first festival.

2012

The first Montclair Film Festival ran from May 1 - 6, 2012. Over 7,500 patrons attended more than 45 screenings and events.

2015

The festival grows to 10 days with screenings and attendance expanding to meet the growing interest. The organization launches it's year-round education program with filmmaking classes for high school students.

2017

With the opening of a headquarters at 505 Bloomfield Avenue, the organization now has a home to run year-round programming including education classes and public screenings at Cinema505. What was once just an annual festival, becomes Montclair Film.

2021

Montclair Film takes over The Clairidge and renovates the theater to be a modern 6-screen, independently-run cinema.

2025

The 2025 Montclair Film Festival welcomed more than 23K attendees. During the festival, Montclair Film reopens The Bellevue, a beloved theater in Upper Montclair. The theater continues to screen films year-round along with The Clairidge bringing incredible cinema to our community.

Our Values

Inclusivity

Fostering an open community where everyone feels welcome, respected, and valued.

Integrity

Always striving to do the right thing.

Transparency

Openly sharing information, perspectives, successes, and failures.

Collaboration

Cultivating a sense of teamwork throughout the organization.

Creativity

Building a culture of creativity and innovation in everything we do.

Empathy

Always seeking to understand, accept, and learn from diverse experiences.

Our Founding Members

Montclair Film is made possible thanks to the generosity of our founding members who believed in the power of film and storytelling in our community.

View Founding Members

Join Us in Our Mission

Support Montclair Film and help us continue transforming lives through the power of storytelling.

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