KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) The Monadnock International Film Festival (MONIFF) is set to light up Keene this weekend, Oct. 3–5, with three days of films, discussions, and live events at venues throughout downtown.

Dee Fitzgerald, the festival’s chair and programmer who was Wednesday’s guest on WKBK’s Good Morning with Dan Mitchell, said this year’s festival was designed with accessibility and community in mind, offering a mix of free and ticketed screenings across multiple locations. Films will be shown at The Showroom, the Keene Public Library, and Birdie’s on Main Street, with all events at the library and Birdie’s open to the public at no cost.

“We’re always trying to expose folks to some great independent films and some really fantastic filmmakers,” Fitzgerald said.

Among the highlights is the Jonathan Daniels Award-winning film “Gone Guys,” by Vermont director Chad Irvin. The documentary explores how boys and young men have become increasingly disengaged from school and society.

MONIFF is also introducing new partnerships and interactive experiences. A special experimental film will be paired with live music by composer Kyle Turgeon at Nova Arts, and a panel hosted in collaboration with New Hampshire PBS will tackle the role of public broadcasting in supporting independent filmmakers amid ongoing funding challenges.

For audiences who can’t attend in person, the festival will continue online with a 10-day virtual program following the weekend. Fitzgerald emphasized that the hybrid format allows MONIFF to reach beyond the Monadnock Region.

The festival also reflects MONIFF’s growing role as a year-round presence in the community. Beyond its signature October event, the organization has hosted “Movies Under the Stars” with local recreation departments and Juneteenth film programming.

As for her personal pick, Fitzgerald pointed to “Saving Our Ancestors,” a documentary about primatologist Dr. Birutė Galdikas, one of the three “Leakey’s Angels” alongside Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey. “I think a lot of people don’t know about Dr. Galdikas. To me, this was just fascinating and a fantastic documentary,” she said.

Festival passes and schedules are available online at moniff.org, and organizers encourage attendees to reserve free tickets in advance for library and Birdie’s screenings.