Welcome to the 2025 Essex Film Fest!

Essex Film Fest is a fiscally sponsored program of the Essex Library Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tickets are offered free of charge with a suggested donation that directly supports the Essex Library and the festival.

Featured Guest Filmmaker

Mike S. Ryan is a prolific indie film producer, known for bold, visionary low-budget cinema. A key player in the American independent film boom, Ryan has collaborated with auteurs like Kelly Reichardt, Todd Solondz, Hal Hartley, and Béla Tarr. His breakout film Junebug earned an Oscar nomination and proved low-budget films can make a global impact. A Cannes alum, Venice winner, and Whitney Biennial selectee, Ryan continues to shape the future of independent film—both as a producer and as a professor at Emerson College. His latest, The Ballad of Suzanne Césaire, directed by Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich, has screened at major festivals including TIFF and NYFF and is currently touring cinemas across the U.S.

Film Lineup

THE ARTIST’S WIFE

Claire, the wife of a celebrated artist who set aside her own creative ambitions for his, grapples with that choice—and with how to steward his legacy—after he’s diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. A graceful meditation on love, art, and identity, exploring the cost of creativity and the power of human connection. Rated R for language, some graphic nudity and brief sexuality.

THE MISSING GIRL

Filmed in New London, this offbeat caper follows Mort, the lonely and disillusioned owner of a comic book shop, and Ellen, the emotionally disruptive, aspiring graphic novelist he’s hired. Written and directed by A.D. Calvo, founder of the Essex Film Fest, the story explores the search for a girl who isn’t missing and the discovery that it’s never too late for late bloomers. Rated R for language, nudity and brief sexuality.

JUNEBUG

20th Anniversary—A tender, sharply observed dramedy about family, ambition, and the quiet tensions of small-town life. The film introduced Amy Adams in an Oscar-nominated performance and cemented Ryan’s reputation as a champion of intimate, character-driven stories. Rated R for sexual content and language.

LET’S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH

Experience this eerie cult classic from 1971—filmed right here in Essex—with an exclusive guided tour of the actual house it was filmed in. A chilling mix of gothic mystery and psychological unease. Limited availability—reserve your spot early. PG-13.

Producing Masterclass

Award-winning producer Mike S. Ryan breaks down the essentials of guiding a film or series from concept to distribution in this one hour workshop. Perfect for filmmakers, writers, and anyone curious about how producers bring projects to life in a changing industry.

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