ABCC Our World Film Series
Acton-Boxborough Cultural Council
Our World Film Series
Welcome to the ABCC Our World Film Series website.
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The 2024 ABCC Our World Film Series was held this year at the Sargent Memorial Library in Boxborough. In addition, Acton TV local cable channel will broadcast selected films from our Short Program after the live event. All screenings are FREE and open to the public.
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The ABCC Our World Film Series is now in its 15th year. The series consists of film screenings on four consecutive Friday evenings, starting with the Short Program, now in its 12th year, on the last Friday in April. Feature length films from around the world are screened on the first three Fridays in May. Film DVDs and Blu-ray discs are donated to Acton and Boxborough libraries after our screenings. Short films are broadcast (with filmmakers' permission) on Acton TV local cable access channel after the series concludes.
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Foreign films are selected based on a number of criteria. Maximum running time must be 2 hours or less. The Internet Movie Database website user rating must be at least 7.0. One of the committee members must champion the film and either give opening remarks or find a speaker that can discuss the film and the culture represented by the film. The film must be available on video disc (DVD or Blu-ray). The film should be recognized by multiple film review/criticism groups, awards organizations (e.g. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, BAFTA), film festival awards committees, and other respected film organizations.
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The ABCC Our Word Film Series Advisory Group:
Janet Adachi
Todd Davis, ABCC Our World Short Program Coordinator
Mary Hurley
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Do you love movies? If you would like to join our group, please contact us.
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SUBMISSIONS
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The Short Program, now in its 12th year, features new work EXCLUSIVELY from students, recent alumni, and faculty of Massachusetts college and university film programs. We accept narrative, documentary, and experimental films (live action or animation). Total running time of submissions should be under 10 minutes, but films up to 20 minutes will be considered. Submission is limited to 2 films per person.
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Selected filmmakers are invited to attend the screening and participate in a question-and-answer session following the program. Filmmakers may also have their films broadcast on Acton TV local access cable channel and made available on Acton TV's YouTube channel. (PLEASE NOTE: Any use of films beyond the live event screening is done only with filmmaker permission.)
Please note that there is NO ENTRY FEE. The goal of the program is to provide a interactive venue for screening short films by Massachusetts college filmmakers, including a question-and-answer session with our audience.
The Short Program is on hiatus for 2025.
Please check back in January for the 2026 ABCC Our World Film Series Short Program submission application.
The Acton-Boxborough Cultural Council was established in 1982 to promote the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences, to help develop cultural programs in the Acton and Boxborough communities and to award and administer Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) Grant funds. We accomplish these goals by:
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Reviewing grant applications from individuals, schools, and arts organizations and awarding MCC grant funds to projects that provide a local public benefit;
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Sponsoring annual cultural programs for the Acton and Boxborough communities using funds generously designated by the towns. These funds have been used by the ABCC to present jazz and classical music concerts, vocal performances, opera, public art installations and more;
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Advocating for the arts through community outreach and publicity.
The Acton-Boxborough Cultural Council is funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency that promotes excellence, access, education and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Acton Boxborough Cultural Council,
a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.