04/17/2026
Still thinking about these three incredible World Premieres from this year’s Salem Film Fest:
Screened in Shorts Program SO CLOSE, SO FAR: ARTS AND CULTURE IN OUR HOMETOWNS, sponsored by All Souls Lounge, John J Walsh Insurance Agency, Notch Brewing, Destination Salem, Massachusetts , and The Feline Hospital.
TORNADO TASTES LIKE ALUMINUM STING
Directed by Harmon dot aut & James Rutenbeck
A bold, sensory-driven work that pushed the boundaries of form and storytelling, this film brought audiences into the creative world of an autistic, q***r, nonbinary playwright whose voice feels entirely their own. It was a powerful reminder of why we champion artists working outside the margins—and how transformative that work can be when shared in community.
SOUND & COLOR
Directed by Alissa Fagin
A deeply personal exploration of synesthesia, this film follows artist Sarah Kraning as she works with filmmakers to translate her experience of sound into visual form. The result is both technically inventive and emotionally intimate—offering audiences a rare window into perception, collaboration, and the creative process.
Screened in Shorts Program TOGETHER, STORIES OF OUR COLLECTIVE POWERS, sponsored by House of Four Gables Airbnb, Amelia Payson House, Mass Bay Dental, and John J Walsh Insurance.
BARRIGA LLENA, CORAZÓN CONTENTO (FULL BELLY, HAPPY HEART)
Directed by Jordana Rubenstein-Edberg & Marshall Hanig
This moving portrait of a grassroots food pantry in Queens grounded us in care, resilience, and the power of mutual aid. Through stories of migration and shared meals, it captured the everyday labor that sustains communities—and the deep connections that grow from it.
We’re grateful to have shared these films with Salem audiences for the very first time.
Photos by Shane Corcoran, Honey & Sage Photo Co. .
