As the East End settles into the quieter rhythm of fall, one of the Hamptons’ most anticipated cultural traditions returns. From October 2–12, the 34th-annual Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) will once again transform the community into a gathering place for filmmakers, actors, industry leaders, and cinephiles from around the world.
For more than three decades, HIFF has occupied a distinctive place on the cultural calendar. Far removed from the frenzy of Manhattan—and arriving just as awards season begins to gather momentum—the festival offers an intimate setting in which some of the year’s most compelling films and emerging voices can take center stage.
This year also marks a new chapter for Hamptons Film with Bob Feinberg at the helm as executive director. Feinberg, who founded Montclair Film and previously held leadership roles at WNET, joins Chief Creative Officer David Nugent as the organization continues to expand its reach, both during the festival and throughout the year.
That evolution is perhaps what feels most exciting about Hamptons Film today. What was once defined primarily by its celebrated October festival has grown into a year-round cultural presence on the East End. Its programming now extends from the annual Screenwriters Lab, which nurtures emerging screenwriting talent, to SummerDocs, outdoor screenings, educational initiatives, and film camps introducing younger generations to the art of storytelling.
This summer offered a preview of that expansive approach. The 18th-annual SummerDocs series returned to East Hampton, bringing acclaimed documentary filmmaking and conversations with leading creative voices to Guild Hall, while free outdoor screenings continued the organization’s mission of making cinema accessible to the broader community Out East.
However, come October, all eyes turn back to the festival itself. Over 11 days, screenings and events will unfold across the Hamptons, continuing HIFF’s tradition of pairing major anticipated releases with documentaries, international cinema, and discoveries from emerging filmmakers. The complete 2026 slate is still to come, making the weeks ahead part of the anticipation.
The festival has long had an uncanny ability to identify films just before the rest of the world begins talking about them. Yet its appeal goes beyond predicting awards-season favorites. There’s something uniquely Hamptons about experiencing cinema here—watching a film alongside its creators, hearing the story behind the story, and then continuing the conversation over dinner only a few miles away.
In a destination celebrated for its beaches, architecture, art, and summer social season, the Hamptons International Film Festival has helped establish another identity for the East End—one as a serious and increasingly influential home for film and storytelling. And as the crowds of summer disappear and the lights inside the theaters come up, October may just be one of the most exciting times to be on the East End.
Actress Demi Moore attended the 32nd-annual Hamptons International Film Festival in 2024, where she received the Career Achievement in Acting Award for her work in The Substance. She also participated in a featured panel, A Conversation with Demi Moore, moderated by Alina Cho at the East Hampton Middle School.
Eric Viner
