The Hamptons International Film Festival Inc

What The Hamptons International Film Festival Inc does

HamptonsFilm, operating as The Hamptons International Film Festival Inc, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit cultural organization founded in 1992 that presents an annual Academy Award-qualifying film festival each October in East Hampton, New York, supplemented by year-round film programming. The organization serves three primary constituencies: independent filmmakers seeking awards-season exposure and career development, film audiences in the Hamptons and broader New York region, and corporate sponsors and donors seeking association with prestige cinema. The flagship Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) is the operational anchor, complemented by signature programs including SummerDocs, Screenwriters Lab, HIFF Jr. Film Camp, Air Land + Sea, Compassion Justice & Animal Rights, Films of Conflict & Resolution, and Views From Long Island, plus year-round screening series (NOW SHOWING, Winter Classic, free outdoor summer movies, and Met Under Moonlight drive-in opera screenings).

The programming platform is built around curated film selection, jury and audience voting, and venue partnerships — primarily with Guild Hall in East Hampton, Regal UA, and outdoor locations — with a virtual streaming component for out-of-region audiences. The festival has developed a distinctive curatorial track record, claiming 12 consecutive years with a Best Picture winner at the Oscars and 663 nominations across the last 17 editions, which functions as both marketing asset and selection magnet. Distribution combines physical ticket sales, online streaming for virtual screenings, founder passes and memberships, and corporate sponsorship packages. The organization is governed by a board co-chaired by Alec Baldwin and Randy Mastro and led operationally by Executive Director Bob Feinberg (appointed December 2025), Chief Creative Officer David Nugent, and Deputy Director Casey Hindman-McIntyre, with approximately 20 staff members overall.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of recurring and transactional streams: ticket and pass sales (Founder Pass and individual tickets), HamptonsFilm membership subscriptions (including the Under30 tier), corporate sponsorships (notably Audi and Artemis Rising Foundation as presenting sponsors), tax-deductible donations and Patrons Circle contributions, and Screenwriters Lab submission fees. There is no parent company and no equity funding; all operating capital flows through the non-profit structure. The organization has awarded over $5 million in cash, goods, and services to filmmakers across 32+ years and maintains a film archive documenting every edition since 1993.

Name

The Hamptons International Film Festival Inc

Legal name

The Hamptons International Film Festival Inc

Website

https://hamptonsfilmfest.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HamptonsFilm is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1992 that operates the annual Academy Award-qualifying Hamptons International Film Festival each October in East Hampton, NY, alongside year-round programming including SummerDocs, Screenwriters Lab, and multiple signature programs serving filmmakers, audiences, and sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

East Hampton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales & Passes: Revenue from individual film tickets, Founder Passes, and various festival passes for the annual October festival and summer screening series.
2. Membership Program: Year-round HamptonsFilm membership including benefits such as early access to screenings, discounts, and exclusive content. Also includes HamptonsFilm Under30 membership tier.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship opportunities for companies including presenting sponsors like Audi and Artemis Rising Foundation. Includes various sponsorship tiers and benefits.
4. Donations & Patrons Circle: Tax-deductible donations from year-round supporters and Patrons Circle members supporting the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
5. Screenwriters Lab Submissions: Application and submission fees for the annual Screenwriters Lab program for emerging screenwriters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HamptonsFilm operates the annual Academy Award-qualifying Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) each October in East Hampton, NY, complemented by year-round film programming including SummerDocs, Screenwriters Lab, NOW SHOWING series, Winter Classic screenings, and educational programs such as HIFF Jr. Film Camp. The organization curates four signature programs (Films of Conflict & Resolution, Compassion Justice & Animal Rights, Air Land + Sea, and Views From Long Island) and offers competitive awards totaling over $190,000 annually.

Product overview

HamptonsFilm (The Hamptons International Film Festival) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1992 that operates primarily as a film festival and year-round film programming organization. The core offering is the annual Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF), an Academy Award-qualifying festival held each October. The organization provides a portfolio of interconnected programs including the annual film festival, SummerDocs documentary series, Screenwriters Lab, HIFF Jr. Film Camp, and multiple signature programs (Air Land + Sea, Compassion Justice & Animal Rights, Films of Conflict & Resolution, Views From Long Island). Additional offerings include year-round screenings via the NOW SHOWING series, Winter Classic series, and free outdoor summer movies. The organization also presents the Melissa Mathison Award for emerging female screenwriters. All programs are designed to celebrate the art of film, educate audiences, and provide exposure for filmmakers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SummerDocs: Summer documentary screening series featuring films followed by conversations with filmmakers and guests, curated by Artistic Director David Nugent and Chairman Emeritus Alec Baldwin.
• Screenwriters Lab
• Air, Land + Sea
• HIFF Jr.
• Views From Long Island

Products and services

• Annual Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF) Flagship annual film festival held each October in East Hampton, NY, featuring narrative and documentary feature and short film competitions with jury and audience awards totaling over $130,000 in cash prizes. Academy Award-qualifying festival.
• SummerDocs Annual summer documentary screening series at Guild Hall featuring acclaimed documentary films followed by conversations with filmmakers and special guests. Curated by Artistic Director David Nugent and Co-Chair Alec Baldwin, entering its 17th season in 2025.
• HIFF Jr. + Film Camp Educational filmmaking program for young people, including the HIFF Jr. Film Camp (July 6-10 session) teaching cinematography and editing to aspiring young filmmakers.
• Screenwriters Lab Screenwriting development program providing mentorship and support for emerging screenwriters, including the Melissa Mathison Award for outstanding female screenwriters.
• Air, Land + Sea Signature Program Year-round environmental screening series founded in 2016 presenting films focused on climate change, environmental conservation, and ecological awareness.
• Compassion, Justice & Animal Rights Signature Program Signature program showcasing films that address animal rights, ethical treatment of animals, and social justice issues, accompanied by the Zelda Penzel Giving Voice to the Voiceless Award.
• Films of Conflict & Resolution Signature Program Signature program focused on films examining war, conflict, and peace-building efforts around the world, accompanied by the Brizzolara Family Foundation Award.
• Views From Long Island Signature Program Signature program supporting and showcasing films about Long Island, including the Suffolk County Next Exposure Grant for local filmmakers.
• Free Summer Outdoor Movies Free outdoor film screenings held in East Hampton during summer months, part of the organization's year-round community programming.
• NOW SHOWING Series Year-round screening series featuring acclaimed first-run, art house, independent, and world cinema. Expanded during pandemic to include virtual screenings.
• Winter Classic Series Classic film screening series presented at Guild Hall in collaboration with Co-Chair Alec Baldwin and Artistic Director David Nugent.
• HamptonsFilm Membership Program Year-round membership program including benefits such as early access to screenings, discounts, and exclusive content, with an Under30 tier.

Quantifiable outcome

• 663 Oscar nominations for films in last 17 festival editions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Southampton PlayhouseminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2025Partnership announced September 2025 for theatrical collaborations between the film festival and local playhouse venue.
• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership where AMPAS brings industry titans to each year's festival. HIFF is an Academy Award-qualifying festival with shorts competition winners eligible for Oscar consideration.
• New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContinuing partnership where NYFCC critics attend the festival every year, serve on juries, and moderate Q&A sessions with filmmakers.
• United Nations Plural+coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational initiative partnership with United Nations addressing youth immigration and social issues through short film.
• Guild HallcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary year-round venue partner for SummerDocs series, Winter Classic screenings, Now Showing series, and special events. Guild Hall is a cultural center in East Hampton.
• PanavisionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn-kind goods and services sponsor for Narrative Feature Competition awards, providing equipment and services to winning filmmakers.
• GreenSlateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn-kind goods and services sponsor for Documentary Feature Competition awards.
• 91 East ProductionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn-kind sponsor for Documentary Feature Competition awards; production company partner.
• Suffolk County Film CommissionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Suffolk County Next Exposure Grant for Views From Long Island Signature Program.
• New York Women in Film & TelevisionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-present awards for outstanding female filmmakers with $1,000 cash prize and six-month membership.
• Jackson Hole International Film FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated film festival partnership announced November 2023.
• Hamptons Arts NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local Hamptons arts organizations network.
• FRANK PRminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublic relations firm handling press inquiries and media relations for the festival year-round and during the annual event.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Jackson Hole International Film Festival: Smaller regional festival explicitly affiliated with HIFF since November 2023; comparable nonprofit, sponsor-driven model with a similar mix of independent film screenings and special events.
• New York Film Festival: Long-running New York-based festival presented by Film at Lincoln Center; shares HIFF's East Coast positioning and focus on curated independent and international cinema with Academy Award implications.
• Mill Valley Film Festival: California Film Institute-operated nonprofit festival of similar scale and programming scope; comparable in presenting narrative and documentary competition films with awards and year-round programming.
• Nantucket Film Festival: Regional East Coast festival of similar scale and demographic focus (affluent seasonal community); comparable in nonprofit model, sponsor-driven revenue mix, and intimate filmmaker-audience access.
• Telluride Film Festival: Intimate, high-prestige Colorado festival often grouped with HIFF as 'Telluride East'; comparable in awards-season relevance, filmmaker access, and curated specialty programming.
• Tribeca Festival: New York City-based annual film festival with a similar mix of independent film premieres, awards-season positioning, and industry networking; comparable in audience profile and programming model to HIFF, though larger in scale and budget.

Broad incumbents

• AFI Fest: American Film Institute festival and Academy Award-qualifying event in Los Angeles; comparable in Oscar-qualifying competition structure and narrative/documentary programming, though operated by a larger institution.
• Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF): Much larger North American festival and awards-season bellwether; comparable in serving as an Academy Award launchpad and in screening narrative/documentary features and shorts, though at materially greater scale.
• SXSW Film & TV Festival: Much larger multi-format festival with a film track; comparable in showcasing independent film premieres and in offering sponsor and pass-based monetization, though it is part of a broader music/tech/gaming event.
• Sundance Film Festival: Larger, established nonprofit festival with similar independent film focus and Academy Award relevance; operates at significantly greater scale but shares the nonprofit, mission-driven festival model and year-round programming via Sundance Institute.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HamptonsIntlFilmFest
• Instagraminstagram.com/hamptonsfilm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hamptons-international-film-festival

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Hamptons International Film Festival Inc