The New England Film Festival encompasses several distinct entities related to cinema in the region. Historically, the New England Film & Video Festival, founded in 1976, was a prominent regional independent and student film festival and the longest-running of its kind in the United States until it concluded after 2007. Following its cessation, the Online New England Film Festival was established in 2009, serving as a free annual online event that showcases short films with a New England connection, curated from various local film festivals. Additionally, a separate "New England Film Festival" exists as an international platform designed by artists to foster film creation, global cinematic exchange, and educational opportunities.