🍿 Documentary Season Starts Here
Summer in the Hamptons usually means beach days, seafood dinners, and long sunsets. But for film lovers, it also means the return of one of the area’s most anticipated traditions: the annual SummerDocs series from HamptonsFilm and Guild Hall
Now entering its 18th year, the series brings some of the most talked-about documentaries of the year to East Hampton, complete with filmmaker conversations and behind-the-scenes insights you won’t get at a regular movie theater.
🎥 Three Documentaries Worth Watching
This year’s lineup covers everything from free speech and celebrity culture to one of the most dangerous mountains on Earth.
The series opens on June 27 with KNIFE: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Alex Gibney. The film follows author Salman Rushdie’s physical and emotional recovery after the 2022 attack that shocked the literary world
In August, audiences can catch The Lion Queen, an exploration of the life of socialite Jocelyne Wildenstein, whose highly publicized divorce and dramatic tabloid coverage made her one of the most recognizable figures of the 1990s
Closing out the season is The Last First: Winter K2, a gripping look at mountaineers attempting the first successful winter ascent of K2, one of the world’s most unforgiving peaks
🎤 More Than Just a Screening
One thing that makes SummerDocs special is that the experience doesn’t end when the credits roll.
Each screening includes conversations with filmmakers and special guests, giving audiences a chance to hear firsthand about the stories behind the films and the challenges of bringing them to the screen
For documentary fans, that’s often the best part.
🌅 Free Outdoor Movies Return Too
If your ideal summer evening involves a blanket and a sunset, HamptonsFilm has that covered as well.
The organization’s free outdoor screening series returns with crowd favorites including:
- Mamma Mia!
- Home Alone
- WALL-E
- Coco
- Jaws
The screenings will take place at beaches, parks, and outdoor venues throughout the Hamptons, turning classic movie nights into community events under the stars
🎞️ A Summer for Film Lovers of Every Age
The programming doesn’t stop there. HamptonsFilm is also bringing back its popular youth film camps, giving aspiring filmmakers ages 8 to 18 a chance to learn storytelling and production skills during the summer months
✨ Final Take
Whether you’re looking for an Oscar-worthy documentary, a family movie night on the beach, or simply an excuse to spend more evenings outdoors, HamptonsFilm’s summer lineup offers a little bit of everything.
Because sometimes the best part of summer isn’t what’s on your streaming queue—it’s watching a great story unfold with an audience.
👉 Learn more: https://www.hamptonsfilmfest.org
👉 SummerDocs tickets: https://www.guildhall.org/