Eighteen films were chosen from more than 200 submissions for screening at this year's three-day festival Sept. 29 through Oct. 1. They will fill the screens at two venues in downtown Newburyport - the Firehouse Arts Center in Market Square and the Screening Room.

"We picked as many as we could fit into one weekend," said Michelle Fino of Newburyport, one of the festival's founders.

The centerpiece of the festival is New Hampshire filmmaker Deborah Scranton's "The War Tapes," which won the Tribeca Film Festival for Best Documentary. It earned the festival's Saturday night featured spot.

Directed remotely by Scranton, it was filmed by National Guard soldiers serving in Iraq. "The War Tapes" follows three men - Sgt. Steve Pink, a young carpenter with a dark, irreverent sense of humor who joined the National Guard for the money; Sgt. Zack Bazzi, an inquisitive traveler and university student; and Spec. Mike Moraiarty, a husband and father of two driven to fight by honor and redemption.

To complement "The War Tapes," Fino said organizers wanted to offer festivalgoers a mix of subjects and styles in both feature and short films.

The schedule includes topical films, such as "Maquilapolis (City of Factories)" highlighting factory workers in Tijuana as they organize for change; "In Debt We Trust: America Before the Bubble Burst," and "Independents Under Fire: The Battle for the American Bookstore."

There are quirky features as well, including "For the Love of Dolly" by Tai Uhlmann depicting the Dolly Parton fan phenomenon; "Asparagus: A Stalkumentary" about one rural American community's struggle to retain its identity; and "Johnny Berlin" by Dominic DeJoseph, the tale of a porter aboard a luxury train who expounds on his life as a struggling writer while holding down a day job.

In addition to awards for Best Feature, Best Short and Best New England inspiration, this year's festival will include the first Audience Choice Award. Many of the filmmakers will lead question-and-answer sessions following their screenings, and organizers are also planning a coffee social to allow the public to meet the talent behind the films.

"We want to make it as interactive a weekend as possible," Fino said.

Friday, Sept. 29

The Screening Room, 82 State St.

82 State St.

7:30 to 9:30 p.m.: "In Debt We Trust: America Before The Bubble Burst," directed by Danny Schechter.

Saturday, Sept. 30

The Screening Room

11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.: "Jack Mitchell: My Life is Black and White," directed by Craig Highberger.

1 to 2:30 p.m.: "For The Love of Dolly," directed by Tai Uhlmann.

2:45 to 4:15 p.m.: "Jungle Remedy" directed by Kirk Jackson, and "Subway Film" directed by Mitchell Rosenzweig.

Firehouse Arts Center, Market Square

11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.: "Walking to Werner" directed by Linas Phillips.

1 to 2:45 p.m.: "Independents Under Fire: The Battle for the American Bookstore" directed by Jacob Bricca, and "The Comet Model News" directed by Nancy Kapitanoff.

3 to 4:30 p.m.: "Johnny Berlin" directed by Dominic DeJoseph.

5 to 6 p.m.: Panel Discussion

7:30 to 9:30 p.m.: "The War Tapes," Tribeca Film Festival winner for Best Documentary, directed by Deborah Scranton.

9:30 to 11:30 p.m.: Cocktail Party, Not Your Average Joe1s, Market Square.

Sunday, Oct. 1

The Screening Room

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: "The Shape of Water" directed by Kum-Kum Bhavnani, and "The Bowlers" directed by Levin McCarthy.

12:45 to 2:45 p.m.: "Class Act" directed by Sara Sackner.

3 to 4:45 p.m.: "Black Gold" directed by Marc and Nick Francis, and "Lieve Monster" directed by Marco De Stefanis.

Firehouse Arts Center

9:30 to 10:30 a.m.: Coffee with the filmmakers.

11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.: "Asparagus: A Stalkumentary" directed by Anne de Mare and Kirsten Kelly.

1 to 3 p.m.: "Sentenced Home" directed by David Grabias and Nicole Newnham, and "Si Se Puede! (Yes We Can!)" directed by Brian Liloia.

3:15 to 4:30 p.m.: "Maquilapolis" directed by Vicky Funari.

5:15 to 6 p.m.: Awards Ceremony.

Newburyport Documentary Film Festival

When: Sept. 29-Oct. 1

Where: The Screening Room and the Firehouse Arts Center, downtown Newburyport

How: Visit www.newburyportfilmfestival.org.