Maine Film Festivals
Maine is home to a thriving film community and offers an abundance of festivals each year. Primarily taking place between March and November, these festivals can be found throughout the state. Maine's film festivals screen the best of both independent and industry films along with panel discussions, workshops, receptions, and community celebrations. This resource lists festivals by event-date. For complete information please visit the festival site.
The Maine Arts Commission supports film in Maine through our grants programs and by being an informational resoruce. We are proud to serve the sector along with other valuable statewide organizations which include; the Maine Film Center, the Maine Film Association, and the Maine Film Office.
Wild & Scenic Film Festival
November (early)
Portland
cascobay.org
This year, January 16 to 20, 2020
Friends of Casco Bay is delighted to host the national touring Wild & Scenic Film Festival! Wild & Scenic is a festival with a purpose. It is a gathering of storytellers and story-makers with a love and appreciation for our glorious natural environment. Friends of Casco Bay is the leading environmental organization working to improve and protect the environmental health of Casco Bay.
November (early)
Portland
cascobay.org
This year, January 16 to 20, 2020
Friends of Casco Bay is delighted to host the national touring Wild & Scenic Film Festival! Wild & Scenic is a festival with a purpose. It is a gathering of storytellers and story-makers with a love and appreciation for our glorious natural environment. Friends of Casco Bay is the leading environmental organization working to improve and protect the environmental health of Casco Bay.
Maine Jewish Film Festival (MJFF)
March (late)
Portland
www.mjff.org
This year, 2020 dates TBD
MJFF began in 1998 at South Portland’s Congregation Bet Ha’am. Since then they have presented hundreds of films both domestic and foreign, brought hundreds of guest artists from the U.S. and around the world and sold tens of thousands of tickets to both Jewish and non-Jewish attendees. They curate a film program that explores the Jewish experience through features, documentaries and shorts. MJFF has grown to be one of the best-attended and highly-anticipated cultural events in the Portland area.
March (late)
Portland
www.mjff.org
This year, 2020 dates TBD
MJFF began in 1998 at South Portland’s Congregation Bet Ha’am. Since then they have presented hundreds of films both domestic and foreign, brought hundreds of guest artists from the U.S. and around the world and sold tens of thousands of tickets to both Jewish and non-Jewish attendees. They curate a film program that explores the Jewish experience through features, documentaries and shorts. MJFF has grown to be one of the best-attended and highly-anticipated cultural events in the Portland area.
Maine Student Film and Video Conference
March (late)
Waterville
https://www.mainestudentfilm.org
This year, March 30, 2019
The Maine Student Film Video Festival is open to Maine residents 19 years of age and younger. The movies submitted to the Festival are judged on the basis of originality, content, style, and technique. Movies are reviewed by divisions: pre-teen, (grades K-6 ), junior (grades 7-8) and senior (grades 9-12). Each year finalists and winners’ movies are selected for screening in conjunction with the Maine International Film Festival in Waterville.
March (late)
Waterville
https://www.mainestudentfilm.org
This year, March 30, 2019
The Maine Student Film Video Festival is open to Maine residents 19 years of age and younger. The movies submitted to the Festival are judged on the basis of originality, content, style, and technique. Movies are reviewed by divisions: pre-teen, (grades K-6 ), junior (grades 7-8) and senior (grades 9-12). Each year finalists and winners’ movies are selected for screening in conjunction with the Maine International Film Festival in Waterville.
Portland Youth Film Festival
April (mid)
Portland
www.portlandyouthfilmfestival.com/
This year, April 27, 2019
The Portland Youth Film Festival is organized by the East End Community School with the purpose of bringing community together to create and celebrate film. It offers international films, local films, and a film contest for k-12 students. It takes place annually at venues throughout Portland and encourages everyone to experience the offerings, adults and children alike.
April (mid)
Portland
www.portlandyouthfilmfestival.com/
This year, April 27, 2019
The Portland Youth Film Festival is organized by the East End Community School with the purpose of bringing community together to create and celebrate film. It offers international films, local films, and a film contest for k-12 students. It takes place annually at venues throughout Portland and encourages everyone to experience the offerings, adults and children alike.
Maine Deaf Film Festival
April (late)
Portland
www.mainedeaffilmfest.com
This year, April 12 and 13, 2019
The University of Southern Maine’s American Sign Language (ASL) Club proudly hosts the annual Maine Deaf Film Festival. This student-run event showcases innovation and creative talent within the realm of film and video created by the deaf community. The mission is to provide a platform for people to learn about, appreciate, and celebrate deaf culture, issues and art. All selected films are written, produced, created, and performed by deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and film production companies.
April (late)
Portland
www.mainedeaffilmfest.com
This year, April 12 and 13, 2019
The University of Southern Maine’s American Sign Language (ASL) Club proudly hosts the annual Maine Deaf Film Festival. This student-run event showcases innovation and creative talent within the realm of film and video created by the deaf community. The mission is to provide a platform for people to learn about, appreciate, and celebrate deaf culture, issues and art. All selected films are written, produced, created, and performed by deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and film production companies.
This year May 17-20, 2019
The Abbe Museum and Reel Pizza Cinerama partner to present the region’s only Indigenous Film Festival during the Abbe Museum Indian Market. Each evening features films by and about Indigenous peoples, presenting stories often overlooked in the film industry. The Abbe Museum Indian Market Film Festival l includes feature films, documentaries, and select Q&A sessions with filmmakers
Maine International Film Festival
July (mid)
Waterville
www.miff.org
This year, July 12 to 21, 2019
During the 10 days of MIFF over 100 films are screened, representing the best of American independent and international cinema. MIFF also spotlights some of Maine and New England's most exciting and innovative filmmakers. Audiences have opportunities to meet and talk with film professionals- directors, producers, writers, musicians. Honored guests and visiting filmmakers host panel discussions as well as informal Q&A sessions.
July (mid)
Waterville
www.miff.org
This year, July 12 to 21, 2019
During the 10 days of MIFF over 100 films are screened, representing the best of American independent and international cinema. MIFF also spotlights some of Maine and New England's most exciting and innovative filmmakers. Audiences have opportunities to meet and talk with film professionals- directors, producers, writers, musicians. Honored guests and visiting filmmakers host panel discussions as well as informal Q&A sessions.
Northeast Historic Film, Summer Symposium
July (late)
Bucksport
http://oldfilm.org/content/symposia-and-roundtables
This year, July 18 to 20, 2019
NHF is a nonprofit archives dedicated to collecting, preserving and sharing northern New England's moving image heritage. The NHF Summer Symposium is a multi-disciplinary gathering devoted to the history, theory, and preservation of amateur and nontheatrical moving images. The Symposium is noted for bringing together archivists, scholars, and artists in an intimate setting.
July (late)
Bucksport
http://oldfilm.org/content/symposia-and-roundtables
This year, July 18 to 20, 2019
NHF is a nonprofit archives dedicated to collecting, preserving and sharing northern New England's moving image heritage. The NHF Summer Symposium is a multi-disciplinary gathering devoted to the history, theory, and preservation of amateur and nontheatrical moving images. The Symposium is noted for bringing together archivists, scholars, and artists in an intimate setting.
Camden International Film Festival (CIFF)
September (mid)
Camden, Rockport and Rockland
www.camdenfilmfest.org
This year, September 12 to 15, 2019
The Camden International Film Festival is recognized as one of the top film festivals in the world for documentary films and filmmakers. CIFF highlights work that shows dedication to craft and a unique and artistic approach to telling good stories. Films are selected for their ability to arouse discussion on documentary film as an art form, a catalyst for change and as an outlet for the independent voice. Accompanying the screening of nearly fifty features and shorts are Q&A’s with directors and producers, informative panels, the Points North Documentary Forum, PANOPTIC (a showcase of new media and experimental artworks), musical concerts, unforgettable parties and an opportunity to connect with eager audiences and industry leaders in an extremely intimate setting.
September (mid)
Camden, Rockport and Rockland
www.camdenfilmfest.org
This year, September 12 to 15, 2019
The Camden International Film Festival is recognized as one of the top film festivals in the world for documentary films and filmmakers. CIFF highlights work that shows dedication to craft and a unique and artistic approach to telling good stories. Films are selected for their ability to arouse discussion on documentary film as an art form, a catalyst for change and as an outlet for the independent voice. Accompanying the screening of nearly fifty features and shorts are Q&A’s with directors and producers, informative panels, the Points North Documentary Forum, PANOPTIC (a showcase of new media and experimental artworks), musical concerts, unforgettable parties and an opportunity to connect with eager audiences and industry leaders in an extremely intimate setting.
Maine Outdoor Film Festival
Multiple times in September
Multiple locations
http://maineoutdoorfilmfestival.com/
Multiple dates, September, 2019
The Maine Outdoor Film Festival’s mission is to celebrate the outdoor community and inspire expression.The Maine Outdoor Film Festival features outdoor films and shorts with Maine roots. Films in the festival represent a diverse selection of outdoor disciplines, representative of the vast Maine outdoor experience. The festival kicks off at the base at Three Rivers Whitewater in The Forks each summer, with tour of main street theaters and college/high school amphitheaters each winter/spring.
Multiple times in September
Multiple locations
http://maineoutdoorfilmfestival.com/
Multiple dates, September, 2019
The Maine Outdoor Film Festival’s mission is to celebrate the outdoor community and inspire expression.The Maine Outdoor Film Festival features outdoor films and shorts with Maine roots. Films in the festival represent a diverse selection of outdoor disciplines, representative of the vast Maine outdoor experience. The festival kicks off at the base at Three Rivers Whitewater in The Forks each summer, with tour of main street theaters and college/high school amphitheaters each winter/spring.
International Maritime Film Festival
September (late)
Bucksport Maine
http://maritimefilmfestival.com
This year, September 27 to 29, 2019
The International Maritime Film Festival (IMFF) is a juried contest of films celebrating the heritage, spirit of adventure, and ingenuity of boats and waterborne pursuits. The IMFF is a joint venture between Northeast Historic Film (NHF) in Bucksport, Maine, and WoodenBoat Publications, Inc. (WBPI), in Brooklin, Maine.
September (late)
Bucksport Maine
http://maritimefilmfestival.com
This year, September 27 to 29, 2019
The International Maritime Film Festival (IMFF) is a juried contest of films celebrating the heritage, spirit of adventure, and ingenuity of boats and waterborne pursuits. The IMFF is a joint venture between Northeast Historic Film (NHF) in Bucksport, Maine, and WoodenBoat Publications, Inc. (WBPI), in Brooklin, Maine.
Emerge Film Festival
April (late)
Lewiston/Auburn
http://emergefilmfestival.org/
This year, October 3 to 5, 2019
The mission of Emerge Film Festival is to build awareness of independent films and to support a diverse cross-section of filmmakers, from 'established' to 'emerging', and from Maine and the rest of the world. They aim to promote the motion picture arts and to provide educational opportunities for student filmmakers in the Lewiston/Auburn community.
April (late)
Lewiston/Auburn
http://emergefilmfestival.org/
This year, October 3 to 5, 2019
The mission of Emerge Film Festival is to build awareness of independent films and to support a diverse cross-section of filmmakers, from 'established' to 'emerging', and from Maine and the rest of the world. They aim to promote the motion picture arts and to provide educational opportunities for student filmmakers in the Lewiston/Auburn community.
Damnationland
October (mid)
Portland
www.damnationland.com
This year, October 2019
Damnationland presents original works from Maine filmmakers that redefine the classic thriller and horror categories. Beginning in 2009, the Damnationland program features world premieres of short films produced in Maine by Mainers especially for the Halloween season. These are dark, surreal, and fantastic pieces, and they offer film fans an excellent sampling of the talent producing independent film in Maine today.
October (mid)
Portland
www.damnationland.com
This year, October 2019
Damnationland presents original works from Maine filmmakers that redefine the classic thriller and horror categories. Beginning in 2009, the Damnationland program features world premieres of short films produced in Maine by Mainers especially for the Halloween season. These are dark, surreal, and fantastic pieces, and they offer film fans an excellent sampling of the talent producing independent film in Maine today.
Sanford International Film Festival
October (late)
Sanford
www.sanfordfilmfest.com/
This year, October 16 to 29, 2019
The Sanford International Film Festival is dedicated to entertaining the members of the community. It provides a platform for the works of budding independent filmmakers and fosters the creation of the arts by hosting their festival within the Sanford area.
October (late)
Sanford
www.sanfordfilmfest.com/
This year, October 16 to 29, 2019
The Sanford International Film Festival is dedicated to entertaining the members of the community. It provides a platform for the works of budding independent filmmakers and fosters the creation of the arts by hosting their festival within the Sanford area.
