stories from Wabanaki and Acadian, farmers, Loring Air Force Base, and more

‘La Frontière’ premières on Maine Public Television

Sat, 03/09/2024 - 5:00pm

    A short documentary film, La Frontière, will be featured on Maine Public Television as part of their Maine Public Film Series. Viewers can watch the premiere on Thursday, March 21, at 9 p.m., with a re-broadcast on Saturday, March 23, at 2 p.m. The film will also be available to stream on the Maine PBS website.

    La Frontière is a poetic documentary portrait of Maine’s border with Canada, exploring the history and culture of these borderlands and the people who call them home. Both intimate and expansive, the 35-minute film provides a unique perspective on this 611-mile border. It features interviews and stories from Wabanaki and Acadian communities, farmers, people who used to work and live at Loring Air Force Base, young women competing in the annual Potato Blossom Festival, and many others. 

    La Frontière is directed and produced by Katy Haas and Megan Ruffe and features the cinematography of Lindsay Taylor Jackson and Jared Ames. The documentary was made with support from the Maine Heritage Film Grant, provided by the Points North Institute and TV5Monde, to highlight French language and culture in Maine. La Frontière had a successful film festival run, screening at festivals including the Camden International Film Festival in Midcoast Maine and winning the Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary Short at the Monadnock International Film Festival in Keene, New Hampshire. For more information about the film and future broadcasts and screenings, please visit: www.lafrontierefilm.com.

    "This film was made possible by the immense support and openness of the communities along Maine's border,” said co-filmmaker Katy Haas, in a news release. “Their willingness to share their time and stories has brought this project to life.”

    Co-filmmaker Megan Ruffe added: "We were in awe of the landscapes we encountered throughout Maine, and we wanted to showcase the beauty and resilience of these areas and the people who call them home."

     

    Maine Public is Maine’s premier, independent media resource, dedicated to creating exceptional opportunities for the communities it serves to engage with critical issues, compelling stories and quality entertainment. Maine Public is renowned for creating award-winning programs, as well as airing content from PBS, NPR, and other independent producers. Formed in 1992, Maine Public is an independently owned and operated nonprofit organization with office and studio locations in Bangor, Lewiston, and Portland, Maine. For more information, visit mainepublic.org.