This year the Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) is going virtual, along with screening twelve nights of films live at its new Shotwell Drive-In Theatre, in Rockport. A program of the Points North Institute, the festival will run from October 1 - 12, presenting over 60 films online to audiences right in the comfort of their own home. 

During the course of the 12 day festival, CIFF will continue its tradition to support artists and the local community by providing a number of free screenings and events. This year the festival will also expand on its commitment to build community through storytelling by partnering with organizations on special events to support organizations across Maine. 

Earlier this summer, CIFF announced that every passholder and ticket buyer would be part of supporting independent storytellers by re-directing 50% of the revenue received from its virtual box office to the Filmmaker Solidarity Fund. The fund will distribute honoraria evenly across all feature and short filmmakers at the completion of CIFF. 

The festival will also partner with the Penobscot Bay YMCA on a special screening of the powerful new documentary, Through The Night by director Loira Limbal. The film explores the personal cost of the modern economy through the stories of two working mothers and a child care provider – whose lives intersect at a 24-hour daycare center.

From October 2-12, 50% of all virtual ticket revenue from this film will support the Penobscot Bay YMCA's Early Learning Centers. 

"CIFF's powerful community generosity blends with the Y's daily care of children in our child care centers in serving families in a supportive manner,” said Melissa Bellew, Penobscot Bay YMCA’s president and CEO, in a a Points North Institute news release. “The centers continued to operate throughout this pandemic in serving essential providers and we're grateful to CIFF for this opportunity.” 

This year's festival will end with a special celebration on Indigenous Peoples’ Day. In anticipation, CIFF will feature 18 films in a  program online throughout the duration of the virtual program. Fifty percent of all ticket revenue from the films will be donated to Wabanaki Public Health, an organization dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of tribal community members through connection, prevention and collaboration.

“We couldn’t be more proud of the work that we’re doing to support the artists and the organizations that are making this world a better place” said Ben Fowlie, founder of CIFF. “This year has shown us time and again that there are opportunities to re-imagine the work that we do and the impact we can have as we continue to use storytelling to build community. Every single person who plugs into the festival can be a part of this too, which is really exciting.”

Films in the virtual program will be available to watch online from October 2 - 12. Tickets can be purchased directly here. Additional pass and ticket info, as well as a full list of films screening at CIFF can be found here.

From October 6 - 8 CIFF will open its Shotwell Drive-In to the public for free, offering community members the chance to experience cinema on the big screen. Films screened include new work from Oscar-nominated director, Steve James, as well as several Points North Institute supported films. Attendees must register online for the spot at the Shotwell for each screening at camdenfilmfest.org.

Additionally, all events associated with the festival’s virtual Points North Forum will be free and accessible to the public anywhere. 

Virtual All Access passes are $100, and individual virtual screening tickets are $12. Admission to The Shotwell Drive-In is $20 per car and extremely limited.

“Newly built, this special venue is designed to make a safe place for our community to come together during the pandemic,” said Points North.

About the Points North Institute

Established in 2016, the Points North Institute is the launching pad for the next generation of nonfiction storytellers. Building on the success of the Camden International Film Festival, the Points North Institute’s mission is to bring together a unique, interdisciplinary community of filmmakers, artists, journalists, industry leaders, and audiences, forming a creative hub on the coast of Maine where new stories and talent are discovered, collaborations are born, and the future of nonfiction media is shaped. Programs include the annual Camden International Film Festival and Points North Forum, as well as a year-round calendar of artist development initiatives that nurture the careers of diverse nonfiction storytellers and help them develop a stronger artistic voice. 

Founded in 2005 and recognized as one of the top documentary film festivals in the world, the Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) brings the finest non-fiction cinema to the coast of Maine, showcasing over 100 documentary films from around the globe each fall. Running concurrently with CIFF, the Points North Forum provides filmmakers with opportunities for professional development and creative inspiration. 

The 2020 Camden International Film Festival and Points North Forum will take place October 1 - 12. Major support provided by SHOWTIME Documentary Films, the National Endowment for the Arts, Ford Foundation and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

For more information visit http://pointsnorthinstitute.org/