ROCKPORT — The Camden International Film Festival has announced several new titles to its Summer Series at the Shotwell Drive-In. Constructed last summer in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Shotwell was CIFF’s way to bring the community together safely to experience cinema.

The 2021 Shotwell Summer Series will continue throughout July and August and will start with a special screening of CODA, Apple Original Film’s hit from Sundance on July 8 and 10. Written and directed by Siân Heder, the film swept the juried prizes at this year's Sundance, winning the Directing Award, the Ensemble Award, and the Grand Jury Prize, as well as the Audience Award. The film will debut in theaters and on Apple TV+ on Friday, Aug. 13. Director Siân Heder will be present for a special post-screening Q&A on July 8 as part of CIFF’s Summer Party.

CODA stars Emilia Jones (Locke & Key) as seventeen-year-old Ruby, the sole hearing member of a deaf family – a CODA, child of deaf adults. Her life revolves around acting as interpreter for her parents and working on the family's struggling fishing boat every day before school with her father and older brother. But when Ruby joins her high school’s choir club, she discovers a gift for singing and soon finds herself drawn to her duet partner, Miles. Encouraged by her enthusiastic, tough-love choirmaster to apply to a prestigious music school, Ruby finds herself torn between the obligations she feels to her family and the pursuit of her own dreams.

“CODA is a heart warming and uplifting testament to the power of film, and we are excited and thrilled to have the opportunity to share this summer's cinematic sensation with our community prior to its launch on Apple+ in August,” says Ben Fowlie, executive and artistic director of the Points North Institute, and founder of the Camden International Film Festival, in a news release. “I cannot imagine a more fitting film to share at The Shotwell. Cinema is a beacon and this experience will be a reminder of that.”

Additional July titles include National Geographic Documentary Film’s latest, Playing With Sharks about Valerie Taylor, the photographer and trailblazing advocate for the ocean's most maligned and misunderstood creatures; a restored version of one of David Lynch’s many cult classics, Blue Velvet; Prince’s 1987 concert film Sign ‘O’ The Times, which has been out of print in the US since the early 90s; and The Race to Alaska, a documentary about adventurous sailors who compete in a boat race across Alaskan waters, in partnership with Camden Classics Cup.

August, September and October titles will be announced soon.

The Shotwell will also host films nightly during the 17th edition of the Camden International Film Festival, taking place both in-person and online from September 16-26 throughout venues in Camden, Rockport, and Rockland. Passes to the festival are now on sale, and the official program will be announced the week of August 15.

The Shotwell Drive-In is located at 40 West Street in Rockport and is presented in partnership with Bangor Savings Bank.

Tickets are $20 per vehicle and available online.

Food trucks, including Cold Toes Tacos, and restrooms are available on site.

To see the entire schedule or to purchase tickets, visit www.pointsnorthinstitute.org.

About Points North Institute

The Points North Institute is the launching pad for the next generation of nonfiction storytellers. We build creative communities of media artists and audiences, through immersive experiences where stories and talent are developed, collaborations are born,  and the future of nonfiction is shaped. Our programs include the Camden International Film Festival and year-round artist support initiatives that nurture the careers of diverse nonfiction storytellers and help them develop a stronger artistic voice. The 17th edition of the Camden International Film Festival will take place September 16-26, 2021.