BELFAST—Now in its sixth year, the Maine Outdoor Film Festival is wending its way down the Midcoast for its statewide screenings and on September 9 at Waterfall Arts, outdoor enthusiasts will get to see seven of nearly 37 short films accepted this year. Of the entire selections, more than 15 Maine films were included in the program.

Each MOFF screening is uniquely curated for the geographic location and venue and Waterfall Arts’ theme this year is around conservation. The screening of multiple short films will run about 90 minutes. Two standout films to watch that night according to MOFF director Nick Callanan are “Dead Meat” a 21-minute film made by a young Augusta filmmaker Peter Ackerman, which takes a look at our current relationship with wild animals and nature, investigating the phenomena of roadkill and the effects that roads and urbanization have on wild animals, and the many implications of these effects.

“This is a wonderful film,” said Callanan. “It’s about our modern day relationship with wild animals and a real interesting study about how people relate to road kill and killing animals in general.” Ackerman, who was a high school student, when he first attended a MOFF screening, said in a release, “I remember as a high school student attending the festival and loving the style and themes of the films screened, so to have my work be a part of MOFF four years later is a great thrill and honor.”

Another standout includes “The Poacher,” by Nicholas Jones, a 12-minute film about a 40-something man, John, who roams London’s streets providing trendy London restaurants with food he hunts and fishes, forages or literally picks off the ground. “I know people will get a kick out of this one,” said Callanan. “With the gentrification of London and these trendy restaurants, there is this demand for locally sourced food, of course. This guy John is old-school. He’s naturalist living in London; He sells flowers and herbs to restaurants; he trades rabbits for beer. The film is like an ecapsulated day in his life and it’s a real appreciation for the kind of things we tend to overlook.”

Bring your own blanket and chair to the screening as it will be outdoors in the field. In case of foul weather, the screening will be moved inside. The event starts at 8 p.m. with a suggested $10 donation. If you miss the Belfast screening, MOFF comes back to the Midcoast again on September 29, 2017 at The Camden Snow Bowl Trail Festival.

For more information about the Waterfall Arts screening visit: Waterfall Arts. For more information about MOFF visit: maineoutdoorfilmfestival.com

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com