Points North Institute will kick off the 21st Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) with a special free community screening for the first time. Observer is a new documentary by Camden-based filmmaker Ian Cheney. The screening will be held on Wednesday, September 10, at 6 p.m., at the Strom Auditorium at Camden Hills Regional High School.

Fresh off its world premiere at the prestigious CPH:DOX film festival in Copenhagen, Observer is a poetic and inquisitive journey into the art of looking closely. From street corners to starfields, Cheney’s film brings viewers into conversation with scientists, artists, and everyday observers, revealing the wonder woven into daily life.

The evening will feature live music, a Q&A with Cheney and special guests, and a chance to gather with friends and neighbors before CIFF officially begins. The screening is open and welcome for teenagers and adults.

“What better way to open our festival season than by spotlighting the work of one of Camden’s own,” says Elise McCave, Executive Director of the Points North Institute. “Ian Cheney’s Observer reminds us of the beauty in slowing down and looking closely — values we hold dear at Points North. To share this film with a packed house, filled with friends, families, and neighbors, is exactly the kind of joyful gathering our work is all about.”

This event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

All are welcome.

Observer is presented as part of Points North’s ongoing effort to build community through the power of nonfiction storytelling — not just within the international film world, but here at home in the Midcoast.

Register for this free event here. 

FESTIVAL INFO

The Camden International Film Festival runs September 11–14, 2025. Festival passes are available at: pointsnorthinstitute.org/ciff/box-office 

Interested in volunteering for the festival? Email our Volunteer Manager at volunteer@pointsnorthinstitute.org 

Want to sponsor or support our work?

Contact Kate Fox: kate@pointsnorthinstitute.org 

About Points North & Camden International Film Festival

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, Points North’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, Recovery in Maine, 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 now recognized as one of the top documentary film festivals in the world, the Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) brings the finest nonfiction cinema to the coast of Maine, showcasing documentary films and immersive works from around the globe each fall. The 2025 Camden International Film Festival, the 21st edition, will take place September 11-14.