CAMDEN — Points North Institute, which produces the annual Camden International Film Festival, has announced the departure of Executive and Artistic Director Ben Fowlie.

Fowlie, who grew up in Camden, founded the Festival in 2005 and cofounded the Points North Institute with Sean Flynn and Caroline von Kuhn in 2016, promoting documentary as an art form, supporting the creative voices of the next generation of nonfiction filmmakers, and building audiences in his hometown in Midcoast Maine and beyond. 

Fowlie has led the Institute for 20 years, overseeing the organization’s expansion into a globally recognized festival and a launching pad for independent talent, the creation of the Points North Forum in 2009, the Points North Fellowship and Pitch in 2010, and recently, the establishment of the Diane Weyermann Fellowship, and the Pretty Wild Fellowship with YETI.

Points North Institute has appointed Rick Rector as Interim Executive Director.

Rector has served on the Board for more than a decade, including as Board Chair through the launch of the Points North Institute. Points North Co-Founder and Program Director Sean Flynn will continue his long-standing leadership of artist programs and fellowships, with an expanded role overseeing the 20th Camden International Film Festival. Points North Co-founder Caroline von Kuhn remains as Board Chair.

"After 20 incredible years building this organization from the ground up, it's the right time for me to step down," said Ben Fowlie, in a Jan. 18 news release. “Leading our efforts to establish a home for independent documentary film, while collaborating with so many inspiring filmmakers and partners, has been an honor. I am excited about my next chapter, and look forward to witnessing Points North’s extraordinary staff build on its strong foundation and flourish for decades to come.”

Board Chair and PNI Co-founder Caroline von Kuhn said: “It’s remarkable to reflect on Ben’s incredible tenure and a testament to his legacy that he leaves Points North Institute at this time of growth. We’re thrilled to have PNI cofounder Sean Flynn take on a greater leadership role and Rick Rector take the helm as interim executive director.”

Rector, of Camden, said: "I'm very excited to step into this interim role at an organization I've worked with over many years. The excellent staff and supportive board are a tribute to Ben and the strength of PNI. We're well positioned to continue our growth.”

Sean Flynn said: “Rooted firmly in Ben’s audacious vision for a small-town film festival with global reach, we will continue building a vibrant community of artists and audiences to celebrate the documentary form. We will champion artistic freedom and innovation and promote the critical role of independent documentary in a democratic society. More than ever, we’ll continue to connect filmmakers with the resources and opportunities they need to tell their stories on their own terms.”

Points North Institute will undertake a search for the next executive director later this year. The annual Cabin Fever Film Fest will be held in Camden, Maine February 24, 2024, and the 20th Camden International Film Festival will be held in Camden, Rockport and Rockland, Maine this September 12-15, 2024.

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 innovative nonfiction cinema to the coast of Maine, showcasing 50+ documentary films and immersive works from around the globe each fall.

The 2024 Camden International Film Festival will take place September 12-15, 2024. Major support for the 2023 CIFF and Artist Programs support provided by YETI, National Geographic Documentary Films, MSNBC Films, RandomGood Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, The deNovo Initiative, LEF Foundation, Netflix, Nia Tero, Bright West Entertainment, ESPN Films, Topic Studios, Kanopy, Perspective Fund, and Media Courthouse Documentary Collective.