BELFAST — On Tuesday, May 27, at 6 p.m., Torchlight Media, Colonial Theatre, and Points North Institute will host a special community event and fundraiser featuring new multimedia works by high school students in Torchlight’s youth mentorship programs. 

Multimedia projects produced by Waldo and Lincoln county youth will take center stage at the Colonial Theatre in Belfast, building on the new media work first presented in December. Students from RSU71 — Belfast Area High School (BAHS), and Belfast Community Outreach Program in Education (BCOPE) — and Dory Learning Center (a new student-led, community-based educational program in Belfast), have been developing their projects since the beginning of the academic year. This spring, the program also welcomed increased participation from students at Lincoln Academy, a private boarding and day school in Newcastle.

“Students at BAHS have been incredibly fortunate for the opportunity to work with Torchlight and the many professionals in the community that Torchlight brings in,” says BAHS ELO coordinator Solomon Heifets, in a news release. “The experience of interning at Torchlight has been the highlight of several students’ time at BAHS, and more than one has told me that it has inspired them to pursue a career in media. Just in the past few weeks, a student was reflecting on how much confidence she had gained by getting the opportunity to work with professional equipment and how much her perspective had shifted after meeting people who had careers in media production she never would have thought of.”

For this event, leadership from Points North Institute — the Rockport-based nonprofit that operates the Camden International Film Festival — will join Torchlight to lead a post-show panel and Q&A with the youth filmmakers. 

The evening will feature a red carpet for media and press, complimentary food and drinks, and opportunities to connect with the next generation of the Maine media workforce as well as emerging voices in multimedia storytelling.

David Wessels, director of Dory Learning Center, says, “Torchlight has given my students the tools and technical skills to tell their own stories. More importantly, students have learned to work on creative projects in a group, listening to diverse voices and overcoming obstacles. This program is truly a gift to our community, and I hope to see it reach more and more youth in the years to come.”

Tickets for the event are free/by donation and proceeds will be shared between Torchlight and Colonial Theatre as a mutual fundraising effort. Reservations can be made through the Colonial’s website: https://colonialtheatre.com/torchlight-premieres.

Sign up for Torchlight’s newsletter for news about this event, plus updates, classes/workshop offerings, and more at torchlightmaine.com.

Torchlight is a community-based multimedia arts and production studio for youth and adults in downtown Belfast. Torchlight aims to provide access to production tools and skills, build long-term sustainability for local public broadcast media outlets, create new education and mentorship opportunities, and improve community connection through storytelling and social engagement. Located at 158 High Street in Belfast, Torchlight is open during normal business hours or by chance/appointment.

Reach Torchlight at torchlightmaine@gmail.com.

About Colonial Theatre

Belfast Theatre Arts Company DBA Colonial Theatre is a Federally-Recognized 509(a)(2) Public Charity in Service to Greater Waldo County, Maine. From a programmatic standpoint, 'The Colonial' offers some of the most vibrant and diverse on-screen content in the country.

The Points North Institute is the launching pad for the next generation of nonfiction

storytellers. We build creative communities of media artists and audiences, forming a hub where stories and talent are discovered, collaborations are born, and the future of nonfiction is shaped. Our programs include the Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) and year-round artist support initiatives that nurture the careers of diverse nonfiction storytellers and help them develop a stronger artistic voice.

Since its founding in 2005, CIFF has risen to prominence as one of the world’s most respected documentary festivals. Taking place each fall along the beautiful coast of Maine, CIFF champions innovative work that explores the boundaries of nonfiction storytelling through a carefully curated collection of films and immersive media artworks from around the world.