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Camden International Film Festival 2015

September 17 – 20th Camden and Rockport, Maine

Leaders in the documentary film industry convene for a series of screenings, master classes, panels, workshops, pitch sessions and the Sustainable Maine Engagement Summit

The Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) has unveiled the lineup for its seventh Points North Documentary Forum. The three-day conference program runs concurrently with the festival from September 17 – 20, 2015 at the historic Camden Opera House in Camden, Maine, and Rockport Opera House in Rockport, Maine. This year’s program will feature four master classes focused on directing, editing, producing and interactive media, panel discussions, case studies, networking events and the sixth annual Points North Pitch, which is now part of the year-long Points North Fellowship for filmmakers with feature documentaries in development. The lineup marks the continued growth of CIFF’s Points North program as a launching pad for the next generation of documentary artists, as well as a unique space for the international documentary community to reflect on the craft, business and future of nonfiction storytelling.

Six projects have been selected to participate in the 2015 Points North Fellowship and Points North Pitch. These filmmaking teams will travel to Camden for a day of pitch training and industry mentorship at the Maine Media Workshops with Sundance Institute’s Kristin Feeley and producer Andrea Meditch. On September 19, the filmmakers will take the stage at the Camden Opera House and pitch their documentary works-in-progress before a live audience and receive critical feedback from a panel that includes representatives from HBO, CNN Films, TIME Inc., Vimeo, Sundance Institute, Tribeca Film Institute, Catapult Film Fund, and Impact Partners, among others. One project will receive the Points North Pitch Award and Modulus Finishing Fund, which includes a $10,000 in-kind post-production package from Boston-based Modulus Studios and three consultations with the Tribeca Film Institute.

Filmmakers, students and other Points North attendees will have numerous opportunities to connect with industry delegates throughout the festival weekend, both formally during master classes, panels, and one-on-one meetings, and informally during CIFF parties and receptions. For filmmakers interested in strengthening their storytelling craft, Points North will feature three additional master classes with Academy Award winning director Alex Gibney, producer Andrea Meditch, and veteran editor David Teague.

Since 2011, the Points North Documentary Forum has been highlighting how nonfiction storytelling is evolving in response to digital media technologies and platforms. This year, the Forum will include two
sessions in its Storyforms strand – a performance of the collaborative, multimedia documentary LIVING
LOS SURES, and an interactive documentary master class led by Alexandre Brachet, a digital storytelling pioneer and founder of the Paris-based agency Upian. Points North will close with “The New News,” a program of short films produced or commissioned by news organizations, followed by a panel discussion with editors and filmmakers focused on the convergence of documentary and journalism on digital platforms and the changing nature of audience engagement with the news.

“We’re honored and excited to have the opportunity to continue to develop a platform for filmmakers to
introduce their projects to some of the most influential decision-makers in the documentary industry,” says Ben Fowlie, Founder and Executive Director of the Camden International Film Festival. “It’s a privilege to bring together such a diverse, talented and inspiring group of participants in Camden for this year’s Forum,” says Points North Director Sean Flynn. “Whether you’re developing a feature, producing a short film for the web, exploring interactive media, using media as a tool for social
change, or interested in the craft of documentary storytelling – there’s something here for everyone.”

Founded in 2005 and recognized as one of the top documentary film festivals in the world, the Camden
International Film Festival (CIFF) brings the finest non-fiction cinema to the rugged coast of Maine,
showcasing over eighty documentary feature and short films from around the globe each fall. Additional
year-round programming includes the CIFF Selects screening series and the Engagement Summit, a unique program that connects Maine-based nonprofit leaders with documentary films and filmmakers to develop community-based social action campaigns designed to engage communities.

The Points North Documentary Forum provides emerging documentarians with opportunities for professional development and creative inspiration. and an opportunity to discover new voices in documentary media who are pushing the boundaries of the form and re-imagining the role of nonfiction storytelling in society. Programs include the year-round Points North Fellowship, master classes, workshops and international short form pitch opportunities such as The New York Times’ Op Docs Pitch (2013) and, most recently, the AJ+ Pitch (2014). Past industry participants in the Forum include HBO, A&E, BBC, Participant Media, Al Jazeera America, Discovery, PBS, Ford Foundation, Tribeca Film Institute, Sundance Institute, Vimeo and Kickstarter.

The 2015 Camden International Film Festival and Points North Documentary Forum will take place September 17 – 20 in Camden, Rockport and Rockland, Maine. The Camden International Film Festival is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, CNN Films and Vimeo.

Passes to the 2015 CIFF and Points North are now available for purchase at www.camdenfilmfest.org
Access to the full conference program is open to all CIFF passholders. Passes are now on sale on the
Camden International Film Festival website.

For more information, please visit: http://camdenfilmfest.org/pointsnorth.

ACMi and the Friends of Robbins Farm Park announce the third annual Arlington Short Animation Film Festival, an evening outdoor festival showcasing local animated work for all ages.

Date: Saturday, August 29 (Rain date: August 30)

Time: Films will begin at Sunset (around 8 pm)

Place: Robbins Farm Park

Want to show your own film in the festival?

Deadline for submissions is August 1, 2015

For more information about how to submit and the festival itself,

visit the festival page.

And more great news for aspiring animators!

Starting TONIGHT, July 8, the Studio Knights (ACMi’s in-house production group) are offering a series of four weekly Animation Workshops on Wednesdays from 7-9 pm. Learn all you need to know to create your own animated film, then submit it to the festival and come to your own Premiere on August 29th!

Festival Events

The Boston Jewish Film Festival turns twenty five this milestone year. Screening in multiple venues in and around Boston, the dates are November 6th through the 18th.

See our calendar of the festival here

“The Festival has been making people think, laugh, feel, love, and dream for a quarter of a century,” says Artistic Director Amy Geller. “I am so proud and honored to be part of this rich cultural legacy.”

This year, there are forty six films from thirteen countries including Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and the Netherlands, and, of course, many from Israel and the U.S.; forty films are Boston area premieres.

Geller is particularly proud of the many films with local connections. “The New England area with its vital history of documentary filmmaking is also incredibly fruitful for Jewish cinema.” UNORTHODOX, made by Nadja Oertelt and Anna Wexler, who met as MIT undergrads and live in Boston, has its world premiere November 10th at the ICA. The tongue-in-cheek mockumentary YOUR GOOD FRIEND, also a world premiere November 10th at the Coolidge, stars Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, formerly of Congregation Beth El of the Sudbury River Valley. Finally, THE DEWEY STONE CONNECTION: FROM EXODUS TO INDEPENDENCE, the Closing Night film on November 17th at the MFA, celebrates the late Dewey Stone, a Zionist philanthropist in 1940s Brockton, MA, and “an unsung hero for Israel.”

The 25th year promises to be an expanded program for all Festival goers. “There’ll be more fun elements to heighten the Festival experience and reach out to a wider audience — more family programming, young adult programming, local celebrities, food, music and social opportunities.”

Programs include The Family Film Series, back by popular demand, with screenings for families with children age eleven and up, including THE ZIGZAG KID and JERUSALEM, a 3D IMAX® film at the Museum of Science.

BJFF FreshFlix – Not Your Bubbie’s Festival, a festival within a festival for the 20-40s crowd, kicks off with the 3rd Annual Short Film Competition. The audience will pick the winning shorts via text voting. FreshFlix also features the first BJFF midnight movie ever: Israel’s hit thriller, BIG BAD WOLVES. In addition, there are opportunities for young adults to engage, discuss, meet the director and schmooze before and after screenings.

LGBTQ Shorts Program: OUT Loud is a dramatic and emotional series of LGBTQ short films from Israel, Canada and the U.S. They will be screened at the ICA with Keshet moderating a panel discussion.

Diaspora Jews: Spotlight North Africa features three documentaries that shed new light on the fascinating but little-known history of Jews in Egypt, Morocco and Algeria. Today, there are very few Jews living in these North African countries, but there was a time when Jews thrived alongside their Muslim neighbors. The films explore what life was like for these Jewish communities, as well as the circumstances under which they emigrated.

Favorite Films from the Famous asks: which classic Jewish films have influenced local celebrities?  Esteemed Poet Laureate, essayist and literary critic Robert Pinsky presents TEN FROM YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS, a hilarious compilation of sketches from the legendary and live 1950s television program, starring a riotous ensemble lead by comic genius Sid Caesar.

But it’s not just about throwing more options at viewers, Geller explains, “I also want to create more opportunities for artistic engagement and expand and strengthen community participation.” As a result, the Festival is launching the first BJFF Community Leadership Award, honoring a distinguished leader from greater Boston who has demonstrated a commitment to social justice and to improving our community.

The inaugural award recipient is Lisa Simmons, founder of the Color of Film Collaborative and co-producer of the Roxbury International Film Festival. The award will be presented on November 10th at the screening of the civil rights documentary THE LAST WHITE KNIGHT.

The Festival kicks off this very special year with a Silver Celebration on Sunday, November 3rd from 6-9:30 pm at the Ritz-Carlton Boston. Founding board member Shoshana Pakciarz and longtime trustee Barbara Resnek will be honored. The celebration will include a cocktail reception and dinner, an exclusive preview of festival films and a presentation by acclaimed Boston Globe film critic Ty Burr from his most recent book Gods Like Us: On Movie Stardom and Modern Fame.

The Boston Jewish Film Festival, a not-for-profit arts organization, celebrates the richness of the Jewish experience through film and media. Throughout the year, the Festival engages and inspires the community to explore the full spectrum of Jewish life and culture.

Venues are AMC Framingham, Arlington Capitol Theatre, Brattle Theatre, Cinema Salem, Coolidge Corner Theatre, Hollywood Hits Theatre, Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA), Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Museum of Science IMAX, Showcase Cinema de Lux Patriot Place, Somerville Theatre and West Newton Cinema.

Film descriptions, schedule and ticket information and sales are available now at bjff.org.

Tickets are on sale via the website. All films, with the exception of Special Events, are $14 general admission; $12 for seniors, students and members of the BJFF, Coolidge Corner Theatre, Institute of Contemporary Art, Museum of Fine Arts and WGBH. Special Events include Opening Night (November 6th), Mid-Fest Film (November 13th) and Boston Closing Night (November 17th): $26 General Admission/$24 Discount.

The Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) has announced its slate of feature films taking place September 26 – 29, 2013 throughout Camden, Rockport and Rockland, Maine. CIFF will present over 65 features and short films from all across the globe and from Maine.

Now in its ninth year, the Camden International Film Festival has established a reputation for presenting a snapshot of the cultural landscape through the year’s best non-fiction storytelling. The festival is recognized as one of the top 25 documentary film festivals in the world, and one of the 12 best small town film festivals in the US. In addition to the festival’s inaugural Engagement Summit: Aging in Maine, new partnership with The New York Times to bring the Op-Docs live pitch to North America, CIFF announces the main slate of films, including two programs with the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and a panel on the all-too-timely topic of internet privacy.

“This year’s festival program is extremely diverse, showing the range of artistry and craftsmanship behind documentary filmmaking from both emerging and established artists,” says Ben Fowlie, Founder and Executive Director of the Camden International Film Festival. “Within each and every one of these films there’s a unique story that is being told, and I couldn’t be more excited to share them with our audiences.”

CIFF will introduce two new programs thanks to a grant from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. “Then and Now” pairs classic documentary films and filmmakers with new, visionary work from emerging non-fiction filmmakers. This program celebrates the current state of the documentary form by honoring its exceptional past and affirming its connections to the future. Additionally, CIFF will present “Process” a curated program of documentaries from the past and present focusing on artists, their work and the creative process.

“Thanks to support from the Academy, we’ve been able to expand on our tradition of examining the creative process through nonfiction storytelling, while also building on our repertory programming by screening work from artists who have laid the foundation for the current wave of documentary filmmakers” adds Fowlie.

Following a screening of the feature documentary TERMS AND CONDITIONS MAY APPLY, CIFF will feature an extended panel discussion with some of the nation’s leading thinkers and activists on the issue of internet privacy – including corporate data collection, government surveillance and what internet users can do to achieve greater control over their personal data. Panelists will include Ben Wizner (ACLU), Shahid Buttar (Bill of Rights Defense Committee) and Amie Stepanovich (Electronic Privacy Information Center).

“One of the themes running through this year’s festival and forum is the power of documentary storytelling to generate public dialogue about the social issues that matter most,” says panel organizer and Points North Director Sean Flynn. “We believe internet privacy and security is one of the most critical issues facing our society today – for both media makers and the general public – so we are truly honored to be bringing this timely conversation to Camden.”

CIFF has unveiled the lineup for its Points North Documentary Forum. In its fifth year, the Forum has quickly become the largest gathering in New England of filmmakers, key decision makers and thought leaders in the documentary field. The three-day conference program runs concurrently with the festival from September 27 – 29, 2013 at the historic Camden Opera House in Camden, Maine, and Union Hall in Rockport, Maine. This year’s program will feature a wide range of panel discussions, workshops, case studies, networking events and two public pitch sessions. Points North is dedicated to providing independent documentary filmmakers with unique opportunities for both professional development and creative inspiration, helping build a vibrant regional filmmaking community while sustaining a conversation about new directions in nonfiction storytelling.

This year, some of the documentary industry’s leading broadcasters, distributors, funding organizations and executive producers will convene at the Points North Pitch, a public pitch session held during the Forum on September 28. Seven filmmakers will be given an opportunity to pitch their works-in-progress and receive critical feedback from industry delegates before a live audience. The event, which will be free and open to the public, is a unique opportunity for filmmakers to secure vital support for their projects and audience members to see how documentaries are developed in their early stages. This year’s panel will include representatives from PBS, Sundance Institute, POV, Al Jazeera America, Cinereach, LEF Foundation, DirecTV, Naked Edge Films, LEF Foundation, Fledgling Fund and Documentary Educational Resources.

One project will receive the Points North Pitch Award and Modulus Finishing Fund, which comes with a $1000 cash prize from Documentary Educational Resources, a $10,000 post-production package from Boston-based Modulus Studios, a $3000 tuition scholarship to Maine Media Workshops and three consultations with the Tribeca Film Institute. Last year’s winner, IN COUNTRY, has gone on to receive the Garret Scott grant and has been selected by the Hot Docs Forum and IFP Labs, while being recognized by indieWIRE as one of the “50 indie films to look out for in 2013.”

“We’re honored and very excited to have the opportunity to continue to develop a platform for filmmakers to introduce their projects to some of the most influential decision-makers in the documentary industry,” says Ben Fowlie, Founder and Executive Director of the Camden International Film Festival.

On September 28, the Forum will host the inaugural Points North Engagement Summit: Aging in Maine, in which approximately 15 Maine-based nonprofit leaders and healthcare professionals in the field of aging will converge in Camden for a daylong closed-door strategic summit meeting with documentary filmmakers focused on aging issues. The purpose of the meeting is to explore how their work can be supported and enhanced through the use of powerful documentary films focused on the experiences of older adults, their loved ones and caretakers. The summit agenda will be designed and facilitated by Working Films, an organization that specializes in connecting storytelling with community engagement and action.

During the festival, there will also be an Aging in Maine sidebar of film screenings, including a highlighted screening of Banker White and Anna Fitch’s THE GENIUS OF MARIAN. Following the festival, CIFF will work with participating organizations to implement the ideas developed at the summit and spearhead a screening tour of selected films in 8 -10 communities across Maine. The Aging in Maine program is made possible by support from The Fledgling Fund, Camden National Bank, Pen Bay Healthcare Foundation and The Bingham Program, as well as partnerships with the University of Maine Center on Aging, the Portland Press Herald and The Conversation Project.

This year, the Forum will debut a speaker series called Doc/Tech, featuring innovators and thought leaders working at the intersections between storytelling, technology and social activism. Confirmed speakers include Alexander Reben (Creator of the BlabDroid documentary filmmaking robots), Elaine McMillion (Director of the groundbreaking interactive documentary HOLLOW), Sasha Costanza-Chock (MIT Professor and transmedia activist) and Nonny de la Pena (Creator of Gone Gitmo and Hunger in Los Angeles virtual reality journalism projects). The session is made possible by support from the Maine Technology Institute, and will be hosted by the MIT Open Documentary Lab’s William Uricchio.

The opportunity to meet one-on-one with visiting industry delegates is another important part of the Points North experience. The 2013 program includes a session called Social Media Audit, in which filmmakers have a chance to spend twenty minutes receiving tailored feedback on their film’s online presence from social media and audience engagement gurus Kristin McCracken (former VP of Digital Media at Tribeca Enterprises) and Christie Marchese (Founder/Executive Director, Picture Motion).

For filmmakers interested in strengthening their storytelling craft, Points North will feature an editing masterclass led by Jonathan Oppenheim, editor of “Paris is Burning”, “The Oath” and the 2013 CIFF selection, “William and the Windmill”.  For those who want to delve into the history of documentary film, filmmaker and Harvard professor Robb Moss (“The Same River Twice”, “Secrecy”) will lead a masterclass on the of nonfiction storytelling techniques and the ethical and aesthetic issues that have shaped documentary filmmaking since the 1950s.

“We’re really honored to be bringing in such a diverse, talented and inspiring group of participants to Camden for this year’s Forum,” says Points North Director Sean Flynn. “Whether you’re developing a feature, producing a short for the web, getting into interactive media, using media as a tool for social change, curious about film history or interested in craft of documentary storytelling – there’s something here for everyone.

The Points North Documentary Forum is made possible by the generous support of the LEF Foundation, Virginia Hodgkins Somers Foundation, Maine Arts Commission, The Fledgling Fund, Camden National Bank, the Pen Bay Healthcare Foundation, The Bingham Program, Maine Technology Institute, Modulus Studios, Documentary Educational Resources, Maine Media Workshops and the Tribeca Film Institute.

A full conference schedule and list of industry delegates is available online at http://camdenfilmfest.org/pointsnorth

Jewishfilm.2013 The National Center for Jewish Film’s 16th Annual Film Festival presents a vibrant program of new independent films and classic cinematic treasures from around the world. Please visit www.jewishfilm.org for complete festival information.

The National Center for Jewish Film is a unique independent nonprofit film archive, distributor, resource center, and exhibitor. The Center’s collection of 15,000 reels of film is the world’s largest outside of Israel. Since 1976, NCJF has rescued, restored, and distributed films that document the diversity and vibrancy of Jewish life. To date, NCJF has restored 100 “orphan” films, including 44 Yiddish and silent feature films. Long recognized as a world leader in the collection and exhibition of Jewish film and culture, NCJF provides programming consultation to 7,000 educators and programmers each year. NCJF is also a major distributor of new films with Jewish content, representing 100 filmmakers from around the world.

Jewishfilm.2013 is directed and curated by NCJF’s co-directors Sharon Pucker Rivo and Lisa Rivo.

Start/End date: April 10, 2013/April 21, 2013
Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Institute of Contemporary Art, Kendall Sq.
Cinema, West Newton Cinema
Webiste: www.jewishfilm.org

As fellow filmmakers we at the Mass Indie Film Fest understand the importance of reaching the right audience. Our goal since starting the festival has been to give filmmakers the exposure they need to help their films find a wide and appreciative audience. We want to present a diverse group of films and filmmakers, and showcase the best in independent film. The Mass Indie Film Fest, a festival by filmmakers for filmmakers!