Exactly one month from yesterday, the Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) will host its fifth iteration by showcasing a small selection of some of the best nonfiction cinema being made today. From October 1 - 4 (unfortunately, coinciding with the excellent Woodstock Film Festival, celebrating its 10th anniversary in upstate New York), Maine audiences throughout Camden, Rockport and Rockland will be shown 55 films from both the domestic and international markets. CIFF will present "a snapshot of the cultural landscape through the year's best nonfiction storytelling, connecting filmmakers and industry folk with audiences to discuss documentary film as an art form [yes!], a catalyst for change and an outlet for the independent voice." Those voices will consist of some of the most recognized artists working in the medium today, as well as new and emerging talent.
New this year for CIFF will be the roll-out of its inaugural Points North Documentary Film Forum, enabling local and visiting artists to connect with industry leaders and major funders in the documentary community.
The opening night film will be AJ Schnack's new documentary Convention, its New England premiere. Schnack assembled an all-star crew of filmmakers to tell the story behind the 2008 Democratic Presidential Convention in Denver, Colorado. Read Karina Longworth's laudatory review here. The closing night film will be Robert Stone's Earth Days, where Stone [Oswald's Ghost] crafts a look back at the genesis and resultant burgeoning of the modern-day Save-the-Planet! environmental social and political movements.
The program includes three world premieres, three east coast premieres and seven New England premieres, including Donal Mosher and Michael Palmieri's wondrous October Country (Sterling US Feature award-winner at SILVERDOCS), Gabriel Noble's P-Star Rising (Brooklyn-ites, there will be a free outdoor screening of this film with Ms. Priscilla Star Diaz performing live in Fort Greene Park this Thursday the 3rd), Marshall Curry's Racing Dreams, and Luciano Blotto's Rise Up, winner of the Music Documentary award at SILVERDOCS. To see the rest of the line-up and more info on the Points North program, keep checking the CIFF site throughout the month.
I will be
participating in this year's fest for the first time and I'm really
looking forward to attending. I will be chatting with CIFF founder and
director, Ben Fowlie, this week. Look for our conversation on the Hammer to Nail site soon.
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