There remains for me, as someone who has
been on this circuit in one form or fashion for the past 7+ years (as
filmmaker, as blogger, as observer, as fan), true joy in discovering that a
film festival, previously unknown or unheralded (at least to the community at
large), has come into its own.
That a festival has found a way, in spite of the bad economy and
numerous examples of how to fuck it up, to create the festival that we all long
for – the gracious and generous host, the creative and intelligent programmer,
the sublime mix of location, audience and community.
Welcome to the Camden International Film
Festival, all grown up at 5 years old and ready to take its place amongst the
premiere documentary showcases in the US.
A boost in budget and a healthy amount of
big dreaming has catapulted this small festival (in an even smaller town) from
an under-the-radar sleeper into what could well become the premiere US fall festival
stop for docs, drawing folks from around the northeast as well as anyone
interested in catching nonfiction features intermixed with the changing fall
colors of coastal Maine.
Imagine a restaurant filled with filmmakers
and relaxed industry folk (HBO, Sundance, LEF Foundation, Gucci Doc Fund),
where everyone sits down at long tables to wood fired lobster, caught fresh the
day before by the husband of one of CIFF’s staffers. Oh yeah, and have we mentioned that we don’t want you to
tell anyone about this discovery?
Let’s make this our little secret.
Although CIFF takes many of its cues from
True/False (another fest that has stayed small and targeted even as its
reputation continues to grow), the Maine fest felt entirely original, right
down to the historic, three-story home that functioned as festival
HQ/afterparty central. An
afternoon-long panel component titled Points North had packed crowds (it was
held in conjunction with the local and well-respected Maine Film and Video
Workshops) and reminded that festivals over-panel themselves to their detriment. Let's hope the folks in Camden keep it concise in future years.
CIFF may even have its first Oscar contender
on its hands, having debuted THE WAY WE GET BY at last year’s festival.
So, after all this praise, are there
drawbacks? Well, it’s not easy to
get to (not entirely sure that’s a drawback). Like True/False, you’ll ride a 2-hour shuttle from your
airport in Portland (unless you’d rather take the 6-seater Cape Air flight from
Boston to Camden, which I’m not inclined to do). And perhaps the local audience hasn’t quite caught up with
the excitement in their mix (what with the leaves turning and all) – although
the Opening Night crowd for our own CONVENTION was large and engaged inside
Camden’s beautiful Opera House venue.
But it’s truly hard to beat finding yourself
in this small village on the coast of Maine, welcomed by a crew of staff and
volunteers who seem to be taking a page from the old Judy Garland/Mickey Rooney
days (let’s put on a show and let’s get all our friends to help out!), who
clearly love docs and love their hometown.
The joys of Camden were made even more stark
when we traveled from Maine to screen our film at the Woodstock Festival, which
clearly has its supporters and its ties to the industry (executives for IFC and
Magnolia are listed amongst the programmers), but where – it appeared to this
participant – the filmmakers were not much more than content providers. You’d hear about special parties that
you weren’t invited to and would find that obtaining the smallest consideration
(extra tickets, a ride to your screening, travel assistance) required an
extreme and excessive level of diligence (and even then often denied). It was hard to believe that Woodstock
(celebrating its 10th anniversary) was twice the age of Camden when
– aside from corralling a starrier roster of industry folks (not that they’ll
be at your screening) – the twenty-something kids in Camden seemed so much more
organized and hospitable. Had it
been ever so?
And then you’d wonder why you’d even left
Maine, where there were still films to be seen, conversations to be had,
seafood to be consumed.
Trust us, we wouldn’t make the same mistake
again.
So congrats to Ben Fowlie, Leah Hurley, Dominic Musacchio and the entire staff of CIFF.
You’ve arrived. And –
particularly in the current festival environment – not a moment too soon.
Preach it Reverend
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1012471 | October 06, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Well, I braved the eight-seater down from Maine to Boston and it was spectacular! And I wholeheartedly concur with it all. Splendid effort and will only get better in years to come. So glad I stayed until the last bloody moment--and even then I didn't want to go.
Posted by: Pamela | October 06, 2009 at 11:54 AM
It's so great to see Ben and Leah and the whole staff at Camden get the recognition they deserve. Camden really is a festival on the rise... and it's in Maine!! Even better.
Posted by: Aron | October 06, 2009 at 12:01 PM
it's all true-- what a fantastic festival... and what a top drawer group of people!
Posted by: George Kachadorian | October 06, 2009 at 01:56 PM
Thanks for all the love - the feeling is mutual. We are thrilled to be a part of helping to bring non-fiction film into the spotlight it so deserves. Come back soon we don't know what to do with all this beer without you! -Leah
Posted by: Leah Hurley | October 06, 2009 at 04:25 PM
This is was hands down a real place to be for me, from the aspirations that I have in me to be creating my own films, to extremely real people just making for an experience that was something I could grow and the people involved could connect with, with each other and through this festival which overall is just so much a real deal. I signed up to volunteer for this festival and upon being involved and around the energy of the staff and people involved I felt like part of the whole thing from the beginning because we all cared and made for something wonderful :D Big kudos to all you guys you were awesome. And i look forward to being involved in this the following years and keeping contact through the growth and discovering of the films that will light the stage and the audience of the future year. thanks to everyone for making this happen - ^____^
Posted by: Jade Southard | October 06, 2009 at 07:08 PM
AJ looking miserable at Woodstock 'secret' party.
Posted by: Mercurial Film Lover | October 08, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Re AJ looking miserable at Woodstock "secret party"... that's a pretty handsome smile for miserable, and what secret party?? The invitation was in your registration packet.
Posted by: Nikki Goldbeck | October 08, 2009 at 04:59 PM
Thanks for everyone who came to the festival this year and making the people of maine feel truly validated in their love of film. If anyone gets the chance please comment on this short i did about some Colby college kids getting attacked by campus sercurity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrmrEsovyvQ
Posted by: twitter.com/asMarquis | October 13, 2009 at 12:00 PM