DECEMBER 5: MFA Happy Hour at SoPoCoWorksJoin Maine Film Association members, Maine filmmakers, film professionals and students, and members of the League of Maine Podcasters for a casual networking happy hour at SoPoCo.Works, home of Sputnik Animation.BRING YOUR BUSINESS CARDS! You can enter to win a free 1-month podcast membership that includes a month floating membership to SoPoCo.Works as well as 1-hour-per-week of recording space usage in the podcasting space! And, as always, you’ll be entered to win a free yearlong MFA membership, too. #winning
WHEN: Thursday, December 5, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
WHERE: SoPoCo.Works, 1486 Broadway, South Portland
DETAILS: mainefilm.org/sopoco-happy-hour
COST: FREE– please bring donations for refreshments!
DECEMBER 13: Maine Filmmaker Showcase: HOLLY STAR
The Maine Film Association and Portland Media Center’s December 2019 Maine Filmmaker Showcase features the 2018 Maine-made film HOLLY STAR, followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker and members of the cast and crew. Come celebrate the season with this fun holiday comedy filmed in Biddeford, Saco, and Kennebunk! The screening of HOLLY STAR will be followed by a Q&A with filmmakers Michael Nickles, writer-director-producer, Scott Taylor, producer, and Pam Chabora, actor.
WHEN: Friday, December 13, 7:00 pm (doors at 6:30 pm)
WHERE: Portland Media Center, 516 Congress Street, Portland
DETAILS: mainefilm.org/holly-star
COST: suggested donation of $5
JANUARY 10: Maine Filmmaker Showcase: MAKING CAPE POINT
Inspiration for MAKING CAPE POINT came after watching the documentary, THE LAST PIG, by Joseph Brunette and Alison Argo. All of the film’s footage was shot and interviews were recorded during three weekend visits during the summer of 2018. The total budget for the film, not counting car travel expenses and film festival submissions, was under $500. Join us for a screening followed by a talkback with the filmmakers!
WHEN: Friday, January 10, 7:00 pm (doors at 6:30 pm)
WHERE: Portland Media Center, 516 Congress Street, Portland
DETAILS: mainefilm.org/making-cape-point
COST: suggested donation of $5
The Maine Filmmaker Showcases are made possible thanks to the generous support of Maine Humanities Council through their mini-grant program. Thank you to MHC for their support of Maine filmmakers and for bringing Maine films to Maine audiences!
SAVE THE DATE! JANUARY 23: MFA Happy Hour at $3 Dewey’s
We’re kicking off the 2020 MFA Happy Hours on Thursday, January 23, at $3 Dewey’s in Portland. Have an idea of a group we should connect with for this round of drinks? Email us at info@mainefilm.org to suggest a fellow creative/trade group to invite!
UPCOMING SCREENINGS
Dec. 7 – 19: FANTASTIC FUNGI in Brunswick
“Narrated by Academy Award-Winner Brie Larson, FANTASTIC FUNGI takes us on an immersive journey into the magical earth beneath our feet: an underground network with the potential to heal and save our planet.” Catch the documentary at Frontier in Brunswick during their special 2-week run!
Dec. 9: REBECCA in Portland
Is it time to introduce that young film buff in your life to a Hitchcock classic? Get them to the Kinonik-presented screening of REBECCA at Space Gallery in Portland this month for the epitome of a psychological thriller. Learn more here.
Dec. 13: HOLLY STAR in Portland
The December 2019 edition of the Maine Filmmaker Showcase shines a spotlight on the 2018 holiday delight HOLLY STAR, filmed in Biddeford, Saco, and Kennebunk. Join us at Portland Media Center for a screening of the film, followed by a talkback with the filmmakers! Learn more at mainefilm.org.
Dec. 13 – 18: VARDA BY AGNÈS in Portland
“The final film from the late, beloved Agnès Varda is a characteristically playful, profound, and personal summation of the director’s own brilliant career.” Get your filmmaker inspiration by catching a screening of this documentary at the Portland Museum of Art this month. Learn more about the film and showtimes at portlandmuseum.org.
Dec. 19: THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI in Portland
Kinonik brings another acclaimed film to the St. Lawrence Arts Center in Portland– this time it’s Robert Wiene’s 1920 horror film whose tale hauntingly foreshadows the rise of dictatorship just a decade later. Details at kinonik.org.
Dec. 20 – Jan. 2: 21st Animation Show of Shows in Brunswick
As part of its Independent Film Series, Frontier in Brunswick presents this curated selection of the “best of the best” animated short films created by students and professionals around the world. The 2019 edition features 11 films from seven countries. Learn more about the films and get your tickets at explorefrontier.com.
DEADLINES & FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES!
At the 2019 MFA Year-End Member Wrap Party, Louise Rosen shared some great resources and insights into finding funding opportunities and crafting the right proposals for your next projects. One source was Independent Feature Project— check it out for some great professional development reading and how-to’s!
- The International Documentary Association has a robust Grants Directory–get searching!
- Catapult Film Fund for documentary filmmakers
- The Ford Foundation’s JustFilms for artist-driven film and new media storytelling projects that explore aspects of inequality, as well as the organizations and networks that support these projects.
- Sundance Documentary Fund… for documentary film.
Keep an eye on PBS’ POV For Filmmakers Calendar for many more deadlines, opportunities, and festival submission reminders!
MFA UPDATES
New and Returning MFA Members
Thank you to our members who have joined or renewed their membership since our November e-News:
Leighton Images, Stanley Allen, Daniele Amandolini, Anita Clearfield, Roger Cropley, Jeff Griecci, Elizabeth Hall, Pete Haase, Phil Mason, Marcus Taylor, and Erik Van Wyck.
Send Us Your News
Got anything to share? Send us information about your work, articles, events, requests, job openings, or interesting news items to us at info@mainefilm.org, and we’ll be sure to get the word out!