| The Maine Film Association's mission is to advance the art, craft, and business of filmmaking in Maine. Our vision is to make Maine a great place to live and work as a media-maker. |
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| Get Yourself to MIFF & MOFF! |
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| July has arrived, which means that film festival season has officially begun! The Maine International Film Festival (MIFF) kicks off TODAY, July 10, and will run until July 19 in Waterville. Meanwhile, the Maine Outdoor Film Festival (MOFF) will run from July 22 - 26 in Portland. Learn more about each festival below! |
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| MIFF in Waterville, July 10-19MIFF’s 10-day festival begins TODAY! This year’s festival will showcase nearly 100 films, representing the best of American independent and international cinema, while spotlighting some of Maine and New England’s most exciting and innovative filmmakers. Featuring both narrative and documentary films, MIFF is not to miss! Check out the program and get tickets! >>> |
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| | MOFF in Portland, July 22-26The Maine Outdoor Film Festival’s signature flagship event returns to Portland July 21–26. Screening over 80 outdoor adventure and environmental documentaries throughout Portland—indoors at local theaters and outside under the stars at our open-air theatre (BYO chair and picnic!)—MOFF is a summer Maine staple everyone should attend. Enjoy boundary-pushing adventure stories and discover topics of conservation, climate, and place. Whether filmed in Maine or across the world, MOFF is a celebration of storytelling, the environment, and community. Learn more and get your passes!>>> |
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JULY 28: Economic Impact Report Release Event |
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| Join the MFA, Maine Film Office, and Wallace Economic Advisors on Tuesday, July 28, at Mast Landing Brewing Company in Freeport to learn about the findings of the 2026 Maine Film & Media Production Economic Impact Study! Share your thoughts, ideas, and impressions, and connect with colleagues from across the state.
WHAT: 2026 Economic Impact Report Release Event and Happy Hour WHEN: Tuesday, July 28, 5:30 – 8pm WHERE: Mast Landing Brewing Co., 200 Lower Main Street, Freeport RSVP: Let us know you are coming! Free to all and all are welcome. |
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| Maine Filmmaker Spotlight |
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Extra, extra, read all about it — the MFA Maine Filmmaker Spotlight returns this month! These spotlights work to provide an insight into the film- and media-making endeavors within our MFA community, while also showcasing the breadth and depth of the Maine media workforce. |
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| | Introducing this month’s MFA Maine Filmmaker Spotlight: Mariah Larocque! Born in North Carolina but raised in New Hampshire, Mariah has proudly called Maine home for the past decade. With an impressive body of work as an actor, writer, producer, and director, Mariah wears many hats in the Maine film scene. Currently, Mariah is the Chief Operating Officer of Pine Coast Media Enterprises, the parent company of Gemini Entertainment, where she works on stories that explore the deepest parts of the human experience. |
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| Mariah’s latest undertaking is the inaugural Dreadline Film Festival, an exciting new horror, thriller, and experimental film festival that works puts filmmakers first. The Dreadline Film Festival will take place on August 22 at Portland Media Center! To learn more about Dreadline and Mariah in her own words, check out the MFA website, and stay tuned for future spotlights! |
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| | | | Maine Filmmakers Around the World!Louise Rosen on Archive Day at Sunny Side of the Doc |
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| The 37th edition of Sunny Side of the Doc (SSD) was held from June 22 to 24 in La Rochelle, France. The yearly event serves as a global networking platform designed to connect filmmakers and foster industry dialogue, all in the pursuit of shaping the documentaries of tomorrow. If you’re not familiar with this inspiring event, learn more at sunnysideofthedoc.com!
Our very own Louise Rosen, award-winning filmmaker and MFA co-president, moderated two discussion sessions during the SSD Archive Day panel. |
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| Louise RosenMFA Co-President |
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| This year's Archive Day panel brought together documentary filmmakers and participating companies — including Reuters, British Pathé, and Getty Images— to discuss the importance of preserving and licensing archival footage for documentary storytelling. The session also saw each participating company present unseen footage that hasn’t yet found its story. “It’s interesting [to see] how there is this geographic diversity, and a seasonal diversity to these events, which I believe points to the relevance of archive no matter what part of the world you’re in,” Louise stated. HUGE props to Louise for her work at this year’s panel! |
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Maine-Made Films at MIFF! |
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The 29th Annual Maine International Film Festival (MIFF) takes place from July 10 – July 19, and this years program boasts a variety of Maine-made films, from documentary and narrative shorts, to full feature length productions. Read more about some of the MIFF 2026 Maine made films below, and check out their full program here! |
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| | Downeast Hardcore: Stories from the Kave |
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| MIFF will welcome the world premiere of Downeast Hardcore: Stories from the Kave, a new documentary directed by Maine filmmaker Ricky Leighton.
In a quiet coastal Maine town, Kathy Findlay transformed an old barn into The Kave, an unlikely hub for the region’s hardcore music scene from 2001 to 2016. Downeast Hardcore: Stories from the Kave is a portrait of an underground scene and the lasting impact of a place that gave people somewhere to belong.
The premiere screenings of Downeast Hardcore: Stories from the Kave will take place on Saturday, July 18 (9pm), at the Maine Film Center, as well as Sunday, July 19 (4pm), at the Waterville Opera House. Get your tickets here >>> |
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Maine Filmmaker |
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Shot and filmed in Maine, In Transit made it’s debut at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in August of 2025. Now, Jaclyn Bethany’s Maine-made feature is coming to MIFF!
In Transit follows a complacent young bartender living in small-town Maine, who agrees to model for an existentially floundering painter on an artist's retreat. As the film unfolds, both women must confront their own preconceptions of what makes a good life. Starring Jennifer Ehle (Pride and Prejudice, Possession, A Quiet Passion), Alex Sarrigeorgiou, and François Arnaud (Heated Rivalry, I Killed My Mother) and written by Sarrigeorgiou, In Transit transports the viewer to an incandescent, painterly world of cinematic beauty.
Screenings of In Transit will take place on Thursday, July 16 (1pm), at the Waterville Opera House, as well as Saturday, July 18 (3pm), at the Maine Film Center, Cinema 1.
Get your tickets here >>> |
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| | | In keeping with the Maine tradition of supernatural storytelling, Arabella Oz’s feature debut film, Mallory’s Ghost is a genre-bending psychological drama and dark comedy. Gorgeously filmed in and around Portland, Maine with the scenic intensity of Casco Bay as a backdrop, the cinematography is inspired by classic cinema and ‘90s romantic comedies.
Mallory’s Ghost follows a young couple, Mallory and Sam, who take a writers' retreat to a majestic estate on the coast of Maine. When Sam's past—in the form of his beautiful ex-girlfriend, Louise—comes back to haunt them, Mallory grows increasingly jealous and obsessive. As mystical forces in the house begin to intervene, Mallory is forced to confront the truth of Sam and Louise’s bond, her own insecurities, and, ultimately, her sense of self.
Screenings of Mallory’s Ghost will take place on Friday, July 17 (1pm), at the Waterville Opera House, as well as Saturday, July 18 (6pm), at the Maine Film Center, Cinema 1.
Get your tickets here >>> |
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| | July 18: Maine Student Film + Video Festival |
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| The next generation of Maine filmmakers are up and coming, and MIFF is celebrating the best of student filmmaking made in the state! Check out the Maine Student Film + Video Festival at the Maine Film Center on Saturday, July 18, from 12 – 1:30pm.
Get your tickets here >>> |
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| | Program Highlights at MOFF! |
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| Don’t go anywhere, film lovers! MIFF isn’t the only major film festival this month — the Maine Outdoor Film Festival is coming right up. That’s right, Maine’s flagship festival returns July 21 – July 26 in Portland! With 97 films spanning from 11 different countries — including 18 Maine-made films — this years festival promises to deliver. Read more about some of the MOFF 2026 program below! |
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| | | One of the major highlights of this year's MOFF is Threshold, a feature-length documentary directed by Torsten Brinkema and Lars Brinkema and executive produced by Maine's very own Patrick Dempsey. Raw and unapologetic, Threshold provides an intimate glimpse into the story of Jessie Diggins, who, at the peak of her decorated cross-country skiing career, was silently unraveling. Told over the course of a year, this documents the most decorated American skier ever throughout her painful battle with an eating disorder as she fights to regain her World Cup title.
Threshold will screen at 5pm on Wednesday, July 22 at the Portland Museum of Art. Get your tickets here >>> |
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| | CIRRUS: A Wooden Boat Story |
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| A historic and beloved 90-year-old wooden boat sails again in Kenneth Murphy and Durier Ryan’s Maine-made documentary short, CIRRUS: A Wooden Boat Story. Told through the voices of those who admired, sailed, and later rescued CIRRUS. Featuring archival 16mm film from her heyday in 1930s coastal Maine, CIRRUS: A Wooden Boat Story reaches across generations to share and celebrate an intimate tale of maritime craftsmanship and preservation.
Catch CIRRUS: A Wooden Boat Story at 2:30pm on Tuesday, July 21, at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies at the Maine College of Art and Design. Get your tickets here >>> |
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| | The Alewife Journey: A Conservation Success Story |
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| Follow the incredible migration of alewives as they journey from Casco Bay up the Presumpscot River, navigating through Mill Brook to reach Highland Lake. This documentary short from Frame Media captures a guided educational walk hosted by the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust, offering a fascinating look at one of Maine’s most important seasonal wildlife events.
The Alewife Journey: A Conservation Success Story will screen at 1pm on Sunday, July 26 at the Portland Museum of Art. This special screening will feature guest speakers and scientists from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, who provide expert insights into fish migration, river restoration, and conservation efforts in the region. Get your tickets here >>> |
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| | Presentation of the Inaugural MOFF Pitch Selection |
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| Since 2012, the Maine Outdoor Film Festival (MOFF) has worked to uplift and celebrate Maine-made filmmaking. Now, with support from the Maine Film Office, MOFF has officially launched the inaugural MOFF Pitch! The Maine Outdoor Film Festival’s MOFF Pitch connects filmmakers with notable Maine organizations who are seeking to align their brands with films centered on themes of nature, outdoor recreation, environmental conservation, education, and adventure travel. The goal of this pitch is to charter a path for meaningful local partnerships, while also providing valuable support for independent filmmakers. |
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| Here are the nominees for the first ever MOFF Pitch Selection: Sela Betz – Denver, COSantiago Tijerina – Boston, MALukas Chin – New York, NYDylan Ladds – Portland, ME
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| The nominees will be judged by an independent panel comprised of notable Maine film industry experts. Pitches will be evaluated based on their originality and concept, feasibility, impact, as well as their technical quality. Each nominee will have 15 minutes to present their pitch, and the winner will receive a $2,000 award along with opportunities for meaningful partnerships. Good luck to all of the nominees, and read more about the inaugural MOFF pitch below!
The Inaugural MOFF Pitch Selection will take place on Friday, July 24 at the Portland Museum of Art from 10am – 12pm, followed by a boat ride around Casco Bay from 12:30 – 2:30pm. Learn more and get your tickets today! >>> |
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| | Mark Your Calendar: More 2026 Maine Film Festivals |
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| Profit Sharing in Independent Filmmaking |
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2026 saw the meteoric rise of one of the most unlikely blockbusters in recent years: Curry Barker's indie horror film, Obsession. Made on a budget of just $750,000, the critically acclaimed picture has grossed more than $400 million at the global box office — and counting. The extraordinary success of Barker's indie picture is cause for celebration, but who is reaping the profits? Or, perhaps more importantly, who should be? |
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Indeed, the case of Obsession has sparked an ongoing debate over how profits from independent films should be distributed between studios and filmmakers. In social media post, art director Sally Choi revealed she had made $6,741.36 for about three weeks of work on the film. Having received no share of the film's profits, Choi explained that she had been living paycheck to paycheck while working on Obsession, and that production had taken a major physical toll on her health. In the post, Choi encouraged her fellow crew members to share their rates in order to foster a broader conversation about profit sharing in the film industry.
Producer and Columbia University film professor Mynette Louie explained in an interview with The New York Times that modern American film studios are almost always looking to make films as cheaply as possible. In doing so, she argued, studios are increasingly moving productions out of the United States to avoid negotiating union rates. Louie went on to argue that in order for real change to occur, studios and filmmakers must work together to create equitable solutions.
Learn more about profit sharing here >>> |
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| Thank you to our partners and sponsors! |
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Your membership supports efforts to connect media professionals in our state, provide engaging professional development and networking opportunities, and promote the media industry of Maine. Your membership entitles you to free or reduced admission to MFA events and workshops, and special offers from vendors and our business members.
Membership $50
• Free listing in the Directory of Maine Film Professionals
• Free or discounted entry to some MFA meetings, events and workshops
• Networking with film industry professionals across Maine
•. Offers and discounts from vendors, partners and MFA business members
Student Membership $25
• Entitles one to the same benefits as a Professional member
• You must be an enrolled student at an accredited educational institution
• Student ID verification may be required
Small Business Membership (up to five employees) $200
• Free company listing in the Directory of Maine Film Professionals
• Discounted rates to paid-entry MFA meetings, events and workshops for up to
two company employees
• Networking with film industry professionals across Maine
• Offers and discounts from vendors, partners, and MFA business members
Contact Us for Larger Business Memberships or Sponsorships |
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The MFA is the backbone of Maine's media making community. Your support empowers the future of Maine's filmmakers. By donating to the MFA, you uplift the future of this incredible community of creatives, providing subsidized access to professional development, elevating the quality of workshops we are able to provide, and supporting us as we expand our operations. |
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