SEPTEMBER 21: Hands-On Location Sound Workshop
Originally scheduled for June, the MFA Hands-On Location Sound Workshop was rescheduled due to the early arrival of our instructor’s newest offspring (congrats, Boothroyds!). Now scheduled for Sept. 21, the MFA is excited to bring Tom Eichler on as the new instructor for this daylong hands-on workshop. Just a handful of spots left– sign up today!
WHEN: Saturday, September 21, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
WHERE: Portland Media Center, 516 Congress Street, Portland
DETAILS: mainefilm.org/on-location-sound
COST: $75 MFA Members; $150 non-members
REGISTRATION: Register today through Eventbrite! This workshop is limited to 12 participants.
SEPTEMBER 28: Block, Light, Frame, and Shoot: The Secrets of Rebel Filmmaking
Are you a filmmaker in pre-production on a narrative, documentary, or branded content project who wants to “up your game” by trying new approaches and techniques? Join us on September 28 for the MFA Rebel Filmmaking Workshop!
WHEN: Saturday, October 12, 10:00 am – 5:30 pm
WHERE: Maine College of Art, 522 Congress Street, Portland
DETAILS: mainefilm.org/fully-resolved
COST: $50 MFA Members; $100 non-members
REGISTRATION: Register today through Eventbrite! This workshop is limited to 20 participants.
The MFA has a full slate of educational offerings and social events planned (or in the works) for 2019! Check out the growing calendar at mainefilm.org/events.
Want free or discounted admission to all MFA events and workshops? Become a member today!
On August 19, the Maine Film Association Executive Committee participated in a meeting organized by the Maine Film Office (MFO), at the behest of Commissioner Heather Johnson of the Department of Economic and Community Development. The meeting brought together representatives of the Maine film and media community to discuss potential collective goals that the new administration could consider to best support this sector of the state’s creative economy.Maine Film Tax Incentives Bill Proposed by Maine Filmmaker Erik Van Wyck
For the past few months, filmmaker Erik Van Wyck has been working in conjunction with Andi Isaacs (former EVP and Head of Physical Production at Summit Entertainment), as well as the Maine Film Office, and Senator Susan Deschambault to bring about a bill that calls for an increase in film incentives with a built-in apprenticeship program that would foster and grow Maine Union crews. The bill is targeting films in the $4-6 million range, with per project caps and multiple protectionisms designed to ensure that every dollar possible stays in Maine.
Some of the bill’s points include: implementing an apprenticeship program for Union Signatory films; increasing the wage incentives; changing the production spend credit; changing the tax rebate rate; and offering extra incentives for Maine resident writers and directors, as well as filming in some of the northern counties. If you’d like to learn more about the bill, or have suggestions or feedback, please email Erik Van Wyck at evanwyck@icloud.com.
Maine Independent Filmmakers Meetup Group Launched
Are you into making films? Are you an actor, VO artist, filmmaker, director, screenwriter, production company, casting director, studio, or are you involved in any other aspect of filmmaking or showing films? Then the Maine Independent Filmmakers Meetup Group encourages you to join their group at meetup.com/Maine-Independent-Filmmaking-Meetup-Group. This group is for folks who are into making films/documentaries/television shows/podcasts or any other form of visual entertainment. More than just a networking group, the Meetup Group is a working group that helps each other make their film dreams come true! As a group, they make movies and help each other get their movies completed.
UPCOMING SCREENINGS & FESTIVALS
August 30 – September 5: COLD CASE HAMMARSKJOLD in Brunswick
As part of its documentary series, Frontier Cafe is screening this film by Danish journalist, filmmaker, and provocateur Mads Brügger (The Red Chapel, The Ambassador). The film leads audiences “down an investigative rabbit hole” in the exploration of the 50-year-old cold case of United Nations secretary-general Dag Hammarskjöld’s plane crash. More information and tickets at explorefrontier.com.
September 9: THE BIG SLEEP in Portland
Kinonik and Space Gallery are teaming up again to bring more classics to Maine audiences; this time it’s Howard Hawks’ THE BIG SLEEP. “A web of love triangles, blackmail, murder, gambling, and organized crime, this Phillip Marlowe mystery influenced French New Wave filmmakers Francois Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard. Hugely entertaining and worth seeing again just to watch the sizzle of Bogart and Bacall.” Details and ticket information here.
September 12–15: Camden International Film Festival in Camden, Rockport, Rockland
September is here, and so is CIFF! The festival returns for its 15th edition, and brings individuals from the global film community to the Midcoast for a weekend of features, shorts, storyforms, and fantastic after parties. Have you checked out the program and gotten your passes yet? Visit pointsnorthinstitute.org/ciff to do both.
September 12: Maine Outdoor Film Festival in Belfast
MOFF is making its rounds throughout the state this August, September, and October, with over 22 festival stops. Join outdoor film enthusiasts and cyclists from the BikeMaine ride on Thursday, September 12, for the screening at Steamboat Landing in Belfast. Learn all of the details here.
September 26: EL LOBO Y LA PALOMA Premiere in Portland
Portland Museum of Art presents EL LOBO Y LA PALOMA, a film by Maine filmmakers David Camlin and Scott Sutherland, featuring flamenco dancers Lindsey Bourassa and Megan Keogh, Canadian-Iranian painter Khosro Berahmandi, Kuwaiti singer Talal Alzefiri, and oud player Thomas Kovacevic. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. Details and tickets here.
September 27 – October 3: 2019 Manhattan Short Film Festival in Brunswick
“MANHATTAN SHORT is not a touring Festival; rather, it is an instantaneous celebration that occurs simultaneously across the globe, bringing great films and great artists to great venues and allowing the audiences to select their favorites.” Learn about the films in this year’s program, and get your tickets for the festival at Frontier in Brunswick here.
September 29: WE WERE AN ISLAND in Portland
The Portland Museum of Art will host the Portland premiere of Peter Logue’s WE WERE AN ISLAND, a short film based on the true story and book We Were An Island: The Maine Life of Art and Nan Kellam by Peter Blanchard III. More info and tickets here.
DEADLINES & FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES!
- 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 August e-News:
Tanina Carrabotta, Tammarrah Lee, Megan McGough, Anna Miller, Matt Perez-Mora, Michael Perez, Jim Picariello, Suzi Pond, Shirley Savage, Juliette Sutherland, and Lynne Williams.
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!