Thursday, May 23, 2013
By DENNIS PERKINS
Looking ahead to the 2013 Maine movie scene, my film freak sense is tingling. Come, let me show you ...
Nicolas Maury and Carmen Maura in “Let My People Go,” a French comedy playing during the Maine Jewish Film Festival in March.
Courtesy photo
COMING TO LOCAL SCREENS
THE FRONTIER (Brunswick)
Wednesday: "Sleepwalk with Me." Another chance to see Mike Birbiglia's film version of his one-man show about the birth of his comedy career, the death of his relationship and that time he leapt out of a second-story window.
FEBRUARY
Local Love Muscle Valentine's Day Film Festival (localmusclemovers.com/film-festival)
Sponsored by Portland's Local Muscle Moving Co., this collection of locally made, love-inspired films is the perfect pre-Valentine's Day date night for couples or single film freaks looking for a soulmate. Head to Empire Dine and Dance in Portland on Feb. 10 for some local love.
MARCH
Maine Jewish Film Festival (mjff.org)
Billing itself as "the reel Jewish experience," this vibrant Portland institution returns March 9-16 for a week's worth of documentaries and features exploring a myriad of cinematic examples of what it means to be Jewish.
APRIL
Lewiston Auburn Film Festival (lafilmfestival.org)
One of Maine's newest film festivals promises another lineup of films ambitious enough to lure everyone to the twin cities April 4-7.
Portland Children's Film Festival (portlandchildrensfilmfestival.com)
April 4-7 also sees the return of this inescapably enchanting collection of films by and/or about kids from Maine and around the world. Film fun for the whole fam!
Maine Deaf Film Festival (mainedeaffilmfest.com)
The 11th annual film fest dedicated to films made by, and featuring, deaf and/or hearing-impaired filmmakers is back, on April 12-13 at the University of Southern Maine Portland campus.
Film Chowdah (filmchowdah.org)
Check out Maine's filmmakers of tomorrow in the fourth annual festival of film from Maine college students.
MAY
Bluestocking Film Series (bluestockingfilms.com)
This all-woman film series continues to ask the question: Can your favorite film pass the Bechdel Test?
JUNE
Maine Wildlife Conservation Film Festival (wcff.org)
If you're interested in the way filmmakers from around the world are documenting the ongoing battle between nature and thoughtlessly despoiling mankind, head on up to Bar Harbor for this fest featuring 30 or so films about conservation and wildlife. Please observe all "moose crossing" signs.
JULY
Maine International Film Festival (miff.org)
The big daddy of all Maine film festivals, the 16th annual MIFF runs July 12-22 in Waterville and promises to draw all film fanatics to its traditionally stellar lineup of local and international films, panels and Q&As with industry types. Not to mention a few Hollywood legends lured to the state with the promise of the coveted Mid-Life Achievement Award and maybe some seafood on the side.
WESTfest (facebook.com/groups/wteams)
Look for a late July screening of the Maine films created under the umbrella of W.E.S.T. (Where Everyone Shoots Together), director David Miller's collaborative movie-making collective.
AUGUST
KahBang Film Festival (kahbang.com)
The KahBang Music/Arts/Film Festival continues to grow and evolve, with big crowds hitting the sunny Maine freeways up to Bangor for this ever-exciting and energetic young film festival.
48 Hour Film Festival (48hourfilm.com/en/portland_maine)
The results of two straight days of frantic filmmaking flicker to life in Portland for all the world to see in this annual creative competition. You can practically see the sweat...
SEPTEMBER
Camden International Film Festival (camdenfilmfest.org)
One of the most prestigious documentary film festivals in the world, CIFF returns for its ninth season Sept. 26-29.
OCTOBER
Portland Maine Film Festival (portlandmainefilmfest.com)
Portland's finally got its own film festival, presenting its fourth season Oct. 4-7 and promising the sort of varied, eclectic mix of films we've come to expect.
Damnationland 2013 (damnationland.com)
Halloween's coming and, with it, the fourth annual all-Maine, all-terrifying horror anthology. As ever, pack some dry pants.
Dennis Perkins is a Portland freelance writer.
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