Maine Writer Carla Maria Verdino-Sullwold Shines at FLICKERS Festival.

The screenplay "Raising Rufus: A Maine Love Story" by Carla Maria Verdino-Sullwold of Brunswick was the winner in the main competition category at the Rhode Island International Film Festival (FLICKERS). Winners from the 364 entries were also selected in other categories, including New England Focus, Horror, and Gay and Lesbian.

Flickers is a broadly focused, independent festival that accepts works of any type, on any subject matter, and in any genre. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes the Rhode Island International Film Festival as qualifying for the Short Films category for the Annual Academy Awards (only 65 festivals have this recognition).

The Festival recognizes achievement and innovation in a variety of film making and storytelling disciplines and provides an opportunity to secure support and distribution. More information can be found on the Rhode Island International Film Festival website

Seventh Annual Camden International Film Festival Starts Today!

The Camden International Film Festival will return for its seventh season on September 29 and run until October 2, 2011. Taking place in Camden, Rockport and Rockland, it is one of the top 25 film festivals in the world for documentary films.

Each year the festival takes over multiple venues throughout towns in the midcoast of Maine. Accompanying the screening of features and shorts are Q&As with directors, informative panels, the Points North Documentary Forum, PANOPTIC new media showcase, musical concerts and an opportunity to connect with eager audiences and industry leaders.

More information about the festival can be found online at the Camden International Film Festival site.

The Camden International Film Festival was supported this year by a Maine Arts Commission Arts Visibility Grant.

Bangor Book Festival This Weekend

The Fifth Annual Bangor Book Festival will bring Maine and Maine-connected authors to the Bangor Public Library, Penobscot Theatre and sites throughout Downtown Bangor. Authors will read and discuss their work and Maine readers will have a chance to meet authors, attend workshops and network. All events are free and open to the public.

The two day event offers 25 events, including a keynote address by Colin Woodard. More information can be found at the Bangor Festival of the Book site.

The Bangor Book Festival was supported this year by an Arts Visibility Grant from the Maine Arts Commission.

Upcoming August Arts Festivals!

Image from Portland Chamber Music Festival

In case you have not finalized your summer arts festival schedule, here are some events you may want to consider attending.

Madawaska Acadian Festival
August 11 to 15, 2011
The Acadian Festival is one of Maine's largest cultural festivals. It is held each year in conjunction with an Acadian family reunion. This year the reunion is of the Cyr family. The festival includes re-enactments of the first Acadian landing in northern Maine, traditional Acadian supper, Soiree Acadienne, Danse du Main Street, Festival parade and much more. Information can be found online or by calling (207) 728-7000.

Portland Chamber Music Festival
August 11 to 20, 2011
Portland Chamber Music Festival (PCMF) summer concerts are held at the Abromson Center at the University of Southern Maine’s Portland Campus. The festival brings nationally recognized artists to Portland to present a wide range of classical chamber music, including the music of living composers. PCMF works to develop excitement for classical music among young people and the greater Portland community, hosting a free children’s concert, a Young Artist Apprentice Program, concerts in Gardiner and at Bates College, and adult chamber music workshops.

Salt Bay Chamberfest
August 16, 19, 23, 26, 2011
The 2011 Salt Bay Festival is titled 300 Years of New Music. It is a creative conversation between works of living and past composers. The Damariscotta event will host a number of premiere performances of U.S., World and New England artists. The event will draw some of the world’s most prominent composers and performing musicians to Maine.

Brunswick Outdoor Arts Festival
August 20, 2011
The Fifth Annual Festival presented by the Brunswick Downtown Association will celebrate talent in and around the Town of Brunswick. Scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the sidewalks of Maine Street, the festival will showcases more than 80 juried artists, ten musical groups, mimes, jugglers, and members of various youth theater troupes.

Blisterd Fingers Bluegrass Festival
August 25 to 28, 2011
Blistered Fingers is one of the largest family musical events in New England. The Bluegrass Festival takes place twice every year bringing Music lovers from all over the World to Litchfield, Maine. The Blistered Fingers festival has something for all ages during the four day event. Buses, RV's, campers, tents and day attendees are all welcome.

More summer Festivals

The end of July is a festival-rich environment throughout Maine. The LL Bean Summer series is in full swing and Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, Sebago-Long Lake Music Festival and the Mt. Desert Festival of Chamber Music are all in the middle of their offerings. Oxxfest 2011 is scheduled for this weekend as part of the ongoing Bangor Waterfront Concerts. Also on the horizon is the Saltwater Celtic Music Festival and the Kah-Bang Music Art and Film Festival.

Oxxfest 2011
July 31, 2011
featuring Stone Temple Pilots, Deadseason, Uncle Jack, Nobis & 30 other national and local bands. Gates open at 10am at the Bangor waterfront.

Saltwater Celtic Music Festival
July 31, 2011
The Saltwater Celtic Music Festival will be held at beautiful Thomas Point Beach in Brunswick, and at satellite locations on days prior to the July 31 main event. It promises to be one of the most important events on the New England Celtic calendar. Many artists will be available for meet and greet following their performance.

KahBang Music Art and Film Festival.
August 05-13, 2011
KahBang is an annual summer festival showcasing independent artists in music, art and film. The festival opens with the Art and Film exhibitions and ends with a 2-day multi-stage music festival. The events take place throughout the downtown and waterfront of Bangor. During the event Bangor is transformed into one of the largest independent music art and film events in New England.

Mt. Desert Festival of Chamber Music
July 19, 26. August 2,9 and 16
The Mt. Desert Festival of Chamber Music takes pleasure in announcing its 48th anniversary season of summer concerts at the historic Neighborhood House in Northeast Harbor, Maine. Four prominent string quartets will be performing at this years festival.

Sebago-Long Lake Music Festival
Tuesdays, July 12 to August 9
The Sebago-Long Lake Music Festival is devoted to presenting high-quality chamber music performances in the lake region of Western Maine. Founded in 1972 by bassoonist Homer Pence and other professional musicians who summered in the region.
The musicians are all string, wind or keyboard artists of the highest caliber.

Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival,
June 20 to August 21
Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival is often called the "Cradle of chamber music teaching in America". It is a chamber music school, a concert series and chamber music advocate. Concerts are offered by the acclaimed faculty of musicians and the 50 exceedingly-talented young artists who study there.

LL Bean Summer series
July 2 through September 3, 2011
Held in Discovery Park at the LL Bean flagship campus. Every week throughout the summer events, concerts, and unique entertainment are offered.

Maine Summer Festivals!

The Maine International Film festival is still going strong, but there are many other festivals happening this week (and throughout the summer). If you have not locked in your plans you should make a point to attend as many of these offerings as you can. Here are just a few.

Image provided by Bay Chamber Concerts

Ossipee Music Festival, July 21-24, 2011
http://www.ossipeevalley.com/
A four day acoustic music event with over 60 hours of live music from two stages. The Festival is host to the New England Flat-picking, Banjo and Songwriting Contests. It also hosts numerous workshops and dances and the four day children music academy, Roots & Sprouts.

Bates Dance Festival, July 1 – August 13, 2011
http://www.batesdancefestival.org/
The Bates Dance Festival brings together an international community of choreographers, performers, educators and students in a cooperative community to study, perform and create new work.

Bowdoin International Music Festival, June 25 – August 6, 2011
http://www.bowdoinfestival.org/
Each summer, the Bowdoin International Music Festival brings renowned artist instructors, performers, soloists, and gifted pre-professional classical musicians from around the world to beautiful Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine for six weeks of intensive chamber music study, collaboration, and performance.

Bay Chamber Concerts, July 1 – September 1, 2011
http://www.baychamberconcerts.org/
Each week in July and August, you can find a concert presented on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Most summer concerts start at 8:00 p.m. Most Wednesday night concerts are at the Strand Theatre, all Thursday night concerts are at the Rockport Opera House.

The DaPonte String Quartet, June 11 - August 29, 2011
http://www.daponte.org/
The DaPonte String Quartet was formed in Philadelphia in 1991 and came to Maine in 1995 on a Rural Residency Grant. At the end of the grant period the four musicians and their families decided to put down personal and professional roots in Maine.

More offerings can be found on the Maine Arts Commission Events Calender or on the Office of Tourism Maine Performs page.

Maine International Film Festival Begins This Week.

Since 1998 the Maine International Film Festival has represented the best of American independent and international cinema. They also have featured some of Maine's most exciting and innovative filmmakers. The event is a project of the Maine Film Center and this year's 10 day festival offers nearly 100 films between July 15 and 24.

At the festival audiences will be offered world class film and a chance to meet some of the people behind the movies. Filmmakers will host panel discussions and informal Q&A sessions, giving movie-goers an incredible chance to learn more about the art of film. This year’s Mid-Life Achievement Award honoree is Malcolm McDowell, a versatile and prolific actor with a career spanning over forty years. McDowell will accept his award on Saturday, July 16 at Colby College’s Given Auditorium.

The Maine Arts Commission is again sponsoring part of the film festival by lending support for Making it in Maine Day on Saturday, July 23.

The 34th Maine Student Film and Video Festival

The Maine Student Film Video Festival is open to Maine residents 19 years of age and younger. The movies submitted to the festival are judged on the basis of originality, content, style, and technique. Movies are reviewed by categories: Pre-Teen Division, grades K - 6; Junior Division, grades 7 - 8; and Senior Division, grades 9 - 12. All film genres are accepted and usually are entered from animation, documentary and narrative. Each year finalists’ and winners’ movies are selected for screening at the Public Screening and Awards Presentation held in conjunction with MIFF. A grand prize winner is selected each year and receives a $2,500 scholarship to the Young Filmmakers program, donated by The Maine Media Workshops, Rockport, ME.
Admission is free.

More information about the festival can be found on the Maine International Film Festival site.

Check out the 2011 Norway Arts Festival this Weekend

On July 7-9 Norway will host their annual Arts Festival, sponsored by the Western Maine Arts Group and Norway Downtown. This year the festival's focus-figure is Tony Montanaro (1927-2002), the internationally acclaimed mime artist, director, and teacher who founded the Celebration Barn Theater in South Paris. The event will close down Main Street to accommodate over 100 artists at the 44th annual Norway Sidewalk Art Show along with musicians, jugglers, dancers, children's activities, drummers and giant puppets.

The weekend will offer the Norway Triathlon, Poets on the Porch VIII, the annual Library Used Book Sale, and much more. All events are free and open to the public.
Go to the Norway Festival site for more details.

38th Old Port Festival this weekend!

Q stage at the 2010 Old Port Festival

This Sunday (June 12, 11 am - 5 pm) downtown Portland will host the 38th annual Old Port Festival. The event will begin at 11am with a parade down Exchange Street. This will be followed by 6 stages with live music, over 90 artist booths, kids activities, and all the attractions downtown Portland has to offer. More information can be found on the Portland Downtown District website, or call 772-6828.