In The News

MOFF returns to Portland this July, drawing filmmakers, outdoor lovers, and conservationists for a celebration of adventure and environmental storytelling. Daily events include indoor screenings, filmmaker panels, and networking, followed by nightly open-air screenings on Portland’s Eastern Prom.The Maine Film Office is sponsoring MOFF’s invite-only Launch Party on July 23 at Après, followed by the Maine Filmmaker Showcase: Outdoor Shorts Block on the Eastern Promenade, featuring Maine-made short films. The festival’s audience—active, loyal outdoor enthusiasts—represents a dynamic cross-section of local and global storytellers.Proceeds benefit Teens to Trails, helping connect Maine youth with outdoor experiences.

The Maine Film Office is proud to sponsor the Tourmaline Prizes at this year’s MIFF in Waterville, running July 11–20. Named for Maine’s state gem, the Tourmaline Awards honor the best Maine-made films of the festival: a $5,000 prize for Best Feature and $2,500 for Best Short, to be presented by MFO Director Steve Lyons on closing night. MIFF showcases nearly 100 films over 10 days at the Paul J. Schupf Art Center and the Waterville Opera House, including a robust lineup of workshops for emerging filmmakers.

Highlights include:
• Youth Filmmaking Workshop (July 16):
A hands-on session for ages 13–18 at Ticonic Classroom.

• Producing for New England’s Public Media (July 19):
Meet programmers from PBS affiliates across the region.

• Budgeting Toolbox for Indie Filmmakers (July 19):
Industry pros share tools for building sustainable budgets.

• 45th Maine Student Film & Video Festival (July 19):
A showcase of K–12 talent, sponsored by Maine Public.

Maine’s first-ever feature length wildlife film will make its Portland premiere thanks to the efforts and vision of 10 Portland-area land trusts and trail organizations. The collaboration will host a screening of a Peace of Forest on March 29, 2025 at USM’s Hannaford Hall at 7:00 p.m. with a Q & A with the filmmakers, Lee Ann and Thomas Szelog, following the screening of the film.

A Peace of Forest is a compelling, feature-length film, celebrating the beauty and intimacy of wildlife in Maine. This one-of-a-kind cinematic adventure showcases surprising, tender and exquisite interactions of wildlife during peaceful moments in Maine’s natural world.

A new Maine-filmed drama proved to be a major draw at theaters across the state. “The Ghost Trap,” based on the novel by Midcoast author K. Stephens, tells the story of a young lobsterman who is forced to choose between right and wrong after a tragic accident. “The Ghost Trap” has played to sold-out festival audiences at the Maine International Film Festival, Vacationland, and Maine Outdoor Film Festival, where it was an official 2024 selection. The film is now available through streaming services and to rent or own on all digital platforms and DVD. Click here to view the trailer.

More than 100 films with screened at the Maine International Film Festival in Waterville during the 10-day festival in July. Full-length features, long-form and short-form documentaries and shorts were all curated to provide a selection of drama, comedy and entertaining options for all audiences.
Several feature films shot extensively in Maine included: Lost on a Mountain in Maine, The Ghost Trap and The Ruse, while a number of new and repeat filmmakers from Maine and around the globe premiered short films.