The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Acting Chairman Joan Shigekawa announced last week that the Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) will receive an NEA Art Works grant in the amount of $10,000. CIFF is one of 895 organizations to be recognized nationwide, and one of only 11 grants awarded in the state of Maine.

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The grant will support the Camden International Film Festival and the expansion of its educational programs at the Points North Documentary Forum during the 2014 festival. The 2013 CIFF and its Points North Documentary Forum consisted of more than 70 feature-length and short documentaries from around the globe, and welcomed over 30 industry delegates to the forum for intimate workshops and live pitching sessions. The National Endowment of the Arts joins the ranks of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, The Fledgling Fund, the Unity Foundation, the Maine Community Foundation and Vimeo as CIFF’s leading funders in 2013.

NEA’s Acting Chairman Shigekawa said, “The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support these exciting and diverse arts projects that will take place throughout the United States. Whether it is through a focus on education, engagement, or innovation, these projects all contribute to vibrant communities and memorable experiences for the public to engage with the arts.”

“2013 marked a big year for the festival with a record number of attending filmmakers and industry representatives. This recognition from the National Endowment for the Arts provides invaluable support as we continue to grow the festival and expand opportunities for filmmakers through the Points North Documentary Forum,” said Ben Fowlie, Camden International Film Festival’s Founder and Executive Director.

The tenth anniversary of the Camden International Film Festival will be held September 25-28, 2014, which is already being celebrated through the yearlong “10 for 10” series with The Strand Theatre in Rockland leading up to the festival itself. More announcements on what is shaping up for CIFF’s 10th anniversary will be made in the coming months. For more information, visit www.camdenfilmfest.org.

The NEA’s Art Works grants support the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence: public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and enhancing the livability of communities through the arts.  The NEA received 1,528 eligible Art Works applications, requesting more than $75 million in funding.   Of those applications, 895 are recommended for grants for a total of $ 23.4 million. For a complete listing of projects recommended for Art Works grant support, please visit the NEA website at arts.gov.