Cinema is a beacon.

CIFF XIX | 2023

The 19th Camden International Film Festival will feature a slate of boundary-pushing documentary films and filmmakers from across the globe. The festival will take place in person from September 14-17 at various venues throughout Camden and Rockland, Maine, and online from September 18-25.

At Points North, we believe cinema is best experienced together. We also believe the best way to get the full CIFF experience is by purchasing one of our five passes, all of which provide access to screenings and special discussions with visiting directors, and some of which provide access to our After Dark parties and our Lounge.

We will be announcing our full slate of films the week of August 15th.

Interested in supporting Points North and CIFF?

It is through the generosity of many that we are able to bring our programming to life. Donors who contribute $1000+ get passes to CIFF and some special invitations. If you’re interested in donating, visit us here.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

CIFF will take place September 14-17, and will include in-person screenings at three venues – the Camden Opera House (our longtime homebase), the historic Strand Theatre, and Journey’s End (our pop-up cinema on Rockland’s waterfront). The Storyforms exhibition will return to the galleries of CMCA.

CIFF’s Virtual Festival will run from September 18-25. Audiences can enjoy selections from our slate of new and future award-winning films from the comfort of their own home–or screen–well before anyone else. Virtual screenings will be available to viewers in the United States only. Virtual Passes include access to a live recording of the Points North Pitch, an audience favorite!

The Camden International Film Festival has long taken place over the second weekend following Labor Day. Unfortunately, this year it coincides partially with Rosh HaShanah. To make sure that festival participants and attendees who are celebrating the holidays are still able to experience as much of CIFF as possible, we will be making the Points North Pitch available in our Virtual Festival. We are also actively coordinating with the Adas Yoshuron Synagogue in Rockland to support any visitors who might be looking to join in with in-person celebrations.

Film Submissions

CIFF 2023 entries are open through June 5, 2023. Visit our CIFF Submissions page. 

Press Credentialing Details
Press interested in covering the festival, email us here.

CIFF XVIII | 2022

The 18th edition of the Camden International Film Festival took place throughout venues in Camden, Rockport, and Rockland, Maine from September 15-18, 2022 and online from September 15-25, 2022.


Building off last year’s accessible, celebratory, and immersive in-person festival experience, we hosted documentary filmmakers and film lovers from across the globe and exhibited a slate of boundary-pushing films.

CIFF XVII | 2021

And the show went on. The 17th edition of the Camden International Film Festival was held throughout venues in Maine from September 16–19 and online from September 16-26, 2021.

The CIFF program featured 37 features and 33 short films from 30 countries! Check out our 2021 festival program below. 

SCHEDULE

FILMS

PASSES

INFO

ABOUT CIFF

CIFF’s OPENING WEEKEND  will take place September 16–19, and will include in-person screenings at four venues – our recently launched Shotwell Drive-In, the Camden Opera House, Strand Theatre, and a special new pop-up cinema-lounge housed inside a 12,000 square foot boat barn on the edge of the Atlantic. Filmmakers will be in attendance, the Points North Pitch will return as a live event, and 50+ filmmaker fellows will be on the ground for the fest, making this year’s event one of the largest in-person documentary gatherings since the start of the pandemic.

CIFF’s VIRTUAL FESTIVAL  will run from September 16–26, and will provide audiences the opportunity to screen our slate of feature and short films from the comfort of your own home (or screen) at any time. Our Filmmaker Solidarity Fund continues this year, which means that as a virtual festival audience member, 50% of your pass or ticket purchase will go directly to the filmmakers who are presenting work at this year’s CIFF. Last year, we supported 64 filmmaking teams with nearly $25,000 through our Filmmaker Solidarity Fund. This year we hope you can help us reach $500 per project! Buy a pass as a gift for a friend who can’t come in person so they can enjoy CIFF remotely.

2022 Program Guide

Peruse the films of CIFF 2022.

FILMS

FEATURES

SHORTS

STORYFORMS

VIRTUAL FESTIVAL

FEATURES

HARRELL COMPETITION

CINEMATIC VISION COMPETITION

BEST OF FEST

SPOTLIGHT

DIANE WEYERMANN SPOTLIGHT

SHORTS

AMERICAN ARCHETYPES

EVENING LIGHTS

LOVE AND SCIENCE ENTANGLED

PHAROS IN THE MIST

PROTEST RHYTHMS

SPACE BETWEEN US

DIRIGO SHORTS

SHORTS PLUS

TRAIL MAPS

POETICS OF RESISTANCE

SELF-REFLECTIVE DESIRES

EMBODIED GEOGRAPHIES

ENVIRONMENTAL HYPNOSIS

Venues | 2022

CIFF Hub: 8 Winter Street, Rockland, ME 04841 (across from the CMCA) | Pass pickup + Merch!

Camden Opera House: 29 Elm Street, Camden, ME 04843

Journey’s End Marina: 120 Tilson Ave, Rockland, ME 04841 (follow Tilson Ave until the ocean! No parking on-site)

Shotwell Drive-In: 40 West Street, Rockport, ME 04856 (There will be a section of seats for those without vehicles)

Strand Theater: 345 Main Street, Rockland, ME 04841

Venues

Journey’s End: 120 Tillson Ave. Rockland, ME 04841

  • A 12,000 square foot, highly-ventilated boat barn on the Rockland waterfront converted into a CIFF-style cinema lounge.

The Shotwell Drive-In: 40 West St. Rockport, ME 04841

  • Open-air cinema for up to 85 cars.

Camden Opera House: 29 Elm St. Camden, ME 04843

  • Limited to 240 people (50% of venue’s normal capacity) with increased airflow and a “comfortable spacing” policy.

Strand Theatre: 345 Main St. Rockland, ME 04841

  • Currently has a 100 person limit. The Strand’s ventilation system has been upgraded with a new control module allowing pinpoint control of fresh air flow, UV light purification, and MERV-13 hospital-grade air filtration.

CIFF Hub: Winter Street Barn, across from CMCA, Rockland, ME 04843

The CIFF hub is for Passholder pick-up, Filmmaker and Industry Accreditation, and the purchase of merch.

SCHEDULE

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A pdf version of our schedule is available here.

9:30–11:30 AM Camden Opera House FEATURE FILM:  Name of Film Here
12–1:30 PM Strand Theater PANEL:  Name of Panel Here

Event Description here. More info typed here and sentences here to describe the event a little bit more
3:30–5:30 PM Farnsworth Museum SHORT:  Name of Film Here

9:30–11:30 AM Camden Opera House FEATURE FILM:  Name of Film Here
12–1:30 PM Strand Theater PANEL:  Name of Panel Here

Event Description here. More info typed here and sentences here to describe the event a little bit more
3:30–5:30 PM Farnsworth Museum SHORT:  Name of Film Here

9:30–11:30 AM Camden Opera House FEATURE FILM:  Name of Film Here
12–1:30 PM Strand Theater PANEL:  Name of Panel Here

Event Description here. More info typed here and sentences here to describe the event a little bit more
3:30–5:30 PM Farnsworth Museum SHORT:  Name of Film Here

9:30–11:30 AM Camden Opera House FEATURE FILM:  Name of Film Here
12–1:30 PM Strand Theater PANEL:  Name of Panel Here

Event Description here. More info typed here and sentences here to describe the event a little bit more
3:30–5:30 PM Farnsworth Museum SHORT:  Name of Film Here

The 19th edition of the Camden International Film Festival will take place throughout venues in Camden, Rockport, and Rockland, Maine from September 14-17, 2023 and online from September 18-25.

Building off last year’s accessible, celebratory, and immersive in-person festival experience, we will host documentary filmmakers and film lovers from across the globe as we exhibit a slate of boundary-pushing films.

CIFF will announce its full slate of feature and short documentary films the week of August 21st.

SCHEDULE         Thursday 16th        Friday 17th       Saturday 18th         Sunday 19th         

[sh_shotwell_schedule]

PASSES

The Virtual Pass provides access to all feature and short films screenings on our online festival platform. 50% of your pass price will directly support 2021 CIFF filmmakers through our Filmmaker Solidarity Fund. Virtual Passes do not include access to any in-person screenings or events.
BUY PASS

The Virtual Pass provides access to all feature and short films screenings on our online festival platform. 50% of your pass price will directly support 2021 CIFF filmmakers through our Filmmaker Solidarity Fund. Virtual Passes do not include access to any in-person screenings or events.
BUY PASS

The Virtual Pass provides access to all feature and short films screenings on our online festival platform. 50% of your pass price will directly support 2021 CIFF filmmakers through our Filmmaker Solidarity Fund. Virtual Passes do not include access to any in-person screenings or events.
BUY PASS

To purchase individual film tickets, please follow the links within the individual film or event information. See film listing.

INFO & FAQ

Thanks to our Midcoast arts, film and creative community we are able to partner with the following venues for our CIFF venues:

Camden Opera House

29 Elm St, Camden, ME 04843 | (207) 236-7963

Strand Theater

29 Elm St, Camden, ME 04843 |  (207) 236-7963

Farnsworth Museum

29 Elm St, Camden, ME 04843 |  (207) 236-7963

PASSES   To purchase a CIFF pass please see our pass section above where you will find purchase button links.

TICKETS   To purchase tickets to an individual film, please click on the film, in our film section above, that you are interested in where you will find a purchase button either on the film rollover or on the individual film page. 

IT TAKES AN ARMY…

CIFF’s unique combination of screenings, masterclasses, workshops, and special events would not be possible without the generosity and support of our outstanding volunteer teams. They love film, love our communities, and work tirelessly to create the best CIFF experience possible for all our attendees and guests.

As a CIFF volunteer, you’ll enjoy an unusual, behind-the-scenes experience with one of the top documentary film festivals in the world. You’ll meet new people and enjoy access to festival events. Most importantly, you’ll be part of the growing CIFF family!

If you want to work hard, have fun, and make the magic happen, please consider joining us for 2020!

HOW TO VOLUNTEER

Please follow the link below to register. Once your registration is processed, you will receive a welcome e-mail from us (check your bulk/spam/junk folder!) Questions? Please contact us at [email protected]

The Camden International Film Festival and Points North Forum take place in Camden, Rockport, and Rockland, Maine, three of the prettiest coastal towns in all of New England. The age-old Maine saying, “you can’t get there from here” need not apply to CIFF. There are plenty of options that will make your trip up the coast easy and enjoyable.

CIFF is reachable by plane, car, or bus.

BY PLANE

Daily flights from Boston to Rockland through Cape Air are easy, quite affordable, and offer one of the most spectacular views of the Maine coast. For more information, visit www.capeair.com. Make sure to rent a car from Budget upon arrival (207-594-0822).

BY AUTOMOBILE

From points south, follow I-95 through New Hampshire and into Maine. Get off at 295 N – Portland. Follow that until exit 28: Coastal Route 1N, Bath / Brunswick. Following Route 1 will take you directly through downtown Rockland, home of CIFF venues The Strand and Farnsworth Art Museum. Stay in Rockland, or continue 7 miles on Route 1 until you enter Camden.

BY BUS

Concord Trailways is one of the best bus experiences in the world. They provide movies, snacks, and water, and even a chance to experience a singing driver. Daily schedules from Boston’s South Station and Logan Airport and from Portland serve both Camden and Rockland. For more information, visit concordtrailways.com.

PARTNER HOTELS

Midcoast Maine has a number of places to stay during the festival. From award-winning boutique hotels to campgrounds, there are options for any kind of traveler. Below is a list of partner hotels and other references to help you plan your stay. Fall is a very busy time of year, so make sure to book your room early!

The Camden International Film Festival is grateful for the generosity of many local hotels, inns, and bed and breakfasts who support the festival by providing lodging for our attending guests. Make sure to mention you’ll be attending for CIFF. Many of these hotels offer discounts to attendees!

HAMPTON INN & SUITES ROCKLAND
207-594-6644

LINCOLNVILLE MOTEL
(207) 236-3195

250 MAIN
(207) 594-5994

ELMS OF CAMDEN
(207) 236-6250

INN AT OCEAN’S EDGE
(207) 236-0945

WHITEHALL
(800) 789-6565

BIRCHWOOD LODGE & FARMETTE
(207) 236-4204

CAMDEN MAINE STAY INN
(207)236-9636

HAWTHORN INN
(207)236-8842

CAMDEN HARBOUR INN
(207) 236-4200

COUNTRY INN
(888) 707-3945

CEDAR CREST INN
(207) 236-4839

For more info on all hotels, visit the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce

The location of CIFF’s Hub will be announced in early September. The Hub will be open starting Wednesday, September 15 for Passholder pick-up, Filmmaker and Industry Accreditation, and the purchase of merch and general tickets to screenings as available. 

Yes! If you are interested in covering CIFF as a member of the press, either in-person or virtually, please fill out this form.

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