The Fifth Annual Camden International Film Festival

Contact Information

Camden International Film Festival
PO Box 836
Camden, ME 04843
617-817-5376

info@camdenfilmfest.org

SUBMITTING TO CIFF 2010

The Camden International Film Festival is open to all documentary films of any length. We love films that push the artistic boundaries of the form. We also love films that shed light on the important issues in the world today. Most importantly, we love a good story.

Check out our About Us section for a taste of what our programming is all about and to read previous filmmakers experiences at CIFF.

We are also interested in rough cuts and work-in-progress films. If you have a project that you think is ready to share with an engaged audience, contact festival director, Ben Fowlie.

Make sure to check out some important submission dates below.

To submit your film for consideration to the 2010 Camden International Film Festival, follow the link to our online submission form. Fill it out, mail in a DVD screener, and sit back and wait. We’ll let you know when we’ve received your application via email. We will not be releasing any programming decisions until the end of August 2010.

Entry Fees and Deadlines

• June 15, 2010: Regular deadline. Feature $35, Short $25
• July 15, 2010: Late deadline. Feature $40, Short $30
• August 1, 2010: Extended deadline. Feature $45, Short $35

All films making their Maine premiere at CIFF are eligible for our annual awards including our Harrell Award for Best Documentary and the CIFF Emerging Cinematic Vision Award. Awards are juried by a group of documentary filmmakers, programmer and other industry leaders.

If you have any questions regarding the process, email us here (info@camdenfilmfest.org).

Testimonials for CIFF '09

"The GPS told us that we wouldn't arrive in Camden until 1 a.m.-- just when the Saturday night party was scheduled to end. On a whim we decided to swing by the restaurant and see if anyone was still there. The place was popping. Fast forward an hour: we're packing people into our car to make the move to the after party. Fast forward two hours: festival organizer Ben Fowlie is leading a group of wild and wacky filmmakers on a ghost hunt in the bowels of the massive festival headquarters (in a former old folks home) while the less adventurous gathered upstairs to eat pizza and champagne. That set the tone for our experience at CIFF: tremendous energy, amazing filmmakers, and an enthusiasm on the part of the organizers that every filmmaker hopes they'll find somewhere on the festival circuit. If you want to experience what a true independent film festival is supposed to feel like, you've got to find a way to make it up to CIFF."
George Kachadorian – Director, Shooting Beauty

"...It’s truly hard to beat finding yourself in this small village on the coast of Maine, welcomed by a crew of staff and volunteers who seem to be taking a page from the old Judy Garland/Mickey Rooney days (let’s put on a show and let’s get all our friends to help out!), who clearly love docs and love their hometown... So congrats to the entire staff of CIFF. You’ve arrived. And - particularly in the current festival environment - not a moment too soon."
AJ Schnack – Director, Convention

"This small (but growing) documentary festival on the coast of Maine burst onto the scene in a major way this year - screenings in opera houses, parties in local (haunted?) mansions, crackling dinners with filmmakers and industry gathered around long tables and plates filled with fresh-caught lobster. If a festival can be cozy and stimulating at the same time, then Camden is creating an exciting event to kick off the insanity that is the fall festival tour and is poised to become the top US doc showcase in the fall. A bit of a hike to get to (unless you want to take the prop plane to the local airport) but worth it once you arrive. Fest takes advantage of everything the area has to offer - the Maine Media Workshops, freshly caught seafood and a bounty of native sons and daughters who want to do something great in their hometown."
AJ Schnack – All These Wonderful Things Top 25 Film Festival for Documentaries

"In the vast sea of nearly impenetrable festival juggernauts and the countless other festivals void of soul and originality, it’s refreshing to know that there are places, like the Camden International Film Festival, where providing audiences with the opportunity to interact with filmmakers and honoring filmmakers isn’t an afterthought but the reason to be gathering in the first place…. Thankfully there are festivals that simply get it – like the brilliantly hip and culturally relevant CIFF."
Patrick Shen – Director, The Philosopher Kings

"We just got back from Maine where RiseUp was screened at The Camden International Film Festival. We had a great time meeting other immensely talented filmmakers and talking to enthusiastic audience members about how we got the film completed. Big thanks... What a great adventure!"
Luciano Blotta - Director, RiseUp

"This festival has a sharp young energy, strong programming, and seriously engaged audiences (so engaged that our Q&A got a bit intense – an awesome, if prickly situation.)"
Donal Mosher - Director, October Country

"...This year CIFF caught fire and I'm so glad I got to be a part of that. It's exciting to have another domestic nonfiction fest in such a beautiful spot, run by such talented people... It was a thrilling event for the whole community to have access to a such a powerful slate of films. Man, the people are friendly there!"
Pamela Cohn – PFunk Productions / Still in Motion blog

"The folks at CIFF not only know how to select the best documentaries, but they also know how to provide filmmakers with the right combination of serious fun, cinematic nourishment, and down-home hospitality. I enjoyed every moment there & can't wait to go back!"
Shelley Rogers - Director, What’s Organic About Organic?

"The Camden International Film Festival has the perfect mixture of quality films, community feel, and a wonderfully engaged audience. Over the course of the weekend event you can be sure to find the environment that suits any filmmaker and the community we all yearn for while editing in isolation. CIFF is a fall gem!"
Ashley Sabin - Director, Invisible Girlfriend

"One really couldn't ask for a more perfect time of year or a more picturesque setting for a film festival. This place has charm. The folks in charge are young, friendly, and full of big ideas. Great films, great venues, great music. Someone pass the lobster."
Attending Filmmaker

"What is so impressive about Camden is the tremendous care and attention given to emerging independent filmmakers as well as the more established. All filmmakers are treated to a wonderful level of hospitality and are able to closely connect with highly engaged and diverse audiences."
Attending Filmmaker

"They’re not beholden to premieres and choose to curate in large part the best of what's been happening over the last year. First rate accomodations, screening rooms, attendance, parties, location. This festival has got it all. It will be great to see them expand and see if they can retain that feeling. Ben Fowlie and his team: aces."
Attending Filmmaker

"It was a truly lovely experience from start to finish. Amazing hospitality, lovely accommodations, enthusiastic filmgoers (many students were in attendance) and a picturesque setting on Maine’s coast. The festival programmers also do a great job of promoting their films long after the film festival, really standing behind their filmmakers’ work."
Attending Filmmaker

"Played, won award. Very nice folk. Paid for travel hotel...lovely town once you get there."
Attending Filmmaker

LOVE LOVE LOVE. They care and treat industry and filmmakers like the stars we are :)
Attending Filmmaker

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