Industry leaders from Sundance Documentary Institute, HBO, PBS, and Gucci-Tribeca Fund confirmed

CAMDEN, Maine, September 21, 2009 - The Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) today announced its inaugural POINTS NORTH Documentary Film Forum, which runs concurrently with the Camden International Film Festival. CIFF will take place from October 1 - 4 throughout Camden, Rockport and Rockland, Maine. POINTS NORTH will be held on Friday, October 2 from 2 # 6 at Union Hall on the Maine Media Workshops campus.

This free event is specifically designed to benefit New England based filmmakers, providing an unparalleled opportunity to connect with top-level industry leaders including funders, broadcasters, filmmakers and producers. The forum is open to the public, offering filmmakers in the region a way to enhance their professional development.

Featuring two intensive, back-to-back session, POINTS NORTH will present an afternoon of lively discussions, in-depth examination of funding trends, first hand accounts of self-distribution, Q&A sessions and an intimate reception. The first panel, "A New World", will explore aspects of the current funding process, trends and players. It will be followed by "The Survivor's Guide", discussing sustainable living in the new world of filmmaking, focusing on DIY distribution and making successful films in the current economic climate.

"I'm thrilled to be able to offer this unique opportunity to the documentary film community in New England," said Ben Fowlie, CIFF Founder and Director. "The Points North Forum, spearheaded by Brunswick-based international documentary expert Louise Rosen, is bringing together leaders from all corners of the industry. For anyone interested in documentary production or distribution, this is an event that should not be missed" said Fowlie.

Rosen added, "Industry representatives of this caliber just don't make it to New England very often # and we couldn't be more honored to host them here in Maine."

A New World: Non-fiction Film Funding, Trends and Players

This panel will begin with 5-7 minute presentations from each participant, including clips, overview of their organization - the types of projects they fund and what they look for. This will be followed by a 60 minute moderated panel discussion with Q&A on overall funding trends. Confirmed panelists to date include Patricia Finneran (Sundance Documentary Institute), Greg Rhem (HBO), Ryan Harrington (Gucci Tribeca Fund), Sara Archambault (LEF Foundation) Jalyn Henton (PBS National Program Service) with others expected to be announced in the coming weeks. This panel will be moderated by Louise Rosen (Managing Director, Louise Rosen Ltd).

The Survivor's Guide: Filmmaker Roundtable on Sustainable Filmmaking w/ Q&A

Panel topics include DIY distribution, making a living as a documentary filmmaker and tips on filmmaking in the current economic climate, discussed by some of the leading documentary filmmakers working today. Moderated by Pamela Cohn, noted film critic, filmmaker and author, the panel includes to date, David Redmon (Mardi Gras: Made in China/Carnivalesque Films, AJ Schnack (Convention/Cinema Eye Honors), Ian Cheney (King Corn/Wicked Delicate Films) Gita Pullapilly and Aron Gaudet (The Way We Get By), Dana Rae Warren (Independent Producer, Maine resident) and Danielle Digiacomo (Independent Film Project Community Outreach Manager).

POINTS NORTH Documentary Film Forum will begin on October 2 at 2pm with introductory remarks on the current documentary landscape. The Forum will be followed by a reception from 5 # 6, open to all participants. Sponsored in part by the LEF Foundation and Maine Media Workshops, POINTS NORTH is an extension of the Camden International Film Festival.

For more information on scheduling, directions and up to date information on panelists, please visit www.camdenfilmfest.org/pointsnorth

ABOUT CIFF

Committed to supporting and generating interest in independent documentary films, the annual festival presents a snapshot of the cultural landscape through the year's best non-fiction storytelling. The weekend also includes intimate Q&A sessions, panels, installation exhibits, musical performances and parties.

The 5th Annual Camden International Film Festival will take place October 1-4, 2009, screening over fifty films at venues in Camden, Rockport and Rockland. For more information on the festival, the full schedule, or information on passes visit www.camdenfilmfest.org.

small towns, big films.