The Canadian Cancer Society has joined forces with the American SafeLawns Foundation (www.safelawns.org) to promote and distribute the film A Chemical Reaction across Canada. The film is centered on the first Canadian community to ban lawn and garden pesticides and tells the story of how that ban is spreading across both of our nations. 

“The panelists did a wonderful job of critiquing the works in progress. Their insight and suggestions were priceless for the producers to hear and consider.”
-Cameron Bonsey

Our recent MFVA meeting, March 6th at the Maine Studios was one of our most successful and it’s been gratifying to hear so many wonderful comments from participants.  Below are just a few of the many people we’ve heard from:

March 22. FIVE RIVERS MEMBER MEETING:
MAINE ARTS COMMISSION LISTENING
TOUR BEGINS HERE!

The Maine Arts Commission kicks off its Listening Tour 6PM March 22 in Brunswick, the first of a series of statewide meetings to gather information and feedback and give input on the future direction of the Maine Arts Commission.

New England Movie Tour concludes with
Portland’s First Showing of Local Documentary
Neighbor by Neighbor:
Mobilizing an Invisible Community in Lewiston, ME

What: A public showing of Neighbor by Neighbor: Mobilizing an Invisible Community in Lewiston, ME that will be introduced by the filmmaker and followed by discussion with local organizers and people featured in the film

When: March 24th, 2010, 5:30pm doors open, 6pm movie showing (Movie Length is 90 minutes), 7:30pm discussion begins

Where: Reiche Community Center, Portland, Maine

The Maine Masters Project
Film series and panel discussion

Bangor Public Library Lecture Hall
Thursday nights at 5:30PM March 11,18, 25


This free film and discussion series provides an opportunity for attendees to sit together and converse with Maine Masters filmmakers, art historians, and curators.

March 18, 2010 Painters Alan Magee and Harold Garde, and photographer Olive Pierce –- films presented by art author Carl Little and videographer/arts educator Deb Vendetti
March 25, 2010 Painters Lois Dodd and Stephen Pace, and sculptor Clark Fitz-Gerald – films presented by curator Suzette McAvoy and filmmaker Richard Kane

Great news! 
(Sent by: Lea Girardin at the Maine Film Office)

The amendment to LD 1449,” An Act to Expand Tax Incentives for Visual Media Productions” passed.  The changes to the bill are highlighted below. The effective date for the amendment has not yet been signed into law but we hope it will be will be January 1, 2010. 

The Maine Jewish Film Festival (MJFF) comes of age in 2010 when it celebrates its 13th year!

We curate a program of films that explore the Jewish experience through the lens of film - screening features, documentaries and shorts. Since 1998, MJFF has been bringing American and international cinema and filmmakers to enthusiastic southern Maine audiences....

OPEN CASTING CALL FOR SHORT FILMS

WHEN:  Tues., March 16 & Wed., March 17,
7:00 p.m.

Lots of juicy parts and low time commitment - these short films will be shot in early to mid-April and usually in one day. There will be a public screening of completed films on Thurs., May 13th at Luther Bonney Auditorium on USM’s Portland campus.

We hope you had a chance to catch our meeting this past Saturday at the Maine Studios.  Screenings of some very diverse and compelling Maine films in progress, with incisive commentary by industry experts.  It can be a challenge for filmmakers to first encapsulate their work into a short clip and then put it out there to before the critical eyes of several experts.  But we applaud them for doing so as it gave all in attendance a change to grow and learn in the process.

Following are links to some of the project clips.  Stand by as we post links and information about the panel of industry experts who were in attendance (in the next few days).

The next meeting of the Maine Film & Video Association is 5:00PM Saturday, March 6, 2010 at the new Maine Studios, 235 Presumpscot St., Portland, ME, and features ROUGH CUT screenings of two or three excerpts of projects/trailers of some of Maine’s most active professionals before a panel of festival and distribution experts and an audience of your peers.

All are welcome.  Free for members; $7 for non-members.  Included in the admission price are free drinks, including beer and wine, and pizza.

We love to hear from our members and so we’ve created a fun and easy survey for you to let us know what you like or don’t like about MFVA.  Add your input on how we can improve our meetings, make our website better and serve you, our membership as best we can.

Go to our community page, MFVA March meeting - http://www.mainefilm.info/index.php/forums/viewthread/36/
At the bottom of the announcement you’ll see a pdf that you can download and print. Please fill it out an bring it to our next meeting.  Or mail it to:
Mark Ireland
158 Pleasant Point Rd.
Topsham ME.  04086

Thanks!