The Points North Documentary Forum, being held October 1st and 2nd during the 6th annual Camden Int’l Film Festival, is providing a unique and unparalleled opportunity for the New England non-fiction film production community.

The Points North Forum, now in its second year, is a unique opportunity to connect with key industry decision makers through panels, structured networking sessions, receptions and informal gatherings.  In addition, the Forum will present six specially selected documentary projects-in-development to a delegation of some of the worldwide documentary community’s industry leaders. For additional information, please see the information attached and copied below.

CAMDEN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES
POINTS NORTH PITCH LINEUP, NEW DELEGATES CONFIRMED

Six documentary projects selected for industry pitch at Points North Documentary Forum, October 1 & 2 at Rockport Opera House, Rockport, Maine

Camden, Maine – The Points North Documentary Forum, part of the Camden International Film Festival opening this week, will present six specially selected documentary projects-in-development to a delegation of some of the worldwide documentary community’s industry leaders, who will provide critical feedback and advice.

The Points North Forum, now in its second year, is a unique opportunity for the New England non-fiction production community to connect with key industry decision makers through panels, structured networking sessions, receptions and informal gatherings.

The six projects selected for the Points North Pitch are Liz (Sharyn Paul Brusie, Scarborough ME), The Biosphere Experiment (Shawn Rosenheim, Williamstown, MA), Betting the Farm, Cecily Pingree, Jason Mann, North Haven, ME), Holy Ghetto (iLan Azoulai, Somerville, MA), La Vigilia (Jenny Alexander, Malden, MA), Angkor’s Children (Lauren Shaw, Belmont, MA).

Points North Forum Director Louise Rosen said today, “We had twenty one projects submitted from three New England states. The Selection Committee was very pleased with the quality of the projects and the range of subject matter but these six stood out for them. It will make for a very interesting session and an eye-opening opportunity for the filmmakers, the delegates and the audience. Such a gathering of resources for the independent production community has never before taken place in New England.”

Delegates include: 

Cynthia Fenneman – President and CEO, American Public Television

Sam Anthony – Commissioning Executive, BBC Television

Hans Robert Eisenhauer - Head of Thema from French-German network ARTE

Ann Rose - Executive Producer, Original Programming at the Sundance Channel

Natalie Difford – Senior Program Officer, Chicken & Egg Pictures

Kathryn Lo - Director of Program Development, Independent Film at PBS

Rosen also described the participation of other noteworthy organizations.  “We are proud to have representatives from influential grant-giving organizations such as Tribeca Film Institute, LEF Foundation and Cinereach, and are delighted to welcome executive producers Andrea Meditch (Man On Wire, Grizzly Man) and Daniel Chalfen (War Don Don, The Disappearance of McKinley Nolan).” Also involved in Forum activities will be representatives from the Independent Feature Project (IFP), Shooting People, and the Bay Area Video Coalition as well as festival programmers from both the True/False and Maine International Film Festivals.

Delegates will be seated on panel sessions Friday afternoon, October 1, and serve as judges for the Points North Pitch on Saturday morning, October 2. The pitch session permits the six filmmakers to describe their projects and show a short clip. After each presentation, the industry delegates have an opportunity for questions and comments. The filmmakers with the two top pitches will be awarded prize packages that include scholarships from the Maine Media Workshops in Rockport.

“This is an unprecedented opportunity for New England filmmakers to get their projects in front of key decision-makers and benefit from their feedback,” noted Rosen.

http://www.camdenfilmfest.org/pointsnorth

On Saturday afternoon there will be a special workshop with Richard Saiz on how to maximize funding opportunities with the Independent Television Service (ITVS), the largest funder of independent documentaries in the US. ITVS committed approximately $8,000,000 to 44 projects in last year’s funding rounds.

Passes for the two-day Points North Forum are $25, day passes $15. For more information, event details, and pass sales, please consult the Camden International Film Festival’s website: http://camdenfilmfest.org/attend/. Maine Film & Video Association members receive a discount, go to http://www.mainefilm.com.

About Camden IFF
The 6th annual Camden International Film Festival takes place September 30 – October 3 in Camden, Rockport and Rockland Maine. Committed to supporting and generating interest in independent documentary films, the Camden International Film Festival presents a snapshot of the cultural landscape through the year’s best non-fiction storytelling.  The annual program highlights work that shows dedication to craft, and an ability to arouse discussion on documentary film as an art form, a catalyst for change and as an outlet for the independent voice.

Sponsors
The Points North Documentary Forum is sponsored in part by:

The Quimby Family Foundation
University of Maine
Maine Magazine
Cellardoor Vineyard and Winery
LEF Foundation
Maine Media Workshops
Maine Arts Commission
Maine Office of Tourism

For more information contact: Sarah Ruddy (Festival Producer) .