26th annual Maine International Film Festival opens submissions, first festival in new Paul J. Schupf Arts Center

WATERVILLE, Maine – The Maine Film Center has opened submissions for the 26th annual Maine International Film Festival (MIFF). The Festival, scheduled for July 7-16, 2023, will be hosted at the Paul J. Schupf Arts Center, which will be the new home for the Maine Film Center in downtown Waterville.

For the second year, MIFF will offer Tourmaline Prizes, named for Maine’s state gem, which are juried awards recognizing the best Maine-made films of the festival. On the closing night of MIFF, a $5,000 prize will be awarded to the best feature film, and a $2,500 prize will be awarded to the best short film. Filmmakers interested in submitting work should specify that their film that was made in Maine in their submission forms. (Films that tell stories about Maine but were not at all produced in Maine are not eligible for the prize).

In 2022, director Henry Spritz won the inaugural Tourmaline Prize for best Maine-made Feature Film for his film “Sunner,” and co-directors Daniel Quintanilla and Jessamine Irwin won the inaugural Tourmaline Prize for best Maine-made Short Film for their film “Le Carrefour (The Intersection).”

Films meeting these qualifications may be submitted for 50% off normal submission fees. To receive a discount code, email [email protected]. Please allow up to 3 business days for a response, particularly when approaching a submission deadline.

This year’s submission deadlines are listed below.

Earlybird Deadline: January 3, 2023
Regular Deadline: February 18, 2023
Late Deadline: March 18, 2023
Extended Deadline: April 4, 2023

About the Maine Film Center
The Maine Film Center (MFC) brings world-class independent film to Central Maine through Railroad Square Cinema, the only Sundance Art House Project cinema in Maine and the annual Maine International Film Festival, a 10-day celebration that attracts filmmakers and film aficionados from around the world, and by delivering impactful, accessible film exhibitions and education programs. MFC is a division of Waterville Creates. For more information visit MaineFilmCenter.org.