Split Together: Weathering the Storm at the Camden International Film Festival

The Camden International Film Festival (CIFF), with hubs in Camden and Rockland, faced a challenge between programming and geography. Films alternated between a “one for them, one for us” exchange, embodying the festival’s “Radically Hopeful™” slogan. Beyond Utopia and A Golden Life reflected this theme but faced criticism for Sinophobic perspectives and repetitive celebratory narratives. The Last Year of Darkness sparked discussions on the filmmakers’ political stance. A storm disrupted the festival, leading to an improvised RE: Distribution Town Hall, exploring the trade-off between cachet and audience in film distribution. This helped emphasize the value of community screenings over traditional glam. Despite these challenges, CIFF created a unique community, prompting reflections on industry contradictions.