WATERVILLE - One of the highlights of Maine's cinematic calendar is about to get underway in Waterville.

The Maine International Film Festival is set to take place from July 13 through July 22. The festival - marking its 21st year - will once again feature a vast array of films - nearly 100 in all. Comedies, dramas and documentaries, feature-length films and shorts, movies new and old from all over the world and from right in our backyards here in Maine.

WATERVILLE – It’s that time again. We’ve once again arrived at the highest of highlights in Maine’s cinematic calendar.

The Maine International Film Festival is back.

Maine International Film Festival returns for 19th year

WATERVILLE One of the highlights of Maine's cinematic calendar is about to get underway in Waterville.

Festival in Waterville honors Actor Keith Carradine and legendary director Robert Altman, welcomes Oscar-winning writer Ernest Thompson and more

WATERVILLE - Actor Keith Carradine and late legendary director Robert Altman are among honorees at this year's Maine International Film Festival in Waterville Friday, July 12 through Sunday, July 21.    

Founded in 1998, the Maine International Film Festival shows some 100 films in 10 days. The MIFF seeks and screens some of the best of American independent and international cinema, plus spotlights some of Maine and New England's most exciting and innovative filmmakers. 

WATERVILLE - Annie Ross was a founding member of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, considered the greatest jazz vocal ensemble of all time. Now 82 years young, Ross will be accompanied by her pianist, Tardo Hammer. Ross is one of the early practitioners of a singing style known as 'vocalese,' which involves the setting of original lyrics to an instrumental jazz solo. Ross's visit to MIFF is part of a special 'Celebrating Altman' program honoring the work of one of America's greatest directors, Robert Altman, with whom Ross worked as an actress in and creator of the soundtrack for his ensemble film masterpiece, 'Short Cuts.'

WATERVILLE The City of Waterville has spent the past 15 summers serving as a cinematic hub with its acclaimed Maine International Film Festival. The Maine Film Center and Railroad Square Cinema have been long-time partners in bringing this wonderful event to fruition in central Maine.

The Maine Film Center recently announced plans to officially purchase Railroad Square Cinema in an effort to consolidate the many programs and offerings the two entities have put forth and advance the MFC's mission to 'enrich, educate and entertain the community through film and art.'

Maine International Film Festival returns to Waterville

WATERVILLE When we think about movies in the summertime, more often than not, we tend to think of big-budget blockbusters. And with good reason: explosion-laden action epics, superhero sequels and movie star vehicles abound at this time of year.

But that's not all there is. Here in Maine, summer movies also means the coming of the Maine International Film Festival. The 15th annual festival gets underway on July 13 and runs through July 22 and features over 50 filmmakers and nearly 100 films over the course of the 10-day run.

As you might guess, a whole lot of work goes into those 10 days.