WATERVILLE — The Maine International Film Festival wrapped up its 27th annual edition Sunday, July 21.

Thousands attended this year’s festival, having the opportunity to see 100 films across 10 days, including Maine-made productions, international movies from more than 40 countries, rediscoveries of beloved classics, world premieres and more.

Stevan Mena, writer, producer, and director of “The Ruse.” John T. Meader photo

Among those 100 films were 22 made-in-Maine features and shorts, all of which competed for two juried Tourmaline Prizes. The prize, named for Maine’s state gem, awards $5,000 to the best Maine-made feature of the year and $2,500 to the best Maine-made short of the year. The jury recognized “The Ruse” by Stevan Mena as best feature-length film and “An Extraordinary Place” by Tom Bell as the best short film this year, according to a news release from Chris Melville with Waterville Creates.

Horror-thriller “The Ruse” had its world premiere at the Waterville Opera House during the festival and won the Tourmaline Prize over competition “The Ghost Trap”  and “Carlo’ … and “His Merry Band of Artists.” Elaborating upon their decision to award “The Ruse,” the jury especially pointed to the film’s haunting cinematography and strong ensemble cast, led by legendary horror actress Veronica Cartwright (“Alien,” “The Birds,” “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”).

“The Maine International Film Festival is a world class event; the venue and staff are exceptional,” said Stevan Mena, writer, producer and director of ‘The Ruse.’ “I made many friends during my stay, with filmmakers from around the world. Looking forward to returning again.”

Nineteen films contested this year’s Maine-made shorts Tourmaline Prize, screening in three different programs and grouped as Maine Narrative Shorts, Maine Documentary Shorts, and Maine Music Shorts. After much deliberation, the jury named “An Extraordinary Place,” in the Music Shorts program, as the winner. The film profiles the inner workings of and unique characters at WMPG, an indie radio station in Portland.

Tom Bell, director of “An Extraordinary Place.” John T. Meader photo

“Our film is about a quirky little radio station in Portland, Maine, but really a lot more — it’s about community and the love that the volunteer DJs have for music, the station, and each other,” said Bell, director of “An Extraordinary Place.” “WMPG could be anywhere in the world, but it’s here in Maine, and it’s incredibly meaningful to receive an award from this prestigious festival in our own community.”

Jurying the 2024 Tourmaline competition were Wangeci Murage, a Nairobi-based broadcast media executive and creative content specialist; Sian Evans, founder of Farthest Films, Smash Inc. and Ffilmcompany, as well as a member of the Documentary Producers Association; and Se Young “Seth” Kim, Colby College assistant professor of cinema studies specializing in contemporary East Asian and U.S. cinema.

“While we’ve been screening made-in-Maine films since our first year, this is only the third time MIFF has offered a juried prize for Maine filmmakers,” said Mike Perreault, the Maine Film Center executive director. “Each festival showcases an exciting, completely fresh wave of cinematic storytelling. We’re so grateful to the jurors for their thoughtful deliberation and recognition of some of the best new works created in our state, and to the organizations that support these awards.”

The 2024 Tourmaline Prizes were sponsored by the Maine Film Office and the Unity Foundation.

Throughout the festival, moviegoers also had the opportunity to vote for their favorite new film screening at MIFF. More than 40 films were eligible, but the Audience Favorite award went to Palestinian-British drama “The Teacher,” with Samuel Beckett biopic “Dance First” a close second. “Dance First” has already been booked for a regular run at the Maine Film Center in August, so those who missed it at MIFF will soon have the opportunity to see the much-lauded film, starring MIFF Mid-Life Achievement Award honoree Gabriel Byrne.

MIFF will return to Waterville for its 28th edition July 11-20, 2025.

Visit miff.org for updates and to learn more about the festival, previous award winners, films and more.

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