11/01/2008
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Staff Illustration by Jim Evansfrom the Kennebec Journal
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from the Morning Sentinel
WATERVILLE -- This city, already home of the Maine International Film Festival, next year will host another set of international, independent films.
The Maine Office of Tourism announced this week that Waterville has been selected as one of the hosts for the American Film Institute's Project 20/20, a program designed to promote cultural understanding through film.
This is the first time a New England community was chosen to host the program. The other five cities are St. Louis, Honolulu, Dallas, Santa Fe, N.M., and Silver Spring, Md.
"It's huge," said Shannon Haines, director of both Waterville Main Street and the Maine International Film Festival. "It's huge for Waterville. We are by far the smallest community to be selected. ... It's a testament to the strength of our film program."
Haines is spending the weekend in Los Angeles, where organizers gathered to learn what is expected of a host site. Haines said organizers can choose how to incorporate Project 20/20 films into existing film festivals, or else use them on their own for a separate event. At this point, the most likely plan for Waterville involves a separate event, in April 2009, for Project 20/20 films, she said.
The fact that Waterville already has an annual international film festival -- the oldest and longest-running in Maine -- that has won a measure of acclaim made it more appealing as a host site, said Kimber Craine, director of program initiatives for the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. Waterville is also home to Railroad Square Cinema, which the Sundance Film Festival selected as one of 12 theaters for its Art House Project.
Craine said the Colby College Museum of Art also influenced the choice to select Waterville by agreeing to serve as a partner in presenting Project 20/20.
"We look for host cities that provide geographic diversity and seeing as Project 20/20 had never been to Maine, let alone New England, Waterville was a perfect fit," Craine said. "Waterville has been very enthusiastic and interested in the program and we are looking forward to bringing this opportunity to Maine."
Project 20/20 is supported by the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The American Film Institute sees the initiative as a way to "foster cross-cultural understanding and respect while nurturing filmmaking excellence," according to a statement on the Institute's Web site. It works by exposing members of the local communities to the films, and in turn exposing the filmmakers to members of the local communities, Craine said.
"I think it's going to be a great visit; we're really looking forward to it," he said. "Maine has a lot to offer. I think it's one of our undiscovered cultural gems."
Joel Elliott -- 861-9252
jelliott@centralmaine.com
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