On Thursday, July 10, the Points North Institute will host its annual CIFF Summer Party at the Strand Theatre in Rockland featuring a screening of the acclaimed Sundance 2025 documentary, Middletown from filmmakers Jesse Moss & Amanda McBaine, followed by a Q&A with special guests. The event is a fundraiser for the 21st edition of the Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) and will also feature live music and a sneak peek of trailers for films screening the festival in September.

The Points North Institute will host its annual CIFF Summer Party on Thursday, July 10 at the Strand Theatre in Rockland, featuring a screening of the acclaimed documentary Middletown and a live Q&A with Fred Isseks, the inspirational teacher at the heart of the film. This celebratory event marks the unofficial kickoff to the 21st Camden International Film Festival (CIFF), taking place September 11–14, 2025.

In addition to the screening, the evening will include live music, a sneak peek of trailers from the upcoming CIFF program, and insight into Points North’s year-round work supporting independent documentary artists. Tickets are $35 and include a complimentary drink. Doors open at 6:00 PM, and the program will begin at 6:30 PM.

Middletown tells the story of a group of teenagers in upstate New York who, guided by their unconventional high school teacher, Fred Isseks, created a student film in the early 1990s that exposed a shocking environmental conspiracy poisoning their town. Thirty years later, they revisit their project, confront the impact of their discovery, and reflect on how one educational experience shaped their lives. The film is both a riveting political exposé and a moving tribute to mentorship, curiosity, and civic courage.

“Our Summer Party is a chance for our local community to come together around powerful and entertaining storytelling—and to get an early glimpse at the energy and direction of this year’s festival,” said Elise McCave, Executive Director of Points North Institute. “We’re thrilled to feature Middletown, which plays like Erin Brockovich meets The Breakfast Club—it’s bold, sharp, and unexpectedly moving. And we’re honored to welcome Fred Isseks for what promises to be a very special evening.”

The Summer Party serves as a fundraiser for CIFF and the artist programs that Points North runs throughout the year, which bring together filmmakers from around the world to develop new work and build lasting creative networks.

The 21st edition of the Camden International Film Festival will take place in Camden and Rockland, Maine, from September 11-14, 2025. More than sixty films from across the world will be presented, alongside keynote presentations, panel discussions, and other special events. Passes for the 21st edition of CIFF are now on sale, with early bird pricing available through July 1 at www.pointsnorthinstitute.org.

For more information, visit
https://pointsnorthinstitute.org/
https://pointsnorthinstitute.org/summerparty/

Event Details:
Thursday, July 10
Strand Theatre, Rockland
Doors at 6:00 PM | Screening + Program at 6:30 PM
Tickets: $35 (includes one drink)