Vacationland Film Festival showcases Maine-connected films in Biddeford

If you love movies and looking for something fun to do this weekend, check out the first-ever Vacationland Film Festival now taking place at City Theater in downtown Biddeford.

The festival began on Thursday, August 8 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 11.

More than 20 independent films will be showcased during the festival. Each film is somehow connected to Maine, whether it’s the film’s location, a Maine-based writer or director or actors from Maine.

For example, on Friday afternoon, a crowd of more than 100 people streamed into the restored 19^th-Century theater to watch Sunner, an independent film directed by Henry Spritz of Portland.

Spritz, 23, grew up in Belfast and his film takes place in a fictional coastal Maine town. It is a tale of two young artists who attempt to memorialize their generation’s experience in a small Maine town, before the town changes as it grows and becomes more modern.

Spritz said he was very thankful that his film could find an audience at the Vacationland Film Festival.

“Making independent films is anything but easy,” he said. “The biggest challenge is being able to pay the cast and crew, so I sort of take a one and done approach to filmmaking. It’s not so much a style as it is a necessity.”

Steve Ellis is the president of City Theater’s board of directors. A native of Ohio, Ellis has lived in Biddeford for 15 years, and said he is excited about the festival.

“It’s something that we have been thinking about for a while, and I’m really hoping that this can become an annual event,” Ellis said. “It’s all about offering the community a variety of entertainment. Films were a big part of this theater’s past, and now we have the opportunity to share movie on the big screen for people to enjoy and honor the theater’s history.”

Last year, City Theater did a special showing of the 1975 movie Jaws. During Halloween, the theater offered a special showing of the cult-classic Rocky Horror Picture Show.

“I really enjoy being able to connect the community with entertainment options that can be part of a larger package,” Ellis said. “We’re right in the middle of downtown, and we’re surrounded by so many great restaurants. It’s a great way to plan a date night. Everything you need is right here.”

Following the last show each evening, theater volunteers host a reception in the lobby of the Lincoln Hotel, which is located almost directly across the street from the theater.

For more information about the festival, including showtimes, previews and ticket prices, please visit the festival’s webpage: https://citytheater.org/vacationland-film-festival/

Randy Seaver is a freelance writer living in Biddeford. He is a former newspaper reporter and editor and is the principal of a small strategic communications firm. He can be contacted at randy@randyseaver.com