ROCKPORT, Maine (NEWS CENTER) --The 8th annual Camden International Film Festival opened its doors this weekend -- showcasing non-fiction short films made in places all over the world.
Sean Flynn is the director of the Points North Documentary Forum, and says, "Camden has just kind of carved a place in this broader community of documentary filmmakers as just a really special event that celebrates some of the most cutting edge work in non-fiction film, you know, anywhere in the world. Bringing filmmakers from Sweden, Mexico, people who are just really pushing the boundaries of the craft of non-fiction storytelling."
Flynn says his forum at the festival gives filmmakers the opportunity to pitch story ideas and finished pieces to funders, distributors, and other filmmakers.
He says its just one of the ways the Camden Film Festival is working to keep the craft alive.
"Despite the fact that there are alls these challenges and America's going through a recession and all of that, we've seen this incredible creative renaissance in documentary."
Seth Brown is one of the filmmakers thriving off of the collaboration at this year's festival.
"Being a kid who grew up in this town, I never expected to be able to pursue a career that I really love."
While also documenting some of Maine's real-life stories -- like Betting The Farm, a story about dairy farmers in Aroostook County.
Flynn says, "You have these last few families in Maine that are struggling to hold on and continue this tradition that goes back generations... and so that's history, and something we'll look back at 100 years from now."
Keeping up with the festival's mantra: small towns, big films.