In 2002, editor Nick Callanan and art director Kristen Kaiser founded No Umbrella – A Reader for River People in The Forks, Maine. With its tales of carnage, river accomplishments, outdoor sports photography, humor and more, No Umbrella quickly built a following among the outdoor freaks of central Maine. Alas, with competition from internet advertising and the looming economic hardships affecting many of its advertisers, No Umbrella had to close its doors in 2007.
Flash forward to early 2012, Maine business-owners (and raft guides) Nick Callanan, Nick Bowie and Joe Christopher talked about reviving the spirit of the old river rag, using the prevailing medium of the day! The three men plotted how to create a Maine institution where film and the outdoor lifestyle converged; a film festival celebrating Maine’s broad array of beautiful places, recreational opportunities and creative people.
And later that year, on August 25, 2012, in The Forks, the Maine Outdoor Film Festival came to life. The grass and picnic tables were packed with over 200 people, laughing and gasping as the big screen lit up with local adventurers’ storytelling. Nearby, a bonfire blazed while local craft beer and sandwiches satisfied the palettes of attendees, who watched films and later told stories of that day’s river trip down the rapids of the Kennebec River.
The next year, MOFF expanded its programming to other Maine towns, bringing outdoor films to Maine people where they are. MOFF tour stops from 2013 to 2015 included stops in 16 towns in nine counties.
Also in 2013, we began our tradition of a December MOFF Awards Show in the big city of Portland, where MOFF filmmakers, sponsors, jury members and fans can get together for a Mountain Formal affair to celebrate the best outdoor filmmaking in the state.
Another important milestone in 2013 was MOFF’s partnership with Teens to Trails. Since the 2013 MOFF, the film festival has donated its proceeds to T3, 501(c)3 based in Brunswick, who supports Maine high school outing clubs with cash grants, organizational support and programming. MOFF loves helping T3 help Maine kids discover the outdoors!
In 2015, MOFF launched its Broke and Stoked Video Contest to great success. The Broke and Stoked initiative is meant to encourage amateur Maine filmmakers to make short, high-energy outdoor films by offering free submission and awesome prizes (10 outdoor gear prize packs for the finalists and $1000 for the grand prize winner). That first year of the Broke and Stoked contest we received over 30 entrants and over 700 people voted in the online ballot to help decide the winner.
Also in 2015, MOFF became a wholly owned subsidiary of No Umbrella Media LLC (owned by Nick and Nick). Joe Christopher’s company Three Rivers Fun will always be a trusted friend and host of the MOFF in The Forks screening.
MOFF Screening History:
August 25, 2012 – Three Rivers Whitewater, The Forks, ME.
August 24, 2013 – Three Rivers Whitewater, The Forks, ME.
September 28, 2013 – L.L. Bean Discovery Park, Freeport, Maine
December 5, 2013 – AWARDS SHOW – at Empire, Portland, ME.
February 14, 2014 – Unity College Center for Performing Arts, Unity, ME
March 4, 2014 – University of Maine Presque Isle, Weiden Auditorium, Presque Isle, ME,
March 8, 2014 – Sugarloaf’s The Widowmaker, 7pm, Carrabassett Valley, ME, Free.
March 15, 2014 – Windham High School, Windham, ME
April 17, 2014 – St. Croix Hall, Washington Country Community College, Calais, ME,
April 22, 2014 – Maine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm, Falmouth, ME,
May 16, 2014 – Cony High School, Cony, ME
August 23, 2014 – Three Rivers Whitewater, The Forks, Maine
September 14, 2014 – Saco Drive-In, Saco, Maine
September 27, 2014 – L.L. Bean Discovery Park, Freeport, Maine
October 9, 2014- Jewett Hall Auditorium, Southern Maine Community College, South Portland, Maine
October 11, 2014- On the Beach, Sugarloaf , Carrabassett Valley, Maine.
October 23, 2014- Leavitt Theatre, Ogunquit, Maine
December 11, 2014- The Nickelodeon, Portland, Maine
April 22, 2015, (EARTH DAY) Maine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm, Falmouth, Maine
Friday March 6, 2015- Sugarloaf, Carrabassett Valley, Maine
April 16, 2015- John Bapst High School, Bangor, Maine – (presented by Teens to Trails)
April 19, 2015- Leavitt Theatre, Ogunquit, Maine
April 22, 2015 – (EARTH DAY) Maine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm, Falmouth, Maine
May 16, 2015 – T3 SPRING THING at Adventure Bound, The Forks, Maine –
(presented by Teens to Trails)
July 10, 2015 – MOFF in the Katahdin Region – Hathaway’s (Medway, Maine)
August 15, 2015 – MOFF 2015 Forks Festival at Three Rivers – Season KICKOFF! (The Forks, Maine)
August 22, 2015 – MOFF Outdoor Family Fun Night at Bug Light Park (South Portland, Maine)
September 18, 2015 – MOFF at BikeMaine – Kennebunk, Maine – The Waterhouse
October 10, 2015 – Sugarloaf Homecoming On the Beach (Carrabassett Valley, Maine)
November 13, 2015 – John Bapst High School – Bangor, Maine – (presented by Teens to Trails)
December 11, 2015 – MOFF AWARDS SHOW – Portland Museum of Art – Portland, Maine
*April 8, 2016 – The Widowmaker at Sugarloaf (Carrabassett Valley, Maine) [more info]
*April 16, 2016 – Leavitt Theatre (Ogunquit, Maine) [more info]
*April 21, 2016 – (EARTH DAY EVE) Maine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm Falmouth, Maine [more info]