Outdoor Film Festival Returns To Portland in Late July, With Over 90 Films

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PORTLAND, Maine — The Maine Outdoor Film Festival (MOFF) has released its 2025 film lineup. The Portland-based festival will feature 95 films from national, international and Maine-based filmmakers. Mainly documentary, the films will touch upon subjects ranging from outdoor adventure and extreme sports to conservation work and art meeting nature.

MOFF is July 23 to July 27, 2025, and this year’s schedule consists of 21 unique film screenings, at seven different indoor and outdoor venues throughout the city. The schedule includes ten feature film screenings and eleven short film blocks. The flagship schedule also consists of happy hours, panels, and filmmaker and attendee meet up events. 

On Wednesday July 23, MOFF hosts the Maine Filmmaker Showcase at the Eastern Prom, where films made exclusively by Maine filmmakers will be screened, including THE PIGEON AND THE SPARROW, a nine minute short from Evie Hansford, of Portland. “I am so excited for our film to be featured in MOFF 2025,” said Hansford. “This film was created entirely in Maine, so I can’t think of a better place to screen it.”

On Thursday, July 24 between 8am-5pm, MOFF hosts EARTH DAY IN JULY at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies at Maine College of Art & Design.  MOFF’s Earth Day in July features three environmental-oriented themed sessions which feature a 60-minute film program, followed by a 60-minute panel discussions with experts and filmmakers. A day of films and big ideas – storytellers, changemakers, and curious minds unite over films and panel discussions about climate, love of the earth, and our relations to it. Attendees can attend for the full day, or for an individual session. Paul Friedman of Maine Mountain Media’s film FOLLOW THE WATER tracks a crew of paddlers from the source of the drinking water for all of Southern Maine, then follows the water on its journey to the ocean.

“This film started as a project to explore a watershed but it ended up being a showcase of the strong community that exists surrounding this region of the world,” said Friedman. “We hope that this film encourages viewers to take an active interest in where their water comes from and to find out the people and organizations that help keep that water clean for generations into the future.”

Evening outdoor screenings will take place on the Eastern Promenade (between the tennis courts and baseball field) on Wednesday, July 23, Thursday, July 24, Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27. The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (350 Commercial St. in Portland) will host an outdoor screening on Friday, July 25. 

The outdoor screenings are presented on a 20’ inflatable screen. Attendees bring their own lawn chair or blanket. Tickets for all screenings are $15 in advance or $18 at the door. Full festival entry “All-Access Passes” are also available for $125. There is also a day pass available for the EARTH DAY IN JULY program for $25.

This year’s MOFF also includes a host of feature film screenings, including three Maine-adjacent feature films: CANOE DIG IT, screening at 8pm on Thursday, July 24 at SPACE, was written by Maine-born filmmaker Samuel Francis Daunis Dunning and is set in Moosehead Lake. Also, A MOMENT IN THE SUN, shot in Houlton, Maine, will screen at 5:45pm on Friday, July 25 at The Salt Institute for Documentary Studies. 

“Shooting A MOMENT IN THE SUN in the great state of Maine was an unforgettable experience. We’re so grateful to the people of Houlton who welcomed us with open arms and shared their stories during this special moment in their community’s history. Bringing the story home to the state where it was made, under the same sky that witnessed the total solar eclipse in 2024, feels full circle and deeply meaningful to the entire crew,” said Mia Weinberger, director of A MOMENT IN THE SUN.

The range of outdoor subjects covered by this year’s festival is expansive and guaranteed to have something of interest for everyone. For example, those looking to enjoy whitewater sport films should be sure to check out our WHITEWATER PROGRAM. This program showcases work covering whitewater rafting and kayaking. If interested in more rounded programming that includes a range of subjects from conservation, art, and outdoor sports be sure to come to one of the five outdoor screenings. These programs are made up of films covering a range of topics designed to appeal to all. 

“Film Festivals are the stepping stones to understanding how to connect with audiences, and bring real impact to your work. As an adventure filmmaker, photographer, and explorer – MOFF is one of the key outdoor festivals that uplifts your work to an audience that shares a common love for the natural world and all the wonder it holds,” said Gareth Leah, of Salt Lake City, director of the short film THE BRIGHT STONE.

Wherever your outdoor interests lay, MOFF’s 2025 curated collection of independent outdoor films will deliver not just entertainment and a quintessential summer in Maine experience, but also inspiration, reflection, and a deeper appreciation for the power and beauty of the natural world. For the full list of accepted films, please visit moff.film.

A portion of MOFF’s proceeds benefit Teens To Trails, a nonprofit based in Brunswick, devoted to connecting middle and high school students to life-changing outdoor experiences. MOFF has contributed over $10,000 to Teens To Trails over the years. 

After the Portland Flagship event, MOFF travels throughout Maine to bring film screenings to over 15 Maine towns with its Selects Tour in late summer/early fall.

The Festival was started by Nick Callanan (a producer and founder of No Umbrella Media, a Portland video agency) to provide audiences with and support filmmakers and artists working to better the world through story and visuals. This year’s Director of Programming is Julia Dunlavey, and the Flagship Producer is Brendan Donahue.

MOFF 2025 Festival Schedule 

Alphabetical List of Selected MOFF 2025 Films

For More Information: maineoutdoorfilmfestival.com

 

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MOFF would also like to thank its sponsors for their continued support, as without it this festival would not be possible. 

About The Maine Outdoor Film Festival (MOFF): The Maine Outdoor Film Festival’s flagship event is held each July in Maine’s cultural capital, Portland. This year, from July 23 to July 27, MOFF will welcome thousands including filmmakers, outdoor enthusiasts, art lovers, and brands to its five-day, multi-venue film festival. Featuring international outdoor adventure and environmental documentaries screened at local theaters and outside under the stars; as well as expert panels, networking events and much more.

#OutdoorFilmsShownOutdoors.

 

For more information about the festival:

Nick Callanan

nick@maineoutdoorfilmfestival.com

(207) 619-3622

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