Reverence for Water: Stewardship is Love in Action
A public panel discussion and short film screening presented by the Maine Outdoor Film Festivals a part of their “Community Currents” series on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at One Longfellow Square in Portland.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Meg Friel – Maine Outdoor Film Festival
(207) 619-3622
moff@maineoutdoorfilmfestival.com
A public panel discussion and short film screening presented by the Maine Outdoor Film Festival on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at One Longfellow Square in Portland.
Featured panelists include Mihku Paul, a Wolastoqey (Maliseet) elder and educator; Chuck Loring, Director of Natural Resources for The Penobscot Nation; Betsy Cook of the Trust for Public Land, Maine; Nickie Sekera, co-founder of Community Water Justice; and Robb Cotiaux, President of the Sebago Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
The event centers on a moderated conversation exploring humanity’s increasingly complicated and often distorted relationship with water; a resource that sustains ecosystems, communities and cultures, yet is frequently treated as expendable or commodified.
Following the panel, attendees will view a curated selection of short films examining water stewardship through Indigenous knowledge, environmental restoration, marine life and Maine’s interconnected waterways. Films include stories focused on the Penobscot River, Atlantic salmon restoration, Portland’s drinking water system, and the cultural significance of whales and rivers.
Organizers say the evening is designed to foster awareness, accountability and reverence for water, while encouraging audiences to consider stewardship as an active responsibility rather than an abstract ideal.
Doors open at 6 p.m., with the film screening beginning at 6:30 p.m., followed by the panel at 7:30 p.m. The event will be held at One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Parking is available on surrounding streets and at the garage located at 181 High St.
The Maine Outdoor Film Festival has also announced that its flagship event will return to Portland in the last week of July 2026. The 7th annual Flagship Festival will bring together filmmakers, outdoor enthusiasts, and art lovers to celebrate exceptional environmental storytelling through film in Maine’s largest city.
About The Maine Outdoor Film Festival (MOFF): The Maine Outdoor Film Festival is an international outdoor adventure and environmental documentary film festival held each summer in
Portland. MOFF also produces winter/spring film events around topics such as climate change, mental health, International Women’s Day and Earth Day. These popular screenings bring together members of the MOFF community around a common issue and often include a panel discussion after the films.
More information and tickets are available at maineoutdoorfilmfestival.com/water.