“Betting The Farm,” will be screened in 20 Maine towns and cities in October and November, with more dates to be announced in the coming weeks.

According to a press release, the documentary film by Cecily Pingree and Jason Mann follows three farm families as they risk everything to launch their new milk company — Maine’s Own Organic Milk. The film kicked off the eighth annual Camden International Film Festival last weekend on opening night with a screening at the Camden Opera House and Bayview Theater in Camden to a sold-out crowd of more than 650 attendees. The film first premiered in front of sold-out crowds at the AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs Film Festival in June.

The film will play in towns and cities across the state, including Portland, Presque Isle, Rockland, Eastport and Waterville. The Waterville screening will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Railroad Square Cinema. For more information, call 873-6526.

The filmmakers and characters from the film, including farmers Vaughn Chase of Mapleton, Aaron Bell of Edmunds, and Richard Lary of Clinton, will attend many of the screenings to meet audiences and answer questions following the movie.

“We are really excited to bring this film home to Maine. It’s the story of three Maine farm families struggling against long odds to save their farms, and we think Maine audiences in particular will be excited to see it,” said co-director Cecily Pingree in the release.

“It’s not a promotional film, by any stretch of the imagination,” said co-director Jason Mann. “What these families — and the other members of the MOO Milk organization — did was very brave. They let us be a part of their lives for more than two years as they endured significant financial and emotional stress. We came away with tremendous respect for the hard work it takes to produce every gallon of milk.”

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“Betting The Farm” is the story of a group of Maine dairy farmers who — dropped by their national milk company — are confronted with the real possibility of losing their farms. Banding together, the farmers launch their own milk company, Maine’s Own Organic Milk.

Farmers Chase, Lary and Bell — along with their families — struggle to make ends meet as they get the company off the ground.

“You really have to let your characters open up on screen, and I think everyone in this film did,” said Ben Fowlie, founder of the Camden International Film Festival. “As a Mainer, I’ve always respected the independent spirit and drive that Mainers have, and Jason and Cecily captured that beautifully in this film.”

For more information, visit bettingthefarmfilm.com.


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