Steve Lyons serves as director of the Maine Film Office, a division of the Maine Office of Tourism. 

Mainers are getting ready for the 29th edition of the Maine International Film Festival (July 10-19), whose program has been fully confirmed. Screening over 100 films, including 21 made-in-Maine productions, the festival will bring unrivaled excitement to the city of Waterville. 

While Maine International Film Festival is a celebration of cinematic Maine, it is also a reminder that our state has plenty of untapped potential. I recently returned from the 79th Cannes Film Festival, where Hollywood celebrities, industry experts and film enthusiasts flocked for a status report on the broader industry of filmmaking. We all learned several lessons: Independent films are helping the industry navigate changing circumstances, distribution is a challenge for filmmakers as fewer films receive theatrical distribution and incentives still matter for most productions that hope to inspire while also turning a profit. 

But, most of all, Cannes made me appreciate Maine’s very own film festivals. From MIFF to the Maine Outdoor Film Festival (MOFF) in Portland, these platforms are wonderful places to see high-quality independent films. They prove that movies other than the latest Marvel or “Star Wars” installment can still attract a major audience. While most independent films won’t break box office records, they still have the potential to attract larger audiences, and film festivals give them a chance to break through. 

Creative storytelling is alive and well. Independent horror films like “Obsession” and “Backrooms” are winning fans without spending $200 million. “Obsession” was shot over 20 days on a micro-budget estimated between $750,000 and $1 million, grossing hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide. The budget for “Backrooms” was slightly larger (about $10 million), but still relatively insignificant in the context of becoming A24’s highest-grossing worldwide release and clearing $200 million within weeks. 

The point is to get the right stories out there for people to watch and rewatch, and they will do just that. Amid superhero fatigue, people crave the feeling of something new. 

To create that feeling, there is no better place than Maine. Our state is a beautiful destination for filmmaking, defined by mountains, lakes, rivers and cities full of culture. We should continue to do our very best to attract filmmakers and their production crews to Vacationland, harnessing Maine’s beauty and other unique attributes as a home for compelling stories that have not yet been told. 

We already have a strong proof of concept. Black Bear Cinemas in Orono recently doubled as a set for the second feature-length film from Cassidy Pictures, an independent film studio started by two brothers from South Portland. After screening their film “Childish Things” at Black Bear in September, Nick and Cash Cassidy are returning to the big screen with the help of many Maine-based actors and crew members. 

Attracting more filmmakers is why the Maine Film Office recently launched the “Film in Maine” reimbursement grant pilot program to help stimulate filmmaking in the state and demonstrate the the economic benefit of filming here. Maine’s film industry generates millions of dollars in revenue and supports hundreds of full- and part-time jobs. The Film in Maine grants are designed to promote economic development and job creation in the areas of film and television production, while also generating revenue in accommodations, meals, retail sales, transportation, equipment rental and other visual media production-related activities. 

Filming in Maine is rewarding on multiple levels. Not only is the state known for location variety within driving distance, but locations in Maine remain “fresh” to audiences because they are largely unexplored. They are one-of-a-kind and not oversaturated on screen at a time when viewers crave authenticity and originality. Throughout the process, the Maine Film Office assists filmmakers with location scouting, permitting and community introductions so that shooting is a success for all parties involved. 

I have seen Cannes firsthand, and we Mainers should be proud of our own film festivals. They are testaments to a vibrant film culture and fertile ground for creativity, originality and quality for storytellers who dare to navigate uncharted waters.