People gather in the Railroad Square Cinema lobby on Thursday in Waterville to buy tickets for movies at the 18th annual Maine International Film Festival.

Posters highlight a selection of movies being shown at the 18th annual Maine International Film Festival at Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville.

An image from the film “The Hungry Years,” about a homeless musician in Portland, shows on the screen Thursday afternoon at the Waterville Opera House in Waterville during a sound and picture check prior to the opening of the Maine International Film Festival.

Jake Hickey, left, and J-sun Bailey, Maine International Film Festival staff members, sort through films Thursday in the projection room at the Waterville Opera House.

Rachel Hawkins, with the Maine International Film Festival, looks up movie listings Thursday for the 18th festival at Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville.

Serena Sanborn looks through a pile of posters Wednesday at Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville. The posters advertise movies that will be shown at the Maine International Film Festival in Waterville.

Serena Sanborn unfurls a movie poster Wednesday before the beginning of the Maine International Film Festival at Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville.

Nancy Bixler, left, and Serena Sanborn hang a movie poster Wednesday on a wall of the Railroad Square Cinema lobby for the Maine International Film Festival in Waterville.

Maine International Film Festival staff members Jake Hickey, left, a video crew member, and J-sun Bailey, assistant technical director, check the quality of films Thursday before the start of the festival.

Rachel Hawkins, with the Maine International Film Festival, watches as Pat Brancaccio, center right, buys a partial pass Thursday with his wife, Kate Cone, right, for the 18th annual festival at Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville. The partial pass will buy the couple a movie every day of the festival.