Don McLean concert, expanded awards ceremony mark planned highlights for second Lewiston Auburn Film Festival

Tickets will go on sale this Thursday, December 15

The second annual Lewiston Auburn Film Festival (LAFF) is going to be a three-day extravaganza, April 13 – 15, complete with opening night festivities, a full day of films in downtown L/A, top-notch awards show, brunch, and filmmaker panels!

Based on the success of last year’s event, where more than 1,000 festival goers attended screenings of 100+ films from all over the world, the staff at LAFF has been working hard to make LAFF 2012 bigger, better and on par with festivals found in larger, more well-known cities. We’re happy to report that LAFF 2012 is going to do just that.

On Friday, April 13, 2012 we will be holding our Opening Night Party at the Franco-American Heritage Center on Cedar Street in Lewiston, Maine.  The evening kicks off with a cocktail hour where ticket holders can mingle and network. The party then proceeds upstairs to the gorgeous performance hall. Here, guests will be welcomed to the official start of the festival and get a sneak preview of selected People’s Choice nominated films. An after party downstairs will cap off the night in true Hollywood style.

Folllowing the films and a brief intermission, acclaimed international singer-songwriter Don McLean will perform his first-ever show in Lewiston. McLean is best known for the hits, “American Pie”, “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)” and “Crying.” He will be performing an hour-long show with full band to wrap up opening night of the festival.

Saturday, April 14, 2012 will be our flagship day of world-class independent film viewing. Seven downtown Lewiston-Auburn venues including She Doesn’t Like Guthries, Gallery 5, Community Little Theater, Androscoggin Chamber of Commerce building,  Free Grace Church and both public libraries will be transformed yet again into movie theaters for a day. Festival goers will be able to choose films by perusing our free program, which has descriptions, schedules and locations listed. We encourage folks to get out and walk, taking in the sights of L/A, however shuttle service will also be available.

On the evening of Saturday, April 14, LAFF 2012 is pulling out all the stops for our awards ceremony and gala dinner at the Hilton Garden Inn Auburn Riverwatch Hotel in Auburn, Maine. Ticket holders will be front and center to see who wins this year’s awards: People’s Choice Feature Film, People’s Choice Documentary Film, People’s Choice Short Film, People’s Choice Experimental Film, Best Director, Best in Maine, Best in Festival. They’ll also get a terrific meal and be entertained by the likes of AudioBody and the Maine Music Society’s Androscoggin Chorale.

Sunday, April 15, VIP ticket holders only will be invited to attend an elaborate brunch at Fish Bones American Grill where they will be welcome to participate in discussions with others about the films they saw over the weekend. Afterward, VIP and Sunday ticket holders will join at The Public Theatre for an exclusive viewing of the award winning films from the previous night and a panel discussion with invited filmmakers.

Sticking with our mission to promote and support independent film made both locally and abroad, we have already seen submissions from as far away as Japan and Australia and as close to home as Lewiston.  We are confident that the level of films shown this year will be of the upmost quality.

We are currently still taking submissions through January 15, so if you haven’t sent in your film yet, it isn’t too late. Just click on “submissions” above to be directed to the appropriate page.

Last year we had filmmakers from Syria, Australia, Ireland, California, Spain, and beyond join us. We look forward to seeing you at LAFF 2012!

Tickets available at Marquis Signs, 78 Essex St., Lewiston and Lewiston Auburn Magazine, 223 Lisbon St. Lewiston.