CAMDEN — The Points North Institute has announced the slate for its inaugural Cabin Fever Film Festival, which will take place March 1 and 2 at the Camden Opera House. Highlights from the festival include a new film from director Werner Herzog, films from the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival, this year's Slamdance Film Festival, and a collection of CIFF’s Dirigo Docs shorts program.

In partnership with the Camden Opera House, the Cabin Fever Film Festival is an extension of the CIFF Selects monthly screening series, and will bring a bit of the CIFF experience to Midcoast Maine six months before the Camden International Film Festival celebrates its 15th edition from September 12-15, 2019.

“Cabin Fever has been a dream for a few years now, so we’re thrilled to finally have the opportunity to bring this new micro festival to our audiences,” said Ben Fowlie, executive and artistic director of the Points North Institute and founder of the Camden International Film Festival. “Building a loyal, engaged, and captivated local audience interested in nonfiction storytelling is one of our biggest priorities, and we see the Cabin Fever Film Festival as the next step in this commitment.”

Films scheduled to screen include:

THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM

A testament to the immense complexity of nature, The Biggest Little Farm follows two dreamers and a dog on an odyssey to bring harmony to both their lives and the land. When the barking of their beloved dog Todd leads to an eviction notice from their tiny LA apartment, John and Molly Chester make a choice that takes them out of the city and onto 200 acres in the foothills of Ventura County, naively endeavoring to build one of the most diverse farms of its kind in complete coexistence with nature.

The film chronicles eight years of daunting work and outsize idealism as they attempt to create the utopia they seek.

DIRIGO DOCS: A Collection of Short Films From Maine (2013-2018)

Twelve short films spanning the past six years of CIFF's Dirigo Docs program, documenting the people and places that give Maine its distinct spirit. This collection of films take us all the way from The County to the Union Fair, and include portraits of local lobsterman, guides and artists.

These films are as independent as Mainer’s are, and a beautiful and at times, humorous testament to the state we all love.

MEETING GORBACHEV

Rising from a farm boy to become president of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev brought about changes that helped end the Cold War, toppled the USSR, enabled the reunification of Germany and transformed the world forever.

Meeting Gorbachev is a new feature length documentary by legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog and Emmy Award winning Director, André Singer.

THE RAFT

In 1973 five men and six women go on a dramatic raft expedition across the Atlantic Ocean for 101 days to study human aggression and sexuality. This documentary reunites them forty years later to reveal what actually happened during one of history’s strangest group experiments.

SKI BUM: THE WARREN MILLER STORY

Ski Bum weaves together never-before-seen archival footage and the last on-camera interview with Mr. Miller before his death to explore the personal and professional life and times of the legendary filmmaker, a driving force in the development and promotion of the ski industry in America and throughout the world.

Tickets to individual screenings are $10 and can be purchased online in advance, or day of show at the Camden Opera House Box Office. Cabin Fever Passes are $30 and admit one to all screenings and special events.

For more information on the films, tickets, and the schedule, visit www.pointsnorthinstitute.org.