WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE 2026 FESTIVAL!
Saturday SEPTEMBER 12th, 2026
Our 2025 festival featured 12 films from six countries. We awarded $3,500 in prize money, and we are excited to award at least that amount this year. For details, please visit our Film Freeway submission page.
on the coast of Maine
Castine is a charming village near Acadia National Park with a deep history of arts enrichment. In 2026, we will continue to celebrates both emerging and established filmmakers of all ages, through both narrative and documentary stories.
We invite you to join us for a day of celebrating story through film.
Our area features charming inns, shops, and restaurants, surpassed in beauty only by the striking landscape and extensive outdoor activities of our coast.
Please explore our website to learn more about visiting Castine and the Blue Hill Peninsula. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information. We are happy to help curate your visit to the area.
for NEW ENGLAND filmmakers
Please submit your film via Film Freeway, and then use the form at the end of this page to send us a message about your project.
Of the 12 films we featured in 2025, two were made by filmmakers from Maine, and we were honored to have the filmmakers with us. We hope to continue to support films from both around the world and our region. We look forward to viewing your film!
UNDER THE ELMS AND BY THE SEA
UNDER THE ELMS AND BY THE SEA
welcome TO CASTINE
Our area has a deep connection to the arts, and we are excited to bring together a broad range of filmmakers and film enthusiasts to celebrate story through film.
Castine is located on the midcoast of Maine, and you can find us (by car) about an hour west of Acadia National Park, and less than an hour from the Bangor, Maine airport. The town has both year–round and summer residents, and is also the home of Maine Maritime Academy.
We have developed a festival guide to the area, featuring information about accommodations, dining, shopping, and non–festival activities for your stay. We will also be publishing a detailed schedule of the festival and a map of key festival locations, including parking areas and accessibility information. We are committed to ensuring a positive festival experience for all.
Visitors can tour the area by land or by water, learning about both the rich historical significance of the village and the cast of characters who have made Castine such a special place “under the elms and by the sea” for so many years.
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION
Contact Us
Have questions or interested in learning more about the festival? Please submit a message, and we will reply shortly.
You can find terms and deadline information on our FilmFreeway page.
To reach Festival Director Sarah Carey, please send a note to sarah@castinefilmfestival.com
Thank you!