Reel Voices: Telling Room Stories on Screen

This free short film showcase will be followed by a talkback with filmmaker Sean Mewshaw.

A showcase of stories, poems, songs, and essays by Maine writers—both youth and adults—adapted for the big screen by local filmmakers and artists. Shown in partnership with the Portland Museum of Art and the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance’s 2024 Maine Lit Fest, followed by a talkback with Maine-based director and filmmaker Sean Mewshaw. Films include:

Grendel’s Mother Takes the Mic. Written by Lulu Rasor. Directed by Sean Mewshaw.

Lobsterman. By Toby Choyt.

Canteloupe. Written by Emily Hollyday. Produced by P3.

Drop of Melanin and Blood. Written by Benedita Zalabantu. Directed by Egide Foxworth.

What would you grab in a fire? Written & Performed by Phuc Tran. Directed by Sean Mewshaw.

Excerpt from "The Whole World Waiting" Featuring Mo Awale. Directed by David Meiklejohn.

The Box of Hope. Written by Grace Whited.

Habits. Written & Performed by Genevieve Stokes. Directed by Sean Mewshaw.

Squid Season. Written & Narrated by Leigh Ellis. Directed by Grace Hanna and Ariel Mahler.
** 50th Athens International Film and Video Festival Official Selection
** 2022 Seattle Queer Film Festival Official Selection

Plastic Palaces. Written & Narrated by Siri Pierce. Directed by Brooke Saias.

Belongings. Written & Performed by Morgan Talty. Directed by Alex Coppola.
** 2023 Crested Butte Film Festival, Hot Docs Official Selection
** 2022 Another Hole in the Head Best Documentary Short Film
** 2022 Chicago Underground Film Fest Honorable Mention
** 2022 Bushwick Film Festival Honorable Mention for Documentary Short
** 2022 Camden International Film Festival, Chicago Underground Film Fest, Filmquest, Rhode Island International Film Festival, SF Indiefest, and Short of the Week Official Selection