Name: Belfast, maine and Frederick Wiseman; an appreciation and panel discussion.
Start: 2026-05-26T18:00:00-04:00
Location: Belfast Free Library

Belfast, maine and Frederick Wiseman; an appreciation and panel discussion.

Belfast Maine, the documentary movie by Frederick Wiseman sent shock waves through Belfast when it was released in 1999.
Please attend a panel discussion on the film, Belfast Maine, and to honor Wiseman, May 26th, Tuesday evening at the Belfast Free Library from 6-8 PM. Panelists will include Jay Davis journalist and Tim Hughes historians and co-authors of A History of Belfast in the 20th Century; AO Scott, critic at large for the New York Times; documentary film aficionado and Belfast resident Alex Giblin; and moderator Michael Hurley.
The movie was filmed in 1996 by the world’s preeminent cinema verité documentary filmmaker. Frederick Wiseman was also a summer resident in the Belfast area for many decades, and he was intimate with Belfast in many ways. At the end of the film MBNA is just arriving to Belfast as workers stream to the sardine plant and potato factory. Fred caught us as we turned the corner from one world to the next where Embee Cleaners, Weaver’s Bakery, Penobscot Frozen Foods, and Stinson Sardines have left us behind. Opinions remain divided on the film and its portrayal of Belfast.
While the panel will discuss Belfast Maine and its place in Fred’s filmography, we’ll also celebrate Frederick Wiseman who we were lucky enough to have in our community and who captured an iconic and timeless Belfast as part of his extraordinary and lengthy artistic career. Fred passed away this year and the world who knew him, his work and his work ethic, mourn his passing.
Here’s what Fred had to say about “cinema verité” ; ”What I try to do is edit the films so that they will have a dramatic structure. That is why I object to some extent to the term "observational cinema" or cinéma vérité, because observational cinema, to me at least, connotes just hanging around with one thing being as valuable as another, and that is not true. At least, that is not true for me, and cinéma vérité is just a pompous French term that has absolutely no meaning as far as I'm concerned.” Fred had opinions and he shared them generously.
There will be a “Fred Wiseman Memorial Screening: Belfast Maine” at the Colonial Theatre Saturday May 23 at 12:30 PM right here in Belfast Maine.
“Belfast Maine and Frederick Wiseman; an appreciation and discussion” is May 26th, 6-8PM at the Belfast Free Library. It will be filmed by Ned Lightner and Somewhere in Waldo County for screening. FMI Mike Hurley 207-338-1975 [email protected]