Academy Award Nominated Actor Clive Owen Coming To Waterville This Summer

Internationally renowned actor Clive Owen, who has been nominated for an Academy Award for his work on the 2005 film Closer, starring Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts, and Jude Law, will be in Waterville this summer to receive a Mid-Life Achievement Award.

The 28th Maine International Film Festival, an event started in 1998 that celebrates some of the best independent movies to come out of Maine, the US, and international markets, will be held in July.

The MIFF, as it's called for short, lasts 10 days and features 100 of the best of the best in movies from around the world, which are highlighted over the duration of the event, according to organizers. Owen is expected to be on hand to accept the special award.

"A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Owen first received international acclaim for his leading role in Croupier (1998, dir. Mike Hodges) and has since performed in an expansive variety of films and television series, both art-house and mainstream, often portraying characters with strong wills and even stronger senses of justice. A capable leading man and unafraid of challenging roles, Owen brings a consistent composure, suaveness, gravitas, and acting expertise to his work that has enraptured audiences for three decades and counting."

Mike Perreault, executive director of the Maine Film Center, says the festival will screen six of Owen's films at the Maine Film Center and the Waterville Opera House throughout the week, and he is scheduled to join the audience for these viewings.

“From his breakout role in Croupier—at a screening of which we’ll be honoring him with a famous MIFF Moose—to acclaimed performances in Children of Men and Closer (and three other films of his that we'll screen), Owen's dynamic range and compelling screen presence have left an indelible mark on audiences worldwide. This July in Waterville, we look forward to celebrating his longstanding impact on film and storytelling.”

The MIFF will run from July 11 through the 20th, with the award ceremony taking place after the screening of Croupier, Tuesday, July 15. They will hold a reception with Owen after the ceremony, at Front & Main, located in the Lockwood Hotel on Main Street in Waterville.

You can pre-order passes or get package information online at MIFF.org and get details about the festival at MaineFilmCenter.org.