The event will be held Wednesday, Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. at Cinemagic Grand & Bistro at Clark’s Pond, South Portland.  Funds raised from the evening will benefit the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies.

Filmmaker Bill Perna and Bill Nemitz will join us to talk about “Welcome to Lee Maine.”The film is showing on Wed. 29th as part of an event called “The Iraq War from a Maine Perspective.” The event is a fundraiser for the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies and will include some Salt student multimedia work, a presentation by Award-winning Press Herald columnist Bill Nemitz and Press Herald Photographer Greg Rec (they will talk about their experiences as Maine Journalists in Iraq). And it will culminate with the showing of the documentary, Welcome to Lee Maine.

Portland, ME – The Salt Institute will be hosting an evening dedicated to the experiences of soldiers fighting in Iraq, their return home and the impact on their families, featuring the Portland premier of Maine-made documentary “Welcome to Lee Maine.” The evening will also include a discussion with Portland Press Herald columnist Bill Nemitz and photographer Gregory Rec on their experiences in Iraq. The event will be held Wednesday, Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. at Cinemagic Grand & Bistro at Clark’s Pond, South Portland.

Tickets are available online only for $6 at:

http://hpoo2.ticketfill.com/index.php?index_type=promo-detail&h=5154383

“Welcome to Lee Maine” details how the close-knit community of Lee, Maine (pop 845) deals with devastating news that it has become the smallest community in America to lose two sons in the Iraqi War. On June 23, 2007 (his mother’s birthday), Joel House was killed by an IED while on patrol in Taji, Iraq. He was 22. On November 30, 2007 Blair Emery was killed by an IED while on patrol in Baghdad, Iraq. Blair was 24. This dual tragedy equaled the town’s entire losses during the whole of World War II.

Following the Portland premier, “Welcome to Lee Maine” will be showing at the Lewiston Auburn Film Festival, April 13-15.

Nemitz, an award-winning columnist, has traveled to Iraq four times. Long-time photojournalist Rec accompanied Nemitz on several of his trips. They will be sharing riveting stories and outstanding photography from their experiences in Iraq.

Funds raised from the evening will benefit the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies.

The Iraq War from a Maine perspective

When: Wednesday, Feb. 29

Where: Cinemagic Grand & Bistro at Clark’s Pond, South Portland

Cinemagic will offer in-seat food and beverage service during this special screening.

How Much: $6

To buy tickets: http://hpoo2.ticketfill.com/index.php?index_type=promo-detail&h=5154383

The Salt Institute for Documentary Studies     A non-profit school in Portland, Maine offering 15-week intensive programs in documentary writing, radio, photography, and multimedia. Throughout the semester, students gather interviews, field notes and photographs and develop stories to create documentaries of professional caliber. Documentary work and events are also exhibited in the school’s gallery. Undergraduate and graduate credit is earned. Need-based scholarship is always available. For more information, go to: www.salt.edu

Selected documentaries are:

Welcome to Lee, Maine” (Maine) is the story of a small close-knit community in rural Maine that comes together to deal with the devastating news that it has become the smallest community in America to lose two sons, Joel House and Blair Emery, in the Iraq War.

The Darkness in My Heart (Rwanda) tells of the unspeakable horrors of war and genocide from the perspective of one unbelievably brave and strong young woman.

Finding Donn Fendler: Lost on a Mountain in Maine 72 Years Later” (Maine) follows young filmmakers Ryan Cook and Derek Desmond as they try to track down Fendler and acquire the rights to share his story in a whole new way.

Four Guys, No Ball: Surviving the World Cup” (Argentina & USA)

Welcome to Lee Maine Selected for LA Film Festival

 Listen to interview here 

http://www.wabi.tv/news/26065/new-documentary-focuses-on-small-town-of-lee