by Laurie Meunier Graves

The Maine International Film Festival is a sort of marathon, and just as Lance Armstrong must train and be sure his bike is well equipped, we must get ready for arduous days of back-to-back movies from noon to midnight. Here are some of the strategies I use to help me make it to the end. After all, there are tricks to every marathon, and watching movies is no different. Here are my top ten suggestions:

1. Get a festival pass. This is absolutely vital, especially with the sell-out crowds the Festival has been having. Because of the crowds, many ticket holders have not been able to get into the movies they want to see. A pass allows you priority seating. While ticket holders are waiting in line, pass holders get to breeze in, find a seat, go to the bathroom, and be back in their seats before the ticket holders even come in.

2. Get in line early. Even with a festival pass, there is a chance that all the seats will be taken. The Festival has had record-breaking crowds, and some movies are very hard to get into.

3. Bring a cooler with food and drinks. This year the schedule has a bit longer time between showings but with back-to-back movies, going out to eat is not always an option for the serious filmgoer. Water, fruit, and sandwiches are the standard fare, but I have seen people bring in pizza and take-out Chinese food.

4. Make a schedule and bring it with you. With so many movies in such a short amount of time, it’s easy to get confused. The schedule helps you keep track of which movie you are seeing and what time it starts.

5. Pace yourself with the popcorn. It’s there in the lobby, and it has that wonderful smell. It’s tempting to get it for the very first movie. Resist this temptation. Save it for when you’ll need it for fortification, say, after the second or third movie. Hard as this is to believe, it is possible to get popcorned-out, and when that happens, you have lost a vital booster when energies inevitably begin to flag.

6. Make friends with other moviegoers. They will save seats for you, give you tips, and even share chocolate with you.

7. Pace yourself with ice cream, candy, and other treats. (See number 5.)

8. Dress in layers. Sometimes the theater is stuffy and sometimes it’s downright chilly. A sweater or a sweatshirt, even on the hottest day, is a good thing to bring.

9. Talk with other festival goers about what they have seen and don’t be afraid to adjust your plans to add a film you might not have planned to see. By the same token, don’t be afraid to avoid a film based on the “reviews” from the next seat.

10. Last but not least, enjoy the wild ride. It’s not often that most adults get to indulge in this kind of movie going. Work and family responsibilities all too frequently get in the way of going to the movies. The Film Festival is the time when all restraint can be thrown to the wind. It is a time for shameless indulgence, a time of popcorn, Peace Pops, and flickering images in the dark. And, when all is said and done, this is an unbeatable combination.