CAMDEN – The Camden International Film festival announced the award-winning films from its eighth edition, which marked the end of a four-day weekend that included the screening of more than 70 films from dozens of countries, as well as the fourth Points North Documentary Forum. The festival hosted more than 6,500 attendees, including nearly 100 filmmakers and industry leaders.

This year's Harrell Award for Best Documentary Feature went to "The Waiting Room" directed by Peter Nicks. The film is an innovative blend of documentary film and social media that follows the life and times of an American public hospital amidst the greatest change to our health care system in decades. According to the Harrell Award jury, the film won, "For its bravery using individual stories told intimately to highlight the faults in our healthcare system and the fortitude of so many involved with emergency room care."

A special Harrell Award for Best Documentary Feature Jury Mention went to "Downeast" directed by David Redmon and Ashley Sabin. Set during an era of U.S. post-industrialization in which numerous factories have been exported, "Downeast" focuses on Antonio Bussone's efforts to open a processing factory in rural Maine. According to the jury's notes, the movie won "for telling the story of one small businessman’s trials and tribulations in involving his community in rehabilitating a local economy. 'Downeast' should be required viewing for business school students."

This years Emerging Cinematic Vision Award went to "Only The Young" by Jason Tippet and Elizabeth Mims. The film follows two boys as they navigate through the complications of young love and the moment life moves from the stability of childhood into an ever-changing adult world. According to the jury's notes, the movie won "for its intimate portrayal of teen age friendship, its wonderful cinematic intuitions, and its unusually nuanced story structure."

A special Emerging Cinematic Vision Jury Mention went to "Meanwhile in Mamelodi" by Benjamin Kahlmayer, "for its joyous portrayal of a South African family, its bold use of music, and its belief in the camera to see into another culture."

The 2012 Audience Award, sponsored by Dick and Ann Costello, went to "Betting the Farm," directed by Jason Mann and Cecily Pingree. The film shot in Maine chronicles a group of Maine dairy farmers working together to save their farms by launching a milk company.

In addition to these award-winning films, eight filmmakers took the stage of the Camden Opera House on Sept. 29 for the third annual Points North Pitch, part of the growing Points North Documentary Forum that runs concurrently with the festival. The Filmmakers pitched their documentary works in progress to a panel of funders broadcasters, distributors and producers. The 2012 Points North Pitch Award for Best Pitch was given to Mike Attie and Meghan Ohara for their project "In Country," which follows the stories of men reenacting the Vietnam War. The award comes with a $1,000 cash prize sponsored by documentary educational resources and a $3,000 scholarship to the Maine Media Workshops.

For more information about the Camden International Film Festival and the Points North Documentary Forum, visit www.camdenfilmfest.org.