PRESS RELEASE
The 2024 total solar eclipse left a trail of awe across North America; none more so than in the town of Houlton, Maine, which sat directly in the path of totality. That rare and powerful moment is now the subject of a new documentary, A Moment in the Sun, which follows the town as it prepares for its once-in-a-lifetime moment on the world stage.
Directed by Mia Weinberger and Thomas van Kalken, A Moment in the Sun is a feature documentary that blends observational filmmaking and interviews to explore how a small rural community pulled together to welcome thousands of eclipse chasers, scientists, and tourists from around the world.
Synopsis: On April 2024, Houlton, Maine - a town of 6,000 - was the final destination in the United States to see the 2024 total solar eclipse, and the people of Houlton expected tens of thousands of visitors to descend upon their home to witness this once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event. Filmmakers Mia Weinberger and Thomas van Kalken captured the community of Houlton as they came together to host an influx of strangers and celebrate an incredibly rare privilege: living in the Path Of Totality.
FESTIVAL SCREENINGS ANNOUNCED
- World Premiere – Maine International Film Festival
• Friday, July 19 at Paul J. Schupf Art Center, 93 Main Street, Waterville, ME
• Encore Screening: Saturday, July 20 at Waterville Opera House, 1 Common Street - Portland Premiere – Maine Outdoor Film Festival
• Thursday, July 25 at Maine College of Art & Design: Osher Hall, 522 Congress St, Portland, ME
“We were drawn to this story not just because of the eclipse,” says co-director Mia Weinberger, “but because of the people we met while we were up there. The four characters we ended up following included a local astronomer who shared his first eclipse with his late husband in 1997, a civic planner who had been preparing for this day for almost 3 years, a freshly minted entrepreneur with 800 'eclipse t-shirts' to sell and a couple who said 'I do' right at the moment of totality." Weinberger added "The full gamot!"
Shot entirely on location in Aroostook County and co-produced between the U.S. and Australia, the film captures the four personal stories that took place in the lead up to the day of the eclipse, how they all intersect and the joint feeling of communal pride that emerged as Houlton embraced its unexpected moment in the sun.
“At its core, this film is about the human stories that take place around us all around us, all the time” adds co-director Thomas van Kalken. “There’s something incredibly moving about watching a small town of a few thousand people rise to meet the moment and welcome tens of thousands of strangers”
What started as a story about an astronomical event quickly became something more emotional and personal. For the New York based film-makers this project became a way to document not just a fleeting moment on a sunny Monday afternoon in Northern Maine, but a lasting portrait of a community coming into its own. It’s a film that celebrates the wonder of looking up, and the warmth of looking around.
A Moment in the Sun marks the directorial debut for both Weinberger and van Kalken.