WATERVILLE — “Finding Donn Fendler: Lost on a Mountain in Maine 72 Years Later,” directed by Waterville native Ryan Cook and Derek Desmond, will premiere at this year’s Maine International Film Festival.

In 1939, 12-year-old Donn Fendler was lost for nine days in the woods near Mount Katahdin. His story of survival inspired the nation, and his book, “Lost on a Mountain in Maine,” continues to inspire with its themes of hope, faith and the will to live.

“Finding Donn Fendler” will screen at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, July 16, in the Given Auditorium at Colby College and again at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, July 24, at Railroad Square Cinema. Fendler and the film’s directors will be present at both screenings and will participate in question-and-answer sessions.

The 14th annual Maine International Film Festival, taking place from July 15-24, will feature nearly 100 films, representing the best of American and independent and international cinema and spotlighting some of Maine and New England’s most innovative filmmakers.

The 2011 MIFF Midlife Achievement Award winner is Malcolm McDowell. A versatile and prolific actor with a career spanning more than 40 years, McDowell is probably best known for his starring role as Alex DeLarge in Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange.” McDowell will be honored at 6 p.m. July 16 at Given Auditorium. A screening of “O LuckyMan!,” starring a young McDowell, will follow.

The full MIFF schedule and ticket information can be found at www.miff.org.