LEWISTON — Ten days after it was born, the Emerge Film Festival is growing.

The event, originally scheduled to run for several hours June 14 at the Franco Center, has been extended to two days, four venues and many more films, said filmmaker Ramsey Tripp, vice president of the new organization.

The first public showing of Buckfield filmmaker Michael Miclon’s comedy, “Richard³,” will premiere at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 14. On the previous night — Friday, June 13 — South Portland filmmaker Corey Norman will show his horror feature, “The Hanover House,” and a scary short titled “Natal.”

Saturday’s showings will be in several locations. Besides the Franco Center, screenings are planned for the Auburn and Lewiston public libraries and Lewiston’s Free Grace Presbyterian Church.

Though the screening schedule and ticket prices are still being decided, tickets will go on sale April 15, Tripp said.

Members of the newly created Emerge board have been working in teams on different aspects of the festival, including the venues, the films and the finances.

In part, the expansion was made possible by the sudden appearance of sponsors such as Lewiston-based Baxter Brewing, Tripp said. There has been an onslaught of interest from the community.

“Every single person on the (Emerge) board has gotten emails and phone calls and Facebook messages,” he said. “Everybody’s asking, ‘What can we do?'”

The interest also proves that the festival is bigger than one man, Tripp said.

Emerge was created at the same time the Lewiston Auburn Film Festival was canceled. The festival became controversial when its director, Joshua Shea of Auburn, was arrested March 20.

He was charged with one count of possessing child pornography. An initial inspection of the computer showed hundreds of images, police said.

Filmmakers including Miclon and Norman pulled their films, saying the festival was tainted by the accusations against Shea.

On Friday, when Miclon was originally slated to debut “Richard³,” the filmmaker insisted that the new festival has been a wholly positive event.

“It’s growing in the right way,” he said. Events are being added because people are coming forward who will help them happen.

“The doors are being flung wide open,” Miclon said.

One of the first sponsors to come forward was Baxter Brewing. Company President Luke Livingston said he liked the aims of the new organization.

“I think this is a great way as a community to move forward,” he said. “It was an absolute no-brainer.”

Though details are sketchy, he is planning to host a meet-and-greet with filmmakers and some guests at his brewery on June 13.

Besides Baxter, sponsors include the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce, Argo Marketing Group, Center Street Dental, Central Maine Orthopaedics, Geiger, Lyceum Gallery, Platz Associates, Rinck Advertising, Austin Associates, Community Credit Union, Damon Mechanical, Fish Bones American Grill and Moody’s Collision Center.

And more films are being added.

As previously announced, “How to Kill a Zombie” from Monmouth filmmaker Bill McLean will be shown. Other movies will include “Bridge and Tunnel,” “The Handsome Shadows,” The Magic Bracelet,” “Rabbit and Deer” and “Out of the Ash.”

“We are elated at the community support we’ve received,” newly-elected Emerge President Laura Davis said in a prepared statement. “From the filmmakers who have reached out to screen their films, to the venues offering up space, to our fantastic sponsors and just the general feedback from our community. This has already been such a great experience and we are so looking forward to putting on a spectacular festival.”

dhartill@sunjournal.com