Aron Gaudet is taking the next step in his filmmaking career, with the release of his first feature film, a joint writing and directing effort with his wife, Gita Pullapilly.

In 2009, Gaudet, who frew up in Old Town, directed the Emmy nominated documentary The Way We Get By, a heartfelt story about three senior citizens finding purpose in their life. The film had its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) and won the Special Jury Award on its way to winning 18 festival awards around the world.

The Way We Get By was released theatrically in July 2009, playing in over 60 cities across the U.S. It aired on the critically acclaimed, independent television series P.O.V. on PBS as a primetime special on Veterans Day. AARP’s “Movies for Grownups” Awards honored The Way We Get By as “Best Documentary” of 2009.

Since then, Gaudet, who currently lives in Bar Harbor with Pullapilly, has been involved in several other projects, including the PBS program Lifecasters that aired earlier this year. Next up for Gaudet is his narrative feature directorial debut, Beneath the Harvest Sky. The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and was acquired by Tribeca Films for North American distribution.

Beneath the Harvest Sky tells the story of Casper (Emory Cohen) and Dominic (Callan McAuliffe)—two best friends that are fiercely loyal to one another, as they come of age in a small farming town in Maine. During harvest break, Casper is drawn into smuggling drugs across the Canadian border with his outlaw father, Clayton (Aidan Gillen). Meanwhile, Dominic works his final potato harvest, hoping to earn the money he needs to buy a car and take them away towards a better future. But with Casper’s life unraveling before their eyes, their friendship and loyalty are put to the test as they are forced to mature and make very adult decisions that will forever alter the course of their lives.

In a press release, Gaudet said the film, with storylines blossoming over several months of fieldwork, had a goal taking its audience on an emotional journey that, while scripted, feels authentic and real.

“We feel we’ve captured the beauty, isolation, boredom, and urgency to escape that pervades life in this rural area,” said Gaudet. “The beautiful but bleak locations appeal to the documentarians in us. Part of our mission as filmmakers has always been to find and tell stories that are entertaining, while also shedding light on critical social issues. We believe Beneath the Harvest Sky does just that.