The Emerge Film Festival was founded in March 2014 after the existing film festival in the Lewiston/Auburn community, the Lewiston Auburn Film Festival, was canceled just weeks before its fourth annual festival was set to commence. Within hours of the news, a group of passionate community members banded together and decided to bring a new festival, aptly named, “Emerge,” to life. A board of directors was developed, a full slate of corporate sponsors were secured, and a roster of over 40 films joined the line-up to be shown. Together, we made a decision. We want to live and work in a place that is dynamic, youthful, healthy, strong, business-friendly, and has an appreciation for film and the arts. Out of an emergency, we, as a community, emerged.