What to Expect
We are thrilled to announce the Third Annual New England REEL Recovery Film Festival, taking place on Saturday, May 2nd at the Gracie Theatre at Husson University in Bangor, Maine!
This mission-driven event uses the power of film and storytelling to elevate lived experiences, reduce stigma, and deepen public understanding of substance use disorder and recovery.
The festival brings together community members, service providers, advocates, and organizations who share a commitment to creating compassionate, informed responses to substance use disorder in Maine and beyond. Through carefully selected films and meaningful conversation, REEL Recovery creates space for awareness, connection, and hope.
This year, our goal is to raise $50,000 for the MARR Bed Sponsorship Fund (BSF), a critical program that helps remove financial barriers to recovery housing. The BSF provides low-barrier access to participating MARR-certified recovery residences for individuals ready to take the next step in their recovery journey but without the financial means to do so.
Join the greater Maine & New England community, deepen understanding of substance use disorder, and be part of a movement that replaces stigma with compassion and hope.
Your presence helps amplify recovery stories and directly supports pathways to safe, stable recovery housing for those who need it most!!
Every ticket, sponsorship, and donation helps open the door to recovery housing for someone who needs it.
Featured Film Preview
While the full event schedule will be announced soon, we are excited to share a preview of several films that will be featured at this year’s New England REEL Recovery Film Festival. These selections reflect the depth, complexity, and hope found within recovery stories across communities.
Coming Home
Coming Home is a PBS short documentary that follows Tahira Malik as she rebuilds her life after opioid addiction and incarceration, highlighting the power of second chances, healing, and community through her work supporting women in recovery.
No Pain in Vain: The Shocking Life of Steve-O
No Pain in Vain: The Shocking Life of Steve-O is a raw, unflinching look at Steve-O’s journey through addiction, mental health struggles, and self-destructive behavior. The film chronicles his path from chaos to recovery, highlighting resilience, accountability, and personal transformation.
Wabanaki Voices
Wabanaki Voices is a short documentary project by Points North Institute that explores how reconnecting with Indigenous culture, traditions, and community supports healing and recovery. Centering Wabanaki perspectives, the film highlights resilience, identity, and the power of cultural connection.
Shuffle
Shuffle is a documentary exposing parts of Florida’s patient brokering system, following three people caught in a profit-driven rehab cycle and showing how brokers and treatment centers exploit patients and insurance at the expense of recovery.
Do No Harm
Do No Harm is a PBS short documentary that follows Raina McMahan’s long struggle with heroin addiction, showing how compassionate, connection-based care can offer hope, challenge stigma, and highlight the need for humane approaches to the opioid crisis.
Special Thanks to Tim Cheney
The New England REEL Recovery Film Festival is made possible in part through the generosity of Tim Cheney, owner of the REEL Recovery Film Festival. Tim has donated the use of the festival to MARR as an in-kind contribution, allowing us to host this event and direct proceeds toward the Bed Sponsorship Fund.
Through his ongoing commitment to recovery advocacy, Tim has helped elevate recovery storytelling and community engagement. His partnership allows us to bring meaningful films and conversations to Maine while turning awareness into tangible support for individuals seeking safe, certified recovery housing.
Thank you to our sponsors!
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New England REEL Recovery Film Festival Venue:
Gracie Theater
Located in the heart of Bangor, Maine, the Gracie Theatre at Husson University is a premier 490-seat performing arts venue and a vibrant cultural destination for the Greater Bangor community. Showcasing touring artists from around the world, the Gracie offers an exceptional live entertainment experience in a state-of-the-art setting.
The theater also serves as a dynamic, hands-on learning environment for students from the New England School of Communications, providing real-world training in digital audio, live sound, sound mixing, and electronics—bringing education and performance together on one inspiring stage.
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From the North or the South, take Interstate 95 to Bangor and take exit 185 Broadway. Turn right off the exit and go one-half mile. At the light just after the Walgreen, take a left turn onto Husson Avenue and proceed to the stop sign. The campus will be directly in front of you. Drive onto the campus to the stop sign. Turn left and proceed around the circle past the athletic facilities. The Beardsley Meeting House, which houses the Gracie Theatre, is on the right. Look for the distinctive swoop-shaped roof.
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Parking is best if you drive past the Meeting house and turn into the parking lot adjacent to the theatre. There are handicap spots towards the building. You will have to walk the sidewalk to the main entrance, however, after the show, you are welcome to exit the doors closes to the parking lot. Additional parking is directly across the street from the theatre. Enter the main doors into the Atrium where the box office and theatre entrance are located. Please use the following Google Map to get directions to the Gracie Theatre.