More than 100 independent and foreign films were shown at Railroad Square Cinema and the Waterville Opera House during the festival's 10-day run.
Festival Director Shannon Haines said there were more than 8,900 admissions to the event -- an increase over last year's 8,500. More tickets were sold this year than last, despite the fact that the festival had a satellite location in Bangor last year, and more receptions were held, according to Haines.
"I think it was actually the smoothest-running festival to date," Haines said Monday, a day after the festival ended. "We had very few technical problems. We had great crowds. We're all really happy."
A highlight for festival programmer Ken Eisen was the unexpected response to the Swiss film "Macao," about a married couple, both linguists, who search the Alps for rare words still uttered by rural populations.
"People were fighting for tickets," Eisen said. "The shows were sold out. That usually doesn't happen -- most shows don't sell out."
He said he also was pleased to see that audiences were adventurous. "People were willing to see older and off-the-beaten-trail kind of films," he said. "That's really, really exciting."
As with many films shown more than once, word spread quickly about the documentary "Knee Deep," which sold out Friday night. The story about Josh Osborne, who was raised on his family's third-generation dairy farm in Farmington, drew a huge response from movie-goers.
"It was a terrific film," Eisen said.
Audiences got to vote for their favorite film and the winner was "C.R.A.Z.Y.," a Canadian film about a large and combative QuŽbecois family. Coming in at a close second was "Four Minutes," a German film about two women with violent pasts who find love and comfort in each other's company.
"People were very passionate about both of those films," Eisen said.
Third place went to "The Rocket," a film made in Canada about the story of hockey player Maurice "Rocket" Richard, who helped MontrŽal win eight Stanley Cups in the 1940s and 50s.
Each year, the festival recognizes insatiable film-goers. This summer, six people saw more than 30 films, according to Haines. They are Suanne Muehlner, Joel Johnson, Betty Jane Meader, Pat Clark, Alice Johnson and Lynn Sawlivich.
Clark, who teaches speech and theater at Unity College, saw 33 films. She voted for "C.R.A.Z.Y." as the best film, but acknowledges she had a tough time deciding between that and the runners-up.
"I loved the festival," said Clark, who has not missed a day of the event since it started 10 years ago. "I think the quality this year was better than it's ever been."
Clark said she does not get tired of films; in fact, she was headed Monday night to see "Once," a new film at Railroad Square -- where she planned to meet up with other die-hard festival fans who ease their withdrawal pains by hitting one more movie.
"We do this every year," she said.
Several businesses held parties and receptions during the festival. Legendary Red Sox pitcher Bill "Spaceman" Lee enjoyed a party at Mainely Brews, where he got behind the bar and posed for pictures, according to Haines. The festival's Mid-Life Achievement Award winner, Bud Cort, attended a party hosted for him Saturday night at the new Soup to Nuts Coffeehouse downtown. The business will open to the public in a couple of weeks, according to owner Pat Friedman.
Eisen said Cort, star of the 1971 hit "Harold and Maude," who also is a writer and director, loved being in central Maine and enjoyed the festival tremendously.
"He was a delight -- he really was," Eisen said. "I really feel we've been incredibly fortunate with our guests. He was crazy about 'C.R.A.Z.Y.,' and he was crazy about 'Macao.' "
Festival organizers start planning for the event long in advance, with Eisen, his wife, Beth and festival programmer Alan Sanborn poring over hundreds of films in search of the right festival offerings.
The Eisens attend the Toronto Film Festival -- the largest film festival in North America -- always with an eye toward finding movies for Waterville.
"It's a year-round process," Ken Eisen said.
The festival got nods from Bill and Stella Pence, co-founders of the Telluride Film Festival, who presented a restored print of the 1928 film "Lonesome." The film was made during a time when silent movies were transitioning to sound.
"They said they thought MIFF is one of the best festivals in the country," Haines said.
Eisen said the energy level at the festival spoke for itself.
"I think anybody who was around here during the festival last week felt the incredible buzzing of energy, and that's wonderful," he said.
Eisen and Haines praised the many volunteers who make the event possible.
"Our staff is largely volunteer and many have been doing this a decade," Haines said. "I can't say enough about those people and how hard they've worked to bring this event to the community. I think they deserve a lot of appreciation and recognition."