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Downeast Hardcore: Stories from the Kave

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In a quiet coastal Maine town, Kathy Findlay transforms an old barn into The Kave, a fiercely independent hardcore venue that becomes a refuge for isolated teenagers and changes their lives.

  • Ricky Leighton
    Director
    Candlepin, Flash Phenomenon
  • Justine Conte
    Producer
    Killers of the Flower Moon, Joker
  • Samuel Gorelick
    Producer
  • Kathy Findlay
    Key Cast
    "Herself"
  • Chris Delp
    Color Correction
  • Danny Rivera
    Motion Graphics
  • Ryan Eyestone
    Graphic Design
  • Itzel Gourmelon
    Second Camera
  • Matt Cimino
    Sound Mix
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Genres:
    music, coming of age
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 9 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 1, 2026
  • Production Budget:
    18,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital,
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Available
  • Maine International Film Festival
    Waterville
    United States
    July 18, 2026
    World
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Ricky Leighton

Ricky Leighton is a filmmaker and video director from Maine whose work focuses on character driven stories rooted in place and community. Growing up in rural Maine, he developed an early interest in documenting the people and environments around him, which continues to shape his perspective as a storyteller.

He attended film school in Philadelphia, where he refined his technical skills and narrative approach before returning to his roots. His work often explores overlooked communities and subcultures, with a particular emphasis on authenticity, emotional honesty, and human connection.

Leighton’s films aim to capture the complexity of real lives with a grounded, observational style. He is especially interested in telling stories from Maine, highlighting voices and experiences that are rarely represented on screen.

Downeast Hardcore: Stories from the Kave is his latest documentary, continuing his focus on place based storytelling and the communities that form within it.

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Director Statement

I grew up in Maine, where small towns can feel both deeply connected and incredibly isolating at the same time. There are not many places for young people to go, especially if you feel like you do not quite fit. When I first went to the Kave as a teenager, it felt like something that should not exist in a place like this, but somehow did.

At first glance, it is a hardcore music venue. Loud, chaotic, and overwhelming. But the deeper you dive, the more you realize it is something else entirely. It was a space where kids who felt lost or pushed aside could show up and be accepted without question. At the center of that space is Kathy Findlay, whose presence reshaped what that environment could be. She created something that was not just about music, but about protection, belonging, and care.

This film became less about documenting a scene and more about understanding why places like this matter. The Kave represents a kind of informal support system that exists outside of traditional structures. It shows how community can form in unlikely places, and how one person’s commitment to others can have a lasting impact. There is a tendency to overlook these spaces, but they are full of complexity and meaning. With this film, I wanted to capture not just the energy of the music, but the quieter emotional reality underneath it.

Downeast Hardcore: Stories from the Kave is ultimately about the need to belong, and the people who create that space for others when it does not exist anywhere else.