Lincoln Theater is pleased to present a free screening of the documentary film “Observer,” playing Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m. Directed by Maine-based filmmaker Ian Cheney, “Observer” invites audiences to look more closely at the world around them through an unusual global experiment.

In “Observer,” Ian Cheney brings a diverse group of participants, including scientists, artists, and a hunter, to locations around the world. Cheney often keeps where they are headed a secret. Once they arrive he asks them to do something deceptively simple: describe what they see. The results form a thoughtful and often playful exploration of observation itself, how humans perceive the environments around them, and how attention can reveal beauty and meaning in even the most ordinary places. Cheney also adds a unique, whimsical, visual thread to the film’s reflections on perception by carrying a small painted red square throughout the journey.

Maine based filmmaker, Ian Cheney, holds degrees from Yale University and an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. He has directed a dozen feature-length documentaries prior to “Observer.” His previous films include "King Corn," "The City Dark," "The Search for General Tso," "The Most Unknown," "Picture a Scientist," "The Arc of Oblivion" and "Shelf Life." A former fellow at MIT’s Knight Science Journalism program, Cheney lives in Maine and has led the production company Wicked Delicate Films since 2003.

Filmed across multiple countries, including the United States, Greenland, Italy, Senegal, Chile, and Korea, “Observer” blends science, philosophy, and art while encouraging viewers to reconsider how they experience the everyday world.

Playing as a free screening Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m. at Lincoln Theater, 2 Theater St. in the heart of downtown Damariscotta. More information is available online at www.LincolnTheater.org or by contacting the theater office at info@LincolnTheater.org or 563-3424.