John Travolta on stage interviewing  John Waters
Frank Hamilton

Film Festivals

Check out these fabulous film festivals throughout the state.

John Travolta on stage interviewing  John Waters
Frank Hamilton
1
Ocean City Film Festival
March
Ocean City Film Festival Logo
Ocean City Film Festival

The annual film festival, hosted by the Art League of Ocean City,  features 100 films by local and international filmmakers of every background and genre. Venues are all around Ocean City, including the Fox Gold Coast Theater, several well-known hotels and Seacrets. 

2
Annapolis Film Festival
April
Annapolis Film Festival
Annapolis Film Festival

The Annapolis Film Festival includes shorts, documentary features and narrative features, as well as discussions with filmmakers. With more than 70 independent films and panels that inspire, enlighten and entertain diverse audiences on a variety of topics, the festival showcases Annapolis as a cultural arts center.

3
Bethesda Film Fest
April
Filmmakers take questions from the audience after screenings
Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District

The shorts docs of the Bethesda Film Fest feature regional filmmakers who are available for discussion after screenings.
 

4
Maryland Film Festival
May
John Travolta on stage interviewing  John Waters
Frank Hamilton

The Maryland Film Festival runs in Baltimore featuring top-notch film and video work from across the globe. The festival was launched in 1999, and presents narrative, documentary, animation, experimental, and hybrid works in short and feature-length format. 

5
Nepal America International Film Festival
Hyattsville, June
Nepal American International Film Festival
Nepal America Film Society

The annual film event is organized by Nepal America Film Society which works to bridge culture and knowledge through film. The festival takes place in the Washington DC Metro area (Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC) in collaboration with Nepali Diaspora community organizations, personalities, and other cinematic organizations of the United States and Nepal.

6
AFI DOCS Festival
June
Eric Chien at film fest
AFI DOCS

AFI DOCS is the nation's premier documentary film festival known for showcasing the best in documentary filmmaking from the US and around the world.  AFI DOCS harnesses the power of documentary film as an art form and its potential to inspire change. 

7
Columbia Festival of the Arts Film Festival
June
Columbia Film Festival Poster

The Columbia Festival of the Arts presents a world class celebration of the arts and entertainment that attracts, engages, and inspires the broad and diverse community it serves.

8
Maryland International Film Festival
Hagerstown, March
Reporter, filmmaker, and Tom Riford

The Maryland International Film Festival - Hagerstown, is organized by filmmakers and marketing executives who understand the power of film and support the talent of the independent filmmaker. The Festival encourages the development of filmmaker networks including media, distribution and the association with fellow artists. 

9
Chesapeake Film Festival
Easton, September
Chesapeake Film Festival logo

The only film festival on the Eastern Shore curated by industry insiders highlighting films and documentaries that inspire, enlighten and entertain.  Chesapeake Film Festival plans a two-day LIVE event at our flagship venues, followed by a seven-day Virtual Festival Series.