The Chesapeake Film Festival (CFF) is pleased to announce the film schedule for the 5th Anniversary of the Chesapeake Film Festival, to be held September 21-23 in downtown Easton and Oxford, MD. Bringing the best in independent film to Talbot County – along with wonderful music, diverse art and loads of excitement – CFF invites its audience to experience the inspiration, education and fun that films can provide.
Dozens of films will be screened day and night at the Avalon Theatre, the Academy Art Museum and the Talbot County Free Library, ALL IN Easton, and at the Oxford Community Center in Oxford. Individual film tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students. New this year, a 3 for $25 ticket will be offered and a weekend pass for all films and panels can be purchased for $150. Join the “Directors Club” for $500. And get 2 full access festival passes. For a film schedule and to purchase tickets visit www.chesapeakefilmfestival.com. Call the CFF office at 410-822-3500 for more information. Box office opens Sept. 17th.
The Chesapeake Film Festival has been showcasing a wide variety of films for five years. The Festival features both local independent films and award-winning films previously screened at Sundance, Cannes, SxSW, Tribeca, Slamdance and other festivals. Many of the filmmakers will be in attendance and audience interaction with them is one of the highlights of the event.
Festival and Programming Director, Rhonda Thomson notes, “Every year, we preview hundreds of films in our effort to bring only the finest to our festival. Just when I think we can’t possibly put together a slate better than that of the year prior, something magical happens and the programming committee creates another knock-out film schedule!”
CFF’s Opening Night, on Friday, September 21 at 6 PM, will feature the film “The Playroom,” followed by Q & A with director Julia Dyer and actor Olivia Harris at the Avalon Theatre. “The Playroom” stars John Hawkes (of CFF 2010’s “Winters Bone” and CFF 2012’s “Arcadia”), Molly Parker (from TV’s “The Firm”) and newcomer Olivia Harris. The film tells the story of the Cantwells, a 1970’s suburban family struggling to find their way in a rapidly changing world. After the screening, there will be a celebration at the Academy Art Museum.
Saturday, September 22, CFF sponsor, Town Creek Foundation, will host multiple cutting-edge environmental films, including “A Fierce Green Fire” and “The Economics of Happiness,” followed by expert panel discussions. A new venue this year, the Oxford Community Center will present the fascinating healthcare documentary “Escape Fire” and a post-film panel discussion, along with four other films (“Arise”, “Terra Blight”, “Harvest of Empire” and “The Playroom”) throughout the weekend. Another new venue, the Talbot County Free Library, will screen a wide variety of films, from shorts for children to heartbreaking drama (“Sweet Old World”) to a documentary about Olympian Jesse Owens.
Saturday evening’s Saturday Night Shorts program at the Avalon Theatre will feature the world premiere of local filmmaker Cecile Davis’ short musical film “Jolene,” followed by a Q&A with the cast and crew including Exec. Producer Stacey Brumbaugh and Producer Tim Weigand. The shorts program begins at 7:30 PM and “Jolene” is set to begin at 9 PM.
In conjunction with the Chesapeake Film Festival, “Let’s Be Shore: A Conversation about Land and Water” will be presented on Sunday, September 23 from 2:30 to 4:30 PM at the Talbot County Free Library. The Let’s Be Shore panelists will draw on themes and ideas presented in the short films “The Last Waterman of Wittman” and “Meet Your Farmer.” Moderated by filmmaker Doug Sadler (“Swimmers”), a panel discussion, spurred by the films, will ask audience members to consider what is most important to them about the Eastern Shore. Panelists include noted author Tom Horton, agricultural leader Jennifer Rhodes and filmmaker Ethan Goldwater (“The Last Waterman of Wittman”). The event is free.
“We feel that film is a clear and powerful tool for educating and reflecting on issues that are important to everyone. The Chesapeake Film Festival weekend is an ideal weekend to “watch, think and discuss” both the local and national films that CFF has brought to our area. Maryland Humanities Council is excited to bring local issues to the discussion and expand on the dialogue element of the festival,” said Beth Barbush, Producer of Let’s Be Shore at the Maryland Humanities Council.
And Liza Ledford, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Film Festival, said, “CFF thanks the Town Creek Foundation and Maryland Humanities Council for putting together such world class panel presentations as part of our festival programming. We believe in their missions and are pleased that CFF’s vision of being a hub for important, relevant current affairs is coming to fruition. Cheers to all involved; it’s going to be a dynamic weekend!”
The Chesapeake Film Festival’s Closing Night film, “LUV” begins at 5 PM on Sunday, September 23 at the Avalon Theatre. Baltimore-bred director, Shelton Candis, and actor, Michael Rainey, Jr., will be on hand during a question and answer period. The drama was filmed entirely in the Baltimore area and received a lot of attention during this year’s Sundance and Maryland Film Festivals.
September 21-23 – Chesapeake Film Festival – Easton and Oxford – www.chesapeakefilmfestival.com.
About the Chesapeake Film Festival
The Chesapeake Film Festival (CFF) mission is “to entertain, enrich and inspire by bringing the finest in narrative, documentary and short film to the Chesapeake Bay community.” For more information, call 410-822-3500 or visit www.chesapeakefilmfestival.com or email [email protected].
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