The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District invites filmmakers to submit recent, original work for the 14th annual Bethesda Film Fest, set for spring 2026. The festival will be will feature in-person screenings of the top selected filmmakers at Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema.
Short (5-30 minutes), documentary films by filmmakers from Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. will be considered. Films must have been completed within the last two years. All topics are eligible. Filmmakers chosen for the 2025 festival are not eligible and may submit again for the 2027 festival.
Filmmakers are required to attend the film festival screenings in April and speak about their work.
The Bethesda Film Fest jury is made up of local noted filmmakers and documentarians E. Samantha Cheng, Amy Oden, and Malachi E. Robinson.
E. Samantha Cheng
E. Samantha Cheng is an American producer, director, writer, documentarian and journalist. She has devoted much of her career to raising the visibility of Asian Pacific Islander Americans, and women in technology and their contributions to United States history. Cheng is the president and co-founder of Heritage Series which specializes in educational programs about ethnic minorities in the United States. She owned and operated the multi-media company, Television Production Services (TPS), for 25 years. Ms. Cheng’s broadcast and media production spans over 40 years. She has worked extensively both in the United States and throughout the world. Prior to establishing TPS in 1992, Ms. Cheng’s broadcast credits include: World News Tonight, ABC Weekend News, ABC This Week with David Brinkley, ABC Nightline, and Maryland Public Broadcasting.
Amy Oden
Emmy Award winning producer and director Amy Oden is best known for her person-first documentary and multimedia work. Amy served as senior director of the video team at the Human Rights Campaign where her work won the 2025 social impact award at TribecaX, was screened at Sundance’s BrandStorytelling slate in 2025, and earned a 2024 Vimeo Staff Pick. Amy also served as senior producer and manager of multiplatform strategy at PBS’s Maryland Public Television where her work earned three Emmy Awards and shed light on a variety of social and scientific topics, including the Baltimore uprising, fracking, mass incarceration, and the opioid crisis. Amy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Maryland and a Master of Arts from George Washington University. Her work has won Communicator, Emmy, Davey, Tribeca, and W3 Awards.
Malachi E. Robinson
Malachi E. Robinson is a creative force whose mission is to inspire a revolution through film, music, wellness and collaborative art. As the founder and Chief Creative Officer of point.black creative agency, Malachi has garnered national recognition for his bold and impactful storytelling. An award-winning filmmaker, music video director, writer, and creative director, he is known for pushing boundaries with his bold storytelling and unconventional visuals. His recent documentary, The Poppaw Queen, won Best Documentary at the 2024 Prince George's Film Festival. His short film, BLACK X, debuted as an interactive exhibit to over 600 attendees at the iconic Dupont Underground in Washington, D.C., and was later selected for screening at the 2022 Heritage Film Festival. With every project, Malachi strives to “elevate narratives that are authentic, powerful, and impactful, leaving audiences inspired and transformed.”
Up to five films will be selected to be shown. A film by a young filmmaker, under age 18 (or still in High School Spring 2026), may also be chosen. Filmmakers whose films are selected will receive an honorarium of $1,000. Young filmmakers will receive $250.
