Chesapeake Film Festival 2025:
Our Bay, Our World, Our Festival
It is the mission of the Chesapeake Film Festival to enrich, entertain, educate and inspire by bringing the finest in environmental, narrative, documentary and student short films to the Chesapeake Bay community and Easton's cultural hub and to the world. The Chesapeake Film Festival will continue to shed light on topics that impact the Maryland Eastern Shore and the vast watershed we call the Chesapeake Bay.
Entering its 18th year, the Chesapeake Film Festival plans a three-day LIVE event and speakers at our flagship venues October 10, 11 and 12, 2025. Our venues include the acclaimed Academy Art Museum, the Ebenezer Theater and the Talbot County Free Library in downtown Easton, Maryland USA.
Our commitment to collaboration, diversity, equity and inclusion and the celebration of arts and artists is our emphasis, as we endeavor to present the best cinematic works and speaker events by artists from around the world of both emerging and established talent. Also central to our message is to highlight both environmental films and student initiatives and achievement in independent cinema. We are seeking films that are inspiring and upbeat with comedic themes, as well as enriching films with well-written storylines and excellent production value. We uniquely feature many local artists with our Spotlight on Maryland category.
Last year's highlights included the exceptional documentary films, “WYETH” and “Jamie Wyeth and the Unflinching Eye” that captured the Jury Prize, both by the gifted director Glenn Holsten. Our Opening Film was “Call Me Dancer” directed by Leslie Shampaine who received our 2024 Women of Impact Award. Another festival highlight in keeping with our commitment to environmental themes was the magnificent “Diary of an Elephant Orphan” from South Africa, directed by Hermien Roelvert-Van Gils, while shorts programs and our popular Student Awards Showcase were also important events.
Whether you are a filmmaker or an avid film enthusiast, we welcome you to engage and experience the Chesapeake Film Festival, as we embark on an exciting new year in 2025 that will include a free Student Showcase screening at the Academy Art Museum.
Festival Awards will include Best Environmental Feature and Short, Best International Film, Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Emerging Filmmaker, Best Made in Maryland Film, Best Student Film, Best Animation among other categories. Awards also include Best Performance, Best Director and Jury’s Prize. For a list of Award Winners visit www.chesapeakefilmfestival.com