Lights…camera…action! The silver screens of the Annapolis Film Festival will shine brightly again in 2026. An eclectic mix of movies from all over the world will travel to the streets of our little capital. Creators from Greece, Ireland, Ghana, and (of course) Maryland are here to present their hard work for local film buffs to enjoy.
Now in its 14th year, this festival is a young but cherished event. It was named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World in 2025. Film producer and executive Heather Brawley writes, “From wandering the cobblestone streets between screenings to attending the unique Coffee Talks panel each morning, Annapolis blends small-town charm with awesome programming. I can’t wait to return.” And neither will you once you’ve experienced it!
How to See the Shows
EXT. DOWNTOWN ANNAPOLIS – DAY
From March 26 to 29, you can see movies, attend panel discussions, and rub shoulders with filmmakers and film lovers at post-screening parties. There are a few ways to join in on the fun:
- Buy tickets for the events you want to attend.
- Get a festival pass so you can have the type of access you want. Options range from short-film passes to six-ticket packages or unlimited screening access.
- Become a member of the Annapolis Film Society for only $100 per year. You’ll not only have access to discounts on passes for the festival, but also monthly film screenings throughout the year.
- Volunteer for the festival and enjoy perks such as access to screenings, merch, discounts at partner restaurants, a thank-you party, and more!
Now for the next challenge…how to get to the shows! If your studio hasn’t arranged a limo, there are other ways to make your big entrance.
- You can park in one of the garages and lots closest to the festival:
- Near West Street: Park Place Garage, Knighton Garage, The Graduate by Hilton Annapolis, Larkin Street Lot, and Gott’s Court Garage.
- Near St. John’s College: Calvert Street Garage is only for Monthly Parking permit holders on weekdays, but after 6 PM on weekdays and all day on weekends it is free.
- Maryland Hall and the Navy Stadium have their own parking.
- You can pay for Park Place, Knighton, Gott’s Court Garage using the Metropolis app.
- For more information about parking, visit the Annapolis Parking website.
- Street parking is available around the area. To pay for parking, use the Parkmobile app. Depending on your zone, the maximum time to park is either 2 or 3 hours.
- Once you are in the area, use the Magenta bus for free rides around town. And check out other Annapolis bus routes for access to Eastport, the Annapolis Mall, and more.
Movies for Moms
The festival slate is full of movies that moms (and parents, of course) will love. They’re bursting with humor, hardship, and a lot of heart. Experience the stories of people whose lives are different from your own, or whose lives share a lot in common with yours.
FAMILY DAY SCREENING
Director – Alysa Nahmias
Saturday, March 28, 10 AM at St. John’s College Francis Scott Key Auditorium
Executive produced by Meghan Markle & Prince Harry, this film follows four girls (ages five to twelve) and their families as they navigate the annual whirlwind of Girl Scout Cookie Season. Selling cookies isn’t just about Thin Mints and sisterhood – it’s a crash course in commercialism. Behind the smiles and cookie boxes lie real pressure: long hours, ambitious sales goals, and the weight of high expectations. Captivating, candid, and full of heart, this year’s Family Day film selection is sure to make you laugh, fill you with inspiration, and maybe even leave you with a craving for Girl Scout cookies. (USA, 2026, 91 min, Documentary)
Preceded by:
Kid President – Yadid Hirschtritt Licht
No more lettuce, no more artichokes… no more broccoli! This is the future that Kid President envisions as he rolls out his most daring policy yet: a ban on all vegetables. (USA, 2025, 5 min, Animation)
FRIDAY NIGHT SPOTLIGHT
Director – Maude Apatow
Friday, March 27, 7 PM at Maryland Hall
In her confident feature directorial debut, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, Maude Apatow steps behind the camera with a voice that feels both fresh and steeped in comedy tradition. Poetic License reinvigorates the college comedy, exploring the fleeting intensity of campus relationships with a mature eye and a sophisticated wit.
Leslie Mann stars as Liz, a middle-aged mom and former therapist who relocates to a small college town when her husband accepts a new faculty position. Feeling unmoored and eager for connection, Liz audits a poetry workshop where she forms an unexpected friendship with two inseparable best friends, Ari (Cooper Hoffman) and Sam (Andrew Barth Feldman), whose growing admiration for her sparks a rivalry between them.
As the trio’s platonic dynamic begins to blur, misunderstandings and jealousies ripple through their orbit. With crackling banter courtesy of screenwriter Raffi Donatich and magnetic chemistry between Hoffman, Feldman, and Mann, Poetic License is smart, funny, and full of vibrant energy –making it the perfect Friday night delight. (USA, 2025, 117 min, Comedy)
ALSO ON FRIDAY
Directors – Johnny Burke, Andrew Hinton
Friday, March 27, 12:30 PM at Asbury United Methodist Church
In the remote foothills of the Himalayas, former monk Lobsang Phuntsok has built Jhamtse Gatsal—“The Garden of Love and Compassion”—a community for children who have endured abandonment, neglect, and profound trauma. Once a spiritual teacher in the United States, Lobsang returned to India to create the kind of refuge he never had as a troubled orphan himself. Loving Karma revisits Jhamtse Gatsal twelve years after the Emmy-winning short Tashi and the Monk, following Lobsang and a new generation of children who are learning to care for one another. (India, 2025, 80 min, Documentary, Hindi with English subtitles)
Preceded by:
Paravan – Glória Halász
Two puppeteers arrive at a mysterious underground place aiming to bring light into the darkness. (Hungary, 2025, 11 min, Drama)
FAITH EXPERIENCE SHOWCASE
Directors – Nathan Ross Murphy, Kevin D. Sepe
Saturday, March 28, 2:30 PM at Maryland Hall
This year’s Faith Experience is a raw and emotional exploration of the fragility of life and the power of human connection. It is a story about falling from grace and the difficult, but ultimately rewarding, journey of finding one’s way back to the light. Rockstar Elijah Peel lives in a whirlwind of drugs, alcohol, and fame. These self-destructive tendencies culminate in a heart attack that forces him to confront his hedonistic lifestyle. Despite initial resistance, Elijah begins a journey of recovery and redemption, influenced by a terminally ill nine-year old girl named Jessica who embodies innocence, courage, and faith. (USA, 2026, 107 min, Drama)
SATURDAY NIGHT SPOTLIGHT
Director – Adam Carter Rehmeier
Saturday, March 28, 7 PM at St. John’s College Francis Scott Key Auditorium
Love is a dangerous game in Adam Rehmeier’s smoldering Southern outlaw romance Carolina Caroline. Samara Weaving delivers a sultry and emotionally charged performance as Caroline Daniels, a small-town Texas clerk whose life takes a sharp turn when she falls for the charismatic con man Oliver, played by Kyle Gallner with a dangerously seductive swagger. What begins as fascination soon becomes partnership as the pair head east on a feverish road trip — chasing stolen cash, borrowed dreams, and the hope of finding Caroline’s estranged mother in South Carolina.
A modern-day “Bonnie and Clyde” for a new generation, this gritty yet lyrical film explores reckless devotion, moral compromise, and the intoxicating pull of escape. Building on the rebellious outsider spirit of his previous Sundance breakout film Dinner in America, Rehmeier once again traces volatile love on the run.
Weaving and Gallner light up the screen with electric chemistry, while Kyra Sedgwick delivers a commanding performance as Caroline’s manipulative mother. Having premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to strong acclaim, Carolina Caroline is a fresh take on a crime drama pulsing with danger, desire, and heart. (USA, 2025, 105 min, Romance/Thriller)
ALSO ON SATURDAY
Director – Nicola Rinciari
Saturday, March 28, 4:45 PM at St. John’s College
Based on the autobiographical graphic novel Una Zanzara nell’Orecchio by Andrea Ferraris, this film adaptation follows an American couple’s journey to India to meet their newly adopted 4-year-old daughter, Sarvari, and bring her back to the US. However, their world begins to crumble when the little girl refuses to leave the orphanage that she calls home. The couple’s attempts to welcome their child into her new family and travel back with her prove to be a chaotic challenge that not only tests their patience but also reshapes their ideas of family, parenthood, and their relationship as a couple. (USA, 2026, 90 min, Drama)
CLOSING FILM
Director – NB Mager
Sunday, March 29, 3 PM at Maryland Hall
Fresh off premiering at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, writer-director NB Mager’s brave and audacious debut feature navigates the unthinkable with startling originality and emotional precision. Run Amok follows Meg (Alyssa Marvin), a quirky, harp-playing high school senior who decides to stage a full-scale musical reenactment of the mass shooting that took place at her school a decade earlier—the tragedy that claimed the life of her mother. Encouraged by a former teacher-turned-hero (Patrick Wilson), challenged by a risk-averse principal (Margaret Cho), and questioned by her over-protective Aunt (Molly Ringwald), Meg insists on confronting the past in the only way she knows how: through art.
Balancing dark humor and sincerity with astonishing dexterity, Mager crafts a film that never trivializes violence, but instead illuminates the surreal absurdities of growing up in its shadow — from routine active-shooter drills to the platitudes from adults. At its center is a breakout performance from Marvin, whose Meg is defiant, vulnerable, and fiercely committed to making meaning where none exists.
A daring testament to the power of theater — and music — Run Amok closes our festival with a story that is both provocative and profoundly human, reminding us that while art may not offer easy answers, it can create space for reflection, reckoning, and catharsis. (USA, 2026, 96 min, Comedy/Drama/Musical)
Director’s Notes
Do you love the behind-the-scenes stories of how movies are made? Or do you want tips and tricks for making your own films? Maybe you are fascinated by a certain topic in the entertainment industry, and want to hear from the experts. You can enjoy morning coffee talks, industry panels, and post-screening Q&As for all the insider advice.
COFFEE TALKS
Friday, March 27, Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29, 9 AM at Rams Head On Stage
Coffee Talks is a morning breakfast meet-up that takes place during the film festival at Rams Head On Stage. The event is designed to bring together industry professionals and festival attendees in a casual and relaxed setting. During the event, guests can enjoy breakfast snacks and coffee while listening to invited industry professionals share their experiences and insights about the inner workings of the film industry. Coffee Talks is a must-attend event that provides an invaluable opportunity to learn and grow as a filmmaker or film enthusiast.
Coffee and pastries courtesy of Oscar’s Coffee and Great Harvest Bakery.
DIRECTOR’S ROUNDTABLE
Finding Heart in a Noisy World
Saturday, March 28, 1 PM at Maryland Hall
Cinema has never been louder — visually, stylistically, culturally. From daring experimentations to trendy treats, today’s directors face a landscape that rewards bold swings and big statements. But in all the noise, does heart still cut through? Join filmmakers for an honest, unscripted conversation about staying human, telling stories that matter, and whether emotional truth is the ultimate rebellion.
INDUSTRY PANELS
Here are just a couple of the industry panels that will be at the festival:
Documentary 2.0: Truth in the Age of Algorithm
Friday, March 27, 1:30 PM at The Graduate by Hilton Annapolis
In today’s distracted world, how do documentaries cut through the noise? This panel brings together filmmakers and industry insiders who explore how non-fiction storytelling survives and thrives—amid social media feeds, streaming platforms and AI-driven content. Is there still a lane for heart and humanity? Witness a timely conversation about truth, trust and the future of documentary in the digital era.
Friday, March 27, 3 PM at The Graduate by Hilton Annapolis
Get some free information in the “Free State” on filmmaking. From tax incentives to union guidelines, Maryland offers filmmakers a wealth of resources-but navigating them can be tricky. This panel brings together the Motion Picture Association, a representative from SAG, the Maryland Film Office and a recent local filmmaker to share practical insights, tips and first-hand experiences for making your movie here.
WOMEN’S PANEL
When Doors Close, Women Create
Sunday, March 29, 12:30 PM at St. John’s College
When the industry says “no,” women say “watch this.” From blazing new creative trails to challenging pay gaps and outdated norms, this panel spotlights the unstoppable women reshaping film today. Get inspired, laugh, and hear how resilience and imagination are turning obstacles into opportunity—all before we celebrate, She Runs the World, a documentary about women who lead, compete and conquer.
And the Award Goes To…
What would a movie festival be without awards for the best of the best? As an attendee, you can cast your own vote. The Audience Awards will go to Best Narrative Feature, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Feature, and Best Documentary Short. You can vote after every screening with paper ballots that volunteers will hand out.
BEST OF FEST
Sunday, March 29, 5:30 PM at Maryland Hall
Come see the films that you voted for! Don’t miss the announcement of the AUDIENCE AWARD winners and JURY PRIZE winners for shorts and features. Following the audience ceremony, there will be a screening of the AUDIENCE AWARD winners for the BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE, BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE, BEST NARRATIVE SHORT, and BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT.
SHORTS CHALLENGE
Saturday, March 28, 10 AM at Maryland Hall
Now in its eighth year, the Shorts Challenge is an exciting and unpredictable aspect of the Annapolis Film Festival. The finalists will pitch their projects that reflect this year’s theme (“The Heartbeat of Film”) to an audience and a panel of industry judges who will vote on one project. The winner will be announced at the Saturday Night Bash at the Graduate Hotel. The winner takes home a production and post-production package that helps them get their idea off the page and onto the screen.
Craft Services
A night at the movies doesn’t have to be just soda and popcorn. We are very familiar with all the delicious eats in Downtown Annapolis. And the festival will attract more local vendors to impress the festival guests with their fare. Grab a bite at a food truck, head to a restaurant, or enjoy the local foods provided for an event. Here are the restaurants partnering with the festival:
- Acqua Al 2
- O’Brien’s Oyster Bar and Seafood Tavern
- Metropolitan Kitchen & Lounge
- The Choptank
- Carpaccio Tuscan Kitchen & Wine Bar
- Café Normandie
- Boatyard Bar & Grill
- Rams Head Tavern
Cut! That’s a Wrap!
Everyone from creators to audiences, from young to old, and from locals to visitors will delight in the Annapolis Film Festival. Our beautiful city shows that its festival can compete with other world-renowned experiences, with our small-town charm making a cameo appearance. So grab your festival pass, put on your best ‘fit, and get ready to laugh, cry, and cheer at the films of the Annapolis Film Festival.
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