The Big Picture
Annapolis Film Fest Celebrates 10 Years
By Chelsea Harrison
Much like the rest of us, Lee Anderson and Patti White were stressed wondering what 2022 would bring. The duo behind the Annapolis Film Festival were concerned whether or not they would be able to bring their marathon of movie magic back to town for the tenth anniversary. They began planning in Fall 2021, just as everyone was learning how to pronounce the word O-mi-cron. Despite COVID-19 cases being low now on the eve of the festival, things looked bleak last fall.
Ever the optimists, AFF pushed forward with plans for an in-person festival, though Anderson admits, they always had a Plan B. “We’re so happy to be back and give people that community engagement that they’ve been missing,” says Anderson.
“We were always inspired by the fact that we were going to make it happen and it was our time to shine,” adds White.
The Annapolis Film Festival (AFF) returns to live and in-person movie screening this year, running Thursday, March 31 through Sunday, April 3. This year, as every year, it’s a celebration of the Annapolis community, telling untold stories, and gaining new perspectives.
The theme of this year’s festival is “The Big Picture,” which is a theme that works on many levels. “We’re looking at smaller stories and ideas thorough the larger lens and we’re looking at big stories through a smaller lens,” says White.
Perhaps the pandemic, which prompted AFF to exist as a virtual festival for the past two years, has also forced many people to look at the “big picture” of their lives through a smaller lens. Happily, though, this year we return to the “big screen” to watch these thoughtful, moving pictures in-person.
Back to the Beginning
White and Anderson are longtime producing partners and came up with the idea for an Annapolis film festival when they were traveling around on the film festival circuit promoting their own films. “We hit a few that reminded us how incredible our own town is, and we thought, how cool would it be to have a festival in our own community?” said White.
While attempts to hold film festivals in Annapolis had occurred before, White and Anderson wanted to create a bold new beginning with staying power and the ability to grow a substantial reputation in the industry. White, Anderson, and some interested community members and partners held a meeting at the back of 49 West Coffeehouse where they attempted to answer the question: What would an Annapolis film festival look like?
Ten years later, that question has been answered. In 2019, there were 14,000 attendees, A-list filmmakers and celebrities, over 300 volunteers from the community, and unique screening locations around the capital city.
“Our festival comes with a lifestyle,” said Mayor Gavin Buckley.
Indeed, Anderson agrees that having Annapolis as the backdrop lends the festival a “village-like feeling that you don’t see at every festival” and the walkability of screening locations (not to mention grabbing a coffee, meal, or glass of wine along the way) is a bonus.
Walk the Red Carpet
The festival kicks off Thursday night with an Opening Night red carpet event and a screening of the feature film, To Olivia, a charming portrayal of the marriage between children’s author Roald Dahl and actress Patricia Neal and their personal and professional perseverance.
Over 70 films will be shown over the course of the four-day festival, including narrative features, documentary features, and short films, as well as four special showcases of themed films: African American Experience, Environmental Showcase, Jewish Experience, and Sailing Showcase. Film pros and festival newcomers can hear industry presentations, Q&As, discussion panels, and attend Coffee Talk events that encourage filmgoers to engage with the films and their creators.
Those who have never attended AFF, or any film festival for that matter, may feel a little intimidated by the event. How do I know where to go? What if I’m not a film buff? Will the whole thing be over my head?
The AFF team has worked hard over the past ten years to make the festival as user-friendly as possible for the casual filmgoer, as well as the filmmakers themselves.
Your first stop should be the AFF website (annapolisfilmfestival.org) where each day’s color-coded schedule is posted. Personally, I’m looking forward to Yelling Fire in an Empty Theater a recent college grad moves to NYC and gets entangled with eccentric roommates), 892 (a Marine veteran faces challenges reintegrating into civilian life), Calendar Girls (a documentary described as a coming-of-golden-age film about a Florida dance team for women over 60), and Fire of Love (a documentary about the romance and tragedy of volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft and their ground-breaking work in volcanic studies.) Be sure to check out CBM Bay Weekly’s own Moviegoer Diana Beechener’s top picks for films to see this year.
Once you map out which films you want to see, decide whether it makes sense to purchase a pass which gives you unlimited entry to all films, a Shorts-only pass ($75) or tickets to individual events. A pass is recommended for those who want to really immerse themselves in the experience and have the flexibility to see where the day (or weekend) takes them. General passes are $195 with discounts for industry, press, and students. The Premium pass ($350) adds access to exclusive perks and parties. Tickets can be purchased individually for feature films, Shorts presentations, and other events starting at $15.
For those who might be somewhere between the individual tickets and full general passes, there is a six-ticket package ($80) which can be redeemed for any regular screening, panel, or program (excludes Opening Night, Best of Fest, Coffee Talks, and parties).
Opening Night is a separate ticket ($50) and allows guests to experience the glamour of a red carpet event, the film, and after-party reception. The theme for opening night is “How Sweet It Is,” since Roald Dahl wrote the tale that inspired the most iconic film ever about candy, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This chocolate theme reappears in the final film of the festival shown in Maryland Hall titled, Peace by Chocolate. Indeed, White notes the celebratory intention of this theme: “How sweet it is … that we’re back!”
Many of the most anticipated films will be shown more than once, so if one showing is sold out, check the calendar for another. Another great option (and a great deal at $25) is the Best of Fest showing (Sunday 5-10pm at Maryland Hall) where the festival award winners are announced with encore screenings.
White and Anderson recommend film-goers wear comfortable shoes and clothes, plan for 20 minutes between show times to get from one screening to the next, remember to try for rush or standby access if the films are fully booked, and most importantly, “surrender to having a cinematic weekend.”
Check the AFF website for information on picking up your passes and to read through the COVID safety policies. For the safety of all attendees (who come from around the world), masks will be required indoors. Visitors will also need to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test.
Special Showcases
AFF’s showcases are curated films that take a deeper look into important topics or perspectives. Anderson and White choose these topics intentionally each year, taking care to select topics of special interest to the Annapolis community.
“I think [the greatest reward] is the moment where all of a sudden I’m standing in the middle of the festival hearing people find commonality, find unity,” says Anderson. White agrees, saying “The greatest moments are when somebody says, ‘It changed the way I thought about this topic,’ because all those thoughts come together and make for a stronger community.”
The African American Experience Showcase features Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over, (Saturday, 5:30pm, Maryland Hall) a documentary about Warwick’s ground-breaking career and fascinating life. Interviews show the variety of Warwick’s professional influence and charismatic personality; Elton John, Quincy Jones, Alicia Keys, Carlos Santana, Bill Clinton, and Snoop Dogg all share stories about the actress’s influence on their lives and work.
The Environmental Showcase includes four Shorts in two showings (Friday, 12:30pm, Maryland Hall and Saturday, 10am, Asbury United Methodist Church): The Biggest Little Farm: The Return, Leaving for Holiday, My Journey Across the Ocean, Our Future Our Fight, and Toxic Neighbour.
The Jewish Experience Showcase includes two films: Three Minutes: A Lengthening (Sunday, 9am, Maryland Hall) and The Stories of Us (Sunday, noon, Maryland Hall). Three Minutes: A Lengthening is a documentary feature which tells the story of three minutes of film shot on a 1938 married couple’s European holiday, discovered by the couple’s grandson in an attic and restored. The film, narrated by Helena Bonham Carter, shows the unsuspecting Jewish community of a small Polish village on the brink of World War II and attempts to unravel the human stories behind the faces, suspended in time.
The Stories of Us is a lighthearted documentary in which Monica Levinson (Hollywood producer of hits such as Borat, Captain Fantastic, and Beirut) turns the camera on her own Jewish American family and creates a dinner table montage spanning the course of 13 years, showing the love, connection, and humor that many families will relate to.
In America’s Sailing Capital, it seems only fitting to include a Sailing Showcase. The three films will be presented together on Saturday (12:30pm) at the U.S. Naval Institute Jack. C. Taylor Conference Center. The Short 87 Days- Alone Rowing the Pacific tells the story of Lia Ditton, a professional sailor who has broken records for her solo racing accomplishments. This film shows some of the footage she took during her three-month, record-breaking solo trip in 2020 from San Francisco to Hawaii, and the many dangers she faced along the way.
Captain Nat Herreshoff’s Enduring Legacy directed by Annapolis’ own Gary Jobson and Scott Shucher, describes the work of Nathaniel G. Herreshoff and the lasting impact he had on the yacht design and building industry.
The third short in this showcase is True North, a story of military veterans struggling with mental trauma who find healing and connection in sailing together on the Chesapeake Bay.
Note: The showcases require a separate pass purchase and are not included with the Shorts Pass.
Small But Mighty Team
While the glamour of the red carpet is what the public sees, the reality is that putting together a film festival is hard work. The AFF team of eight people manages all levels of planning the festival, from fundraising, film selection, programming, marketing, logistics, booking venues, to coordinating all the schedules of filmmakers and panel members who plan to attend.
The core AFF team is small, but the community presence is huge. Over 300 community members volunteer to help out during the festival. Local businesses have also supported AFF in many ways, including in-kind donations.
“The festival has happened because of small businesses, we could never do it without them, and the 300 volunteers; it’s a labor of love and shows what the community can do together,” says Anderson.
In coming years, AFF will be seeking larger corporate sponsorships with more of a fundraising initiative. The festival has grown in popularity, recognition, and respect within the industry, and in White’s words, “We don’t need to be the little engine that could anymore.”
Let’s Go To the Movies
So this weekend, instead of chilling on your couch and streaming some stale content, head downtown to Annapolis to experience fresh, provocative, and inspiring films with fellow community members and film lovers from around the world. It will be an event to remember, and if you’ve never experienced a film festival before, you’ll be sure to come back year after year. “If people want this to continue, they need to come this year,” Anderson says.
Not only will you be seeing some great films, but you’ll also be supporting this cultural event that has put Annapolis on the map in the cinematic world, and more importantly, has brought the world to Annapolis in the form of cinema.
Annapolis Film Festival at a Glance
By Diana Beechener, CBM Bay Weekly Moviegoer
Not sure where to start with a weekend-long lineup of movies? I’m here to break down some must-sees and fascinating finds:
Three Minutes: The Lengthening
While cleaning out his grandfather’s home, Glenn Kurtz found three minutes of color film. Shot by Grandpa David in 1938, this footage is the only existing film documenting the people of Nasielsk, Poland, just before WWII would tear the country apart. A look at history, the people who don’t make the books, and the fragility of daily life—this documentary is both intimate and beautiful.
The Last Film Show
Samay falls in love with the movies when he’s 9 years old. Sneaking into a movie theater, he’s transported to a world he never imagined. Soon, Samay gathers his friends to try to make their own projector. A love letter to cinema and the creativity of children, this Indian film should be a touching, tribute to the silver screen and what inspires us all to create.
Blind Ambition
Four Zimbabwean refugees escape to South Africa. Alone in a new country, the four men discover a passion for wine. As they journey from casual tasters to connoisseurs, the group earns a place at the prestigious World Wine Tasting Championships. This documentary is a celebration of the human spirit and a great glass of wine—the perfect movie to see before grabbing lunch downtown.
A Love Song
Childhood friends Faye and Lito meet up after decades apart to spend the night catching up in their favorite fishing hole. They spend the night talking about love, intimacy, and moving forward. A sweet character study featuring character-acting legends Dale Dickey and Wes Studi, this is a must-see for those looking for some out of this world acting.
Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over
The legendary singer, and recent Twitter phenomenon, looks back at her career and what it took to rise to the top of an industry dominated by white male producers. Warwick’s iconic songs, humanitarian causes, and those that helped her on her journey are outlined in this uplifting documentary.
Short Film Programs
If you’re not sure where to start, short film programs at festivals are always an excellent bet. Think of them as a cinematic buffet where you get to sample all sorts of interesting subjects and ideas. This year the festival has five short film program themes: Time to Live, Time to Love, Time to Laugh, Time to Listen and Time to Liberate. Pick one and settle in for a smorgasbord of cinema.