Virtual Events
Event organizers aren’t letting COVID-19 stop them from doing what they love. Below are a few ways to enjoy cultural offerings from the safety and security of your home.
Annapolis Film Festival
Through the wonders of modern technology, The Annapolis Film Festival’s (AFF) audience will be able to see the 8th annual festival in the comfort and safety of their homes March 27-29. Because AFF was unable to “physically” host the films with audiences due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the non-profit organization is bringing the films to viewers on its new secure streaming platform, The Annapolis Film Festival Channel, in partnership with FilmFestivalFlix.com.
“The Annapolis Film Festival team has worked hard over these eight years to connect our community by bringing people together to share conversations around independent and new pre-released films that entertain, inform, and enlighten our viewers,” said Patti White, festival director and co-founder. “We are greatly disappointed to miss this celebratory time of being together as an inclusive community and enjoying these diverse films as well as meeting our industry guests. It is a favorite time that we have come to cherish in our town. Our goal is to keep everyone home, healthy and entertained.”
The Annapolis Film Festival Channel will include shorts, documentary features and narrative features, as well as discussions with filmmakers.
“Over the last year, the AFF team has put great effort into bringing this festival to our community, and this enables us to keep the ‘voice’ of our festival alive,” said Lee Anderson, festival director and co-founder. “This new platform will allow us to champion the filmmakers and films we have selected and carefully curated programs that we have put together for our festival audience”, adds Anderson.
Ticket buyers or pass holders will be “onboarded” to exercise their pass or ticket benefits through the virtual film festival on the new channel. “This secure platform is like Netflix where viewers will create their own private username and password. Existing ticket and pass holders will receive a coupon code for their passes or tickets,” says Anderson.
Because certain film distributors have strict contractual agreements, AFF will not be able to screen some of the films. Unfortunately, Military Wives, the planned opening night film, fell into that category.
March 27-29: www.annapolisfilmfestival.com/affchannel
Live Arts Maryland
Orchestras had to cancel concerts and live performances, too. To keep music lovers connected, the Annapolis area nonprofit performing arts organization has turned to virtual presentations to keep the music flowing.
In the first week of social distancing, performers from Live Arts Maryland’s Mainstage, Thursdays @ St. Anne’s, and Bach+ presented eight QuaranTiny Concerts. These short informal pieces feature local musicians performing impromptu solos from their home studios or living rooms or with a full orchestra in a past live event. Find the concerts plus bonus material at www.bachplusmd.org
Annapolis Streaming
This Facebook channel presents local musicians and creatives streaming from garages, living rooms and just about anywhere they can gather. Click on the Events tabs to see the list of who’s playing next or when you can watch your favorite band jam out – and tip them virtually. Join the virtual open mic or take a master class in guitar. https://www.facebook.com/AnnapolisStreaming/
–Kathy Knotts