TABLE OF CONTENTS Proud supporter of the Annapolis Film Festival from the very beginning!

2 WELCOME

4 HOW-TO GUIDE

6 FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS, SPECIAL PROGRAMS & PANELS

14 FEATURE FILMS

32 SHORTS PROGRAMS

Our mission is to encourage and invest 41 SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE in the visual arts, performing arts, and historic preservation for the people of 45 ADVERTISERS Anne Arundel County. 62 SPONSORS & PATRONS

Visit our website to find out more: 64 BOARDS, STAFF & TEAMS www.acaac.org

2666 Riva Road MISSION STATEMENT | The Mission of the Annapolis Film Festival is to encourage the Suite 150 development of all aspects of the creative arts in and around Annapolis through the cinema Annapolis, Md 21401 experience. We seek independent flms, features, documentaries, and shorts from around the 410.222.7949 globe that will inspire, enlighten, and entertain all audiences on a variety of topics, promoting Annapolis as a cultural arts center. ©2020 Annapolis Film Festival® is a 501(c)(3) non-proft organization. WELCOME WELCOME DEAR FILM FANS AND FESTIVAL GUESTS, On behalf of the residents of the City of Annapolis, it is my pleasure to WELCOME TO THE FESTIVAL 2020 welcome you to our City and the 2020 Annapolis Film Festival! Whether this is your frst time visiting Annapolis, or you’re a regular visitor (or resident!) WELCOME, to our City, I assure you that there is something for everyone to enjoy during Welcome to the EIGHTH annual Annapolis Film Festival! Prepare to immerse yourself in a dynamic and their time here. unique cultural experience featuring the latest independent narrative and documentary feature flms, Annapolis has so much to offer: a culturally rich, historic and diverse and creative, imaginative shorts, from across the country, the world and right here in our backyard. landscape, a thriving local business community, a foodie scene to rival And save some time for the informative panels, featuring industry experts, and, of course, the parties, cities ten times our size, and of course the beautiful views from miles and where you can relax and meet face to face with some of America’s most talented flmmakers. Please miles of shoreline. take a look at the schedule grid and plot your course of Festival action! As you plan your weekend in Annapolis, please patronize the many hotels, restaurants and shops that sponsor our Festival. On As the capital city for the state of Maryland, I encourage you to take time to discover the oldest State House behalf of the Board of Directors, we extend a grateful thank you to our incredible sponsors, patrons in America, where guests are invited to sit in the gallery during House and Senate proceedings. and volunteers, who make this Festival possible. Thank YOU for your continued support of the best flm The Annapolis Film Festival is now in its 8th year and is becoming a top destination for movie buffs to not festival in the mid-Atlantic! And stay tuned for opportunities to see great flms throughout the year only see flms, but attend festival parties, sit in on panel discussions, offer questions at the Q&A sessions now that we have formally launched the Annapolis Film Society! and hang around with other cinephiles at the AFF “Coffee Talks.” FOCUS FORWARD on all the great flms this jam-packed weekend has to offer, and have a wonderful time! We hope you enjoy this year’s Annapolis Film Festival — one of the City’s most diverse arts events. We’ll see you at the movies! Cheers, LYNN MCREYNOLDS President, Board of Directors, Annapolis Film Festival

GAVIN BUCKLEY Mayor DEAR FESTIVAL FANS, As we take a deep breath and prepare to share our incredible slate of flms for AFF 2020 with our most The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County is pleased to appreciated Annapolis area audience, we revel in the journey it has been and the special festival that welcome the Annapolis Film Festival to the Annapolis we have all built together as a community. Because of our soaring popularity here and now throughout Arts & Entertainment District. Thank you for bringing the region, we are excited to welcome more and more flmmakers and industry guests to the scene and a quality flm event to our community. let them experience the wonders of our “jewel of the Chesapeake.” We can’t thank our Board, our staff and our volunteers enough, yet we try by guiding us all to a The City of Annapolis is a proud sponsor of the triumphant event. Because of the launch of our long-awaited Film Society in February, we will now be Annapolis Film Festival for the eighth year. able to focus forward throughout the year by offering brand new flms for monthly screenings as well as other special presentations. A big part of our team effort is paving the way for emerging flmmakers and working flmmakers to The Maryland State Arts Council is a proud supporter of the Annapolis Film Festival. network, mentor and support each other. These are the storytellers of today and tomorrow and their collective efforts should be honored and shared. We at the Annapolis Film Festival are proud to make them part of the fabric of our evolution. Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County welcomes the Annapolis Film Festival. We are delighted that residents and visitors will be able to reap the benefts of Have a great festival experience and come back next year for more! the months of hard work that have gone into making this four-day flm extravaganza a reality. Thank you for choosing Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay! YOUR FEARLESS LEADERS, @annapolisflmfestival PRESS CONTACTS FESTIVAL DIRECTORS @annapolisflmfest Patti White, [email protected] PATTI WHITE Festival Director/Co-Founder LEE ANDERSON Festival Director/Co-Founder Lee Anderson, [email protected] @annapolisff PR/SOCIAL MEDIA Lisa D. Seborowski, [email protected], 410-267-7171 FESTIVAL CO-FOUNDERS Patti White | Lee Anderson | Debra Fortier

2 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 3 HOW-TO GUIDE HOW-TO GUIDE INDIVIDUAL FILM TICKET $15 online or in-person ($13 for students or seniors with valid ID). HOW-TO GUIDE 2020 OPENING NIGHT $50, includes access to both the flm and After Party. COFFEE TALKS WITH... $20 cash only available through RUSH line at door only for day-of ticket purchase. TITO’S HANDMADE VODKA FILMMAKER LOUNGE AT GRADUATE ANNAPOLIS HOTEL Free to All-Access, Filmmaker, Industry pass holders. Filmmaker, Industry & All-Access Pass Holders admitted only. PANELS $15 cash only available through RUSH line at door only for day-of ticket purchase. The Tito’s Handmade Vodka Filmmaker Lounge is located in the private dining room of Camp Severn Free to all pass holders. Shore at Graduate Annapolis Hotel. if a flm screening is on “stand-by” (advance ticket sales have ended), a Rush Line will form THURSDAY, MARCH 26 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM RUSH LINE on the day of at the venue. Cash only tickets will be available for purchase 10 minutes before show time FRIDAY, MARCH 27 & SATURDAY MARCH 28 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM as seating becomes available. Ticket price $15 cash only. Discounts not applicable. SUNDAY, MARCH 29 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM FILMMAKER PASS PICKUP AT GRADUATE ANNAPOLIS HOTEL FILM GUIDANCE Filmmaker passes will only be available for pick up at the Welcome Center in the Please be aware that most flms have not been rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. lobby of the Graduate Annapolis Hotel. Some flms may include adult situations, strong language, violence, and/or explicit sexual references. THURSDAY, MARCH 26 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM FRIDAY, MARCH 27 & SATURDAY, MARCH 28 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM VOTE | AUDIENCE AWARDS SUNDAY, MARCH 29 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM Volunteers will be on hand to help you cast your vote. Paper ballots will be available at all screenings. Rating will be on a 1 – 5 scale, with 1 being the lowest score and 5 being the highest. Please drop off TICKET & PASS CENTRAL AT MARYLAND HALL your ballot at the Ballot Collection Station as you leave the theater. Awards for Best Narrative Feature, Tickets to AFF events may be purchased at Ticket & Pass Central, located in Room 110 on the lower Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Feature, and Best Documentary Short will be announced at level at Maryland Hall. Satellite Box Offces are available at additional AFF flm venues and will be the Best of Fest ceremony at 5 pm on Sunday, March 29th at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. The open 1 hour prior to the frst screening of the day and close 15 minutes after the last screening begins. winning flms will be rescreened at Maryland Hall following the Best of Fest Award Announcements. Arrive early for day-of purchases. Please note, all passes, other than flmmaker passes, must be picked up at Ticket & Pass Central. PARKING THURSDAY, MARCH 26 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM For parking garage locations, please see the map on the back cover of this program. FRIDAY, MARCH 27 & SATURDAY, MARCH 28 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM SUNDAY, MARCH 29 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM The maximum for meter and residential on-street parking is two hours. Re-feeding the meters is not permitted. The 720 space state-owned garage at 19 St. John’s Street offers free parking after 6:00 PM Tickets may also be purchased online at www.annapolisflmfestival.org. on weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday. Ample parking is also available at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. Please note: • Online ticket sales close at midnight the night before the next day’s screening. THEATER ETIQUETTE • Tickets are non-refundable. Please allow adequate time when traveling between different venues. We suggest that all attendees • Pre-printed tickets and mobile tickets must be presented by the ticket holder at the door. arrive at least 30 minutes before each screening. Passholders should join the appropriate line • Ticket will call will be available at all venues. for admission. Please bring photo ID to pick up tickets and passes. Please practice good festival etiquette out of respect for our venues and flmmakers. Kindly silence all cell phones while in the theater or within hearing range during an event. No outside food or drink will PREMIUM PASS $300 includes unlimited access to all flms and panels, priority line up to 15 minutes be permitted in the theaters. before show time, Opening Night Film (RSVP required) and After Party, Opening Night Reception, Saturday Night BASH, Sunday Best of Fest. Coffee Talks With… is not included, but a separate ticket VENUES may be purchased at the door for $20 cash only, if space is available. All flms, panels and events take place at the following venues in Annapolis: ANNAPOLIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 180 Green Street (please enter through Compromise Street parking lot around back) GENERAL FESTIVAL PASS $175 ($75 for students with valid student ID), includes Opening Night Film ASBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 87 West Street (RSVP required) and After Party and unlimited flms & panels, Sunday Best of Fest. Admission to CITY HALL 160 Duke of Gloucester Street private festival parties and events is not included. Coffee Talks With… is not included, but a separate GRADUATE ANNAPOLIS HOTEL 126 West Street ticket may be purchased at the door for $20 cash only, if space is available. THE LIGHTBOX STUDIO 209 West St, Suite #101 ONE-DAY PASS Friday, Saturday or Sunday — $50 includes unlimited flms and panels for day of MARYLAND HALL FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS 801 Chase Street pass only. Best of Fest & Coffee Talks With… are not included. ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE, FRANCIS SCOTT KEY AUDITORIUM 60 College Avenue Please see map on the back cover of this program for venue locations. IN CONSIDERATION OF OUR ENVIRONMENT, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE KEEP YOUR PROGRAMS FOR THE DURATION OF THE FESTIVAL. THANK YOU.

4 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 5 FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS, SPECIAL PROGRAMS & PANELS FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS, SPECIAL PROGRAMS & PANELS

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS, DAME KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS Known for her intelligent acting roles, sophisticated SPECIAL PROGRAMS & PANELS 2020 fashion sense, and deeply expressive eyes which contribute to her mystique, Kristin Scott Thomas is a THURSDAY, 3/26 critically acclaimed actress, a style icon, and a Dame of OPENING NIGHT FILM | MILITARY WIVES the British Empire. She has been nominated for an Acade- MARYLAND HALL | MAIN THEATER | 3/26 | 7:30 PM my Award, Golden Globe, Emmy Award, and won the BAFTA. DIRECTED BY | PETER CATTANEO Her impressive flmography includes a treasure trove of PRESENTED BY | SYNERGICS FILMS | HAMEL BUILDERS such memorable and fulflling characters as the ill-fated ALL FESTIVAL PASS HOLDERS (RSVP REQUIRED) | $50 TICKETS | Katherine in The English Patient to the ill-fated Sarah RUSH LINE (CASH ONLY) SPACE PERMITTING in Mission Impossible; from the reserved Fiona in Four While their partners are away serving in Afghanistan, a group of women living on an army base in Weddings and a Funeral to the uninhibited Fiona in Bitter England band together to form the very frst military wives choir and quickly fnd themselves on an Moon; from the enlightened Matty in Angels and Insects international stage. Oscar-nominated Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient) and Sharon Horgan to the liberated Anna in Body and Soul; from the murder (Catastrophe) play two of the wives who disagree over the choir’s initial approach but end up keeping suspect Lady Sylvia in Gosford Park to the murder convict the group in harmony as they help each other through some of life’s most diffcult moments. Known Juliette in I’ve Loved You So Long. She has portrayed for his Oscar-nominated hit flm The Full Monty, Peter Cattaneo once again directs a triumphant flm Winston Churchill’s wife in The Darkest Hour, John Lennon’s about a group of underdogs, but this time it’s a motley crew of women who are stepping out of their aunt in Nowhere Boy, and on stage she portrayed Queen Photo by John Compson comfort zone and into the spotlight. (UK, 2020, 112 min., Comedy/Drama) Elizabeth II in the West End production of The Audience. FOLLOWED BY A Q&A WITH PETER CATTANEO AND KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS, HOSTED BY JOE NEUMAIER Last year our Closing Day flm was the French flm In Your Hands in which Kristin played La Comtesse, the strict yet sympathetic piano teacher. This year our Opening Night flm is Military Wives, in which Kristin portrays Kate Barclay, the strict yet sympathetic choir director. No matter what style or genre of OPENING NIGHT AFTER PARTY flm, Kristin always delves deep beneath the surface to connect with the inner soul of every character BOYS & GIRLS CLUB | 121 SOUTH VILLA AVENUE, ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401 | 3/26 | 10:00 PM – 12:00 AM she portrays, giving multi-layered humanistic performances that are a genuine pleasure to behold. SPONSORED BY | SYNERGICS FILMS LIVE MUSIC BY NAPTOWN’S GIRL CRUSH | ALL PASSES AND TICKET HOLDERS WELCOME Following the screening of Military Wives, please join us at the Boys and Girls Club of Annapolis & PETER CATTANEO Anne Arundel County at the Wiley H. Bates Building located at 121 S. Villa Ave., Annapolis, MD 21401 Twice nominated for the Academy Award, Peter Cattaneo knows how to make lightning strike twice to toast the night away with signature cocktails from Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and an array of food and he also knows how to fnd that balance of directing flms that are both critically successful and from The Palate Pleasers. commercially successful. His feature flm The Full Monty was Oscar-nominated for Best Picture, Best Directing, and Best Music (for which it won) and it also broke box offce records back in 1997 when it became the highest grossing flm in the UK and attracted worldwide acclaim and launched a Broadway musical. The roots of Peter Cattaneo’s artistic style and creative approach can be seen in his short flm Dear Rosie which also received an Academy Award nomination. It is unique for a successful short flm in that it explores a complex character arc over a larger span of time in only 11 minutes. The story begins to reveal its deeper magnitude through various snippets of people writing letters to each other and each character makes a big impression in a small amount of time through the use of quirky qualities and well-chosen words. Peter’s observant eye is what lends his flms such a human authenticity when directing actors to create unique character portraits, as with the talented cast in Military Wives. WE ARE HONORED TO WELCOME BOTH PETER CATTANEO AND DAME KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS TO ANNAPOLIS.

6 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 7 FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS, SPECIAL PROGRAMS & PANELS FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS, SPECIAL PROGRAMS & PANELS FRIDAY, 3/27 | SATURDAY, 3/28 | SUNDAY, 3/29 FOCUS FORWARD — THE FUTURE OF DOCUMENTARY | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM COFFEE TALKS WITH… How is the doc world evolving? How do you pitch your doc in today’s competitive market? What type of THE LIGHTBOX STUDIO | 209 WEST ST #101, ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401 | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM doc is the market looking for? This applies to feature and short documentaries. Listen carefully to the ALL ACCESS & INDUSTRY/FILMMAKER PASS HOLDERS | $20 CASH AT THE DOOR, SPACE PERMITTING flmmakers and the power brokers who navigate the landscape. A great way to start your morning, please join us for this intimate and off the cuff chat with attending flmmakers. You never know who the surprise panelists will be, but it is always fresh and lively, just THE ENVIRONMENTAL SHOWCASE | THE STORY OF PLASTIC like the complimentary breakfast and beverages provided by Baltimore Coffee and Tea. MARYLAND HALL | MAIN THEATER | 3/27 | 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM DIRECTED BY | DEIA SCHLOSBERG FRIDAY, 3/27 FILM & PANEL PRESENTED BY | HANNON ARMSTRONG PANELS After tackling climate change, fracking, and the Dakota pipeline protests in her previous flms, CITY HALL | 160 DUKE OF GLOUCESTER STREET environmental advocate flmmaker Deia Schlosberg turns her lens on plastic pollution and ironically ALL FESTIVAL PASS HOLDERS | $15 CASH AT DOOR, SPACE PERMITTING (DISCOUNTS DO NOT APPLY) creates one of the most beautifully crafted documentaries on one of the world’s ugliest problems. Striking footage, original animations, and archival material combine to point out the disastrous FOCUS FORWARD — YOU THINK THAT’S FUNNY? | 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM impact of the manufacture and use of plastics, shedding new light on a pressing global challenge that From rom-coms to satire, there are many sub-genres of comedy that we enjoy. Yet comedy is not just threatens the life expectancy of animals, humans, and Earth itself. This documentary will be preceded for laughs and entertainment, it can be a powerfully persuasive communications tool. Is there a future by a short stop-motion animation made by high school students, examining global pollution from the for comedy in our hyper-sensitive PC society? And how does cancel culture effect an artist’s freedom of viewpoint of the younger generation who are inheriting the environmental problems of this world. (USA, speech? It’s been said, there is nothing harder to do well than the comedy form. Let’s talk to the artists 2019, 95 min., Documentary) Panel to follow. who risk it all by making or acting in a comedic flm. FRIDAY NIGHT SPOTLIGHT | THE PERFECT CANDIDATE FOCUS FORWARD — THE IMPACT OF TODAY’S STORYTELLERS | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM MARYLAND HALL | MAIN THEATER | 3/27 | 8:00 PM – 9:45 PM When writers, directors and editors are collectively visualizing a story the outcome can be DIRECTED BY | HAIFAA AL-MANSOUR magical…or it can miss the mark. What are the roadblocks today’s storytellers must face? How PRESENTED BY | PARABH K. GILL & HARMINDER K. GILL IN MEMORY OF DR. RAJWANT K. GILL diffcult is it to put the story frst? What type/style of stories interest them and how do they Striving to improve the conditions of her hospital, a determined young doctor in Saudi Arabia makes collaborate? Meet the team players and see what it takes to play nice in the sandbox. a surprise run for political offce in the local city elections as her community struggles to accept their town’s frst female candidate. Haifaa Al-Mansour has crafted the perfect spiritual sibling to her frst feature flm Wadjda, as she directs another inspiring flm about a courageous young woman who is FOCUS FORWARD — THE PLATFORMS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW | 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM fghting the system to bring progressive social change to her country. After premiering at the Venice The digital medium has erupted over the last ten years and the view of how we watch TV, see movies and Toronto Film Festivals, this flm screened as part of Opening Night of this year’s Sundance Film and use our devices has massively changed. From network TV to streaming platforms, from podcasts Festival. (Saudi Arabia, 2019, 101 min., Drama, Subtitled) on our computers to Quibis on our cellphones, new media is being created in a frenzy and the world is evolving because of it. Follow the tides of change in this eye-opening discussion.

8 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 9 FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS, SPECIAL PROGRAMS & PANELS FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS, SPECIAL PROGRAMS & PANELS SATURDAY, 3/28 SUNDAY, 3/29 SHORTS CHALLENGE THE JEWISH EXPERIENCE SHOWCASE MARYLAND HALL | MAIN THEATER | 3/28 | 10:15 AM – 11:45 AM ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE | KEY AUDITORIUM | 3/29 | BAGELS, LOX & COFFEE FROM 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM INTRODUCED BY | 2019 WINNER LAURA TEJERO NÚÑEZ PRESENTED BY | TEMPLE BETH SHALOM | LUCY SPIEGEL & PHIL SCRIVENER | DAVID & CAROL STERN | PRESENTED BY | MARYLAND FILM OFFICE FAITH GOLDSTEIN & JESSIE CUNITZ | MARTHA BLAXALL & JOE DICKEY | SUSAN & GREG WALKER | From dozens of submissions across the country, fve flmmakers were selected as fnalists to pitch their ELIZABETH LIECHTY idea for a short flm project on this year’s theme of “A More Perfect Union.” The fve fnalists are: “Code COMPLIMENTARY BREAKFAST INCLUDED WITH THE PURCHASE OF A “LATTER DAY JEW” TICKET Switch” by Quamé Hamlin; “Everybody Watching” by Omar Aldakheel; “The Immigration Game” by Meet and greet in the Key Auditorium lobby while enjoying bagels, cream cheese and lox—and coffee Asad Farooqui; “The Magic Ticket” by Yelena Krivosheyeva; and “We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled from Baltimore Coffee & Tea Company from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM. Programming” by Ashleigh Coffelt. The audience’s vote for the best pitch will serve as part of the judges’ fnal decision for the winner of LATTER DAY JEW the production package to make the flm. 3/29 | 10:00 AM – 11:45 AM Judges include: Mimi Edmunds, Documentary Producer & Educator; Deirdre Brenner, Creative Producer DIRECTED BY | ALIZA ROSEN at Universal Studios; Boris Frumin, Film Professor at NYU & Director/Producer; Jack Gerbes, Director of Meet H. Alan Scott: a gay former Mormon/converted Jew/cancer survivor/writer-comedian, as he fnds Maryland Film Offce, and Deia Schlosberg, Documentary Director. his spiritual path while preparing for his Bar Mitzvah, traveling to Israel, and immersing himself in Jewish life and culture. Along the way, he meets with other converts, comedians, mensches, rabbis, PRIZE SPONSORS | STUDIO UNKNOWN, SERIOUS GRIP & ELECTRIC, HENNINGER MEDIA SERVICES, Hebrew tutors, Jewish educators, sixth grade spiritual advisers, and other miscellaneous “mishpocha”. DC CAMERA & FILMSTERS View the Jewish experience through new eyes, in this humorous and poignant celebration of all the things that make the Jewish identity, faith, and culture so appealing to Gentiles. (USA, 2019, 82 min., PANEL | FOCUS FORWARD — PRODUCERS & DIRECTORS ROUND TABLE Documentary) ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE KEY AUDITORIUM | CONVERSATION ROOM | 3/28 | 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM PRESENTED BY | SAGINDIE SHEPHERD: THE STORY OF A JEWISH DOG Hear from the directors and producers of this year’s festival flms about the challenges they have 3/29 | 12:15 PM – 2:00 PM faced and the solutions they found while bringing their stories to fruition. DIRECTED BY | LYNN ROTH The unbreakable bond between a boy and his faithful dog is put to the ultimate test in Nazi Germany, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE SHOWCASE | GIVING VOICE in this heartbreaking and heartwarming family drama. When the Nuremberg Laws are adopted in the MARYLAND HALL | MAIN THEATER | 3/28 | 5:00 PM – 7:15 PM 1930s, Kaleb, a German Shepherd, is separated from his Jewish family. Adopted by an SS offcer at DIRECTED BY | JAMES D. STERN | FERNANDO VILLENA a concentration camp, the dog is retrained to help round up and terrorize Jewish prisoners. But when PRESENTED BY | DR. ALYSON HALL & THE GLAUCOMA CENTER Kaleb’s former master, young Joshua, arrives at the camp, the dog rediscovers his unwavering loyalty. The sage words of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson are lifted off the page and onto Directed by award-winning flmmaker Lynn Roth and based on the bestselling Israeli novel by Asher the stage in this joyful documentary about six remarkable theater students who compete against Kravitz, this sensitively told story of love, loyalty and courage offers a gentler way to learn about the thousands in the grueling, high stakes August Wilson Monologue Competition. Participants choose Holocaust. (USA/Hungary, 2019, 93 min., Drama) an excerpt to perform from Wilson’s ten plays that powerfully chronicle the African American experience in each decade of the 20th century. Most inspiring are the hopes and dreams of young talent who, with drama coaches and audition judges, learn to draw from their challenging personal lives to meticulously hone their storytelling craft. Viola Davis, John Legend, and Denzel Washington add soulful, touching tributes to Wilson’s legacy in this Audience Award winner from the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. The late writer’s ideas remain contemporary for this next generation of artists and change-makers who step out, speak up, and fnd their voice. (USA, 2020, 90 min., Documentary)

SATURDAY NIGHT SPOTLIGHT | STAGE MOTHER MARYLAND HALL | MAIN THEATER | 3/28 | 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM DIRECTED BY | THOM FITZGERALD PRESENTED BY | DWIGHT & DEBRA FORTIER A conservative church choir director (played by two-time Oscar-nominee Jacki Weaver) inherits her late son’s San Francisco drag club. Once she gets over her shock at opening up Pandora’s Box (also the name of the club), she gets comfortable in the Castro District, and ends up mothering all the drag queens, her son’s boyfriend (played by Adrian Grenier), and his B.F.F. (played by Lucy Liu). This feel-good, laugh-out-loud, sing-along comedy shows that it is never too late to change your mind, change your views, and change your life. (USA, 2020, 93 min., Comedy)

10 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 11 FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS, SPECIAL PROGRAMS & PANELS FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS, SPECIAL PROGRAMS & PANELS SAILING SHOWCASE | MAIDEN SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT | DREAM HORSE MARYLAND HALL | MAIN THEATER | 3/29 | 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM MARYLAND HALL | MAIN THEATER | 3/29 | 2:30 PM – 4:15 PM PRESENTED BY | RBC WEALTH MANAGEMENT & BOATYARD BAR & GRILL DIRECTED BY | EUROS LYN Tracy Edwards stunned the world in 1989 when the 26-year-old sailor set a record skippering the frst PRESENTED BY | THE MURRAY MCGEHRIN GROUP AT MERRILL | CHARTER FINANCIAL GROUP/ all-female crew on her yacht “Maiden” to a second-place fnish in the Whitbread Round the World ELIZABETH LIECHTY Race… and also set the record straight that women can compete in a male-dominated sport. In an Based on the award-winning documentary Dark Horse, this feature offers an unbridled look at the exhilarating adventure story about competition, teamwork, and resilience, this documentary captures inspiring true story of Dream Alliance, an unlikely racehorse bred by small town Welsh bartender, Jan the grueling 32,000 mile voyage on threatening seas with dramatic cinematography. Just as riveting Vokes (played by Oscar nominee Toni Collette). With very little money and no experience, Jan convinces are the flm’s interviews with Edwards and these trailblazing women thirty years later as their fresh, her neighbors to chip in their meager earnings to help raise Dream in the hopes he can compete with non-rehearsed memories of the legendary expedition bubble up to the surface with deep pride in the the racing elites. The group’s investment pays off as Dream rises through the ranks with grit and winning achievements that most had thought impossible. (USA, 2018, 93 min., Documentary) determination and goes on to race in the Welsh Grand National showing the heart of a true champion. PRECEDED BY A CONVERSATION WITH CAPTAIN TRACY EDWARDS, MODERATED BY GARY JOBSON (UK, 2020, 102 min., Drama/Comedy)

STUDENT SHORTS SHOWCASE BEST OF THE FEST ANNAPOLIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | COMPROMISE STREET | 3/29 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM MARYLAND HALL | MAIN THEATER | 3/29 | 5:00 PM –10:00 PM PRESENTED BY | ARTS COUNCIL OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY | BAUM JACKSON INVESTMENT FUND PRESENTED BY | ARTS COUNCIL OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY COMPLIMENTARY ADMISSION ALL PASSES ADMITTED & GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS $25 This annual showcase highlights and celebrates some of the top-notch work of emerging flmmakers Come see the flms that you voted for! Don’t miss the announcement of the MATT JANES AUDIENCE at colleges, special academies and grad school programs around the world. These are the professional AWARD winners and JURIED PRIZE winners for shorts and features. Following the award ceremony, flmmakers of tomorrow. there will be a replay of the AUDIENCE AWARDS winners for the BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE, BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE, BEST NARRATIVE SHORT, and BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT. PANEL | FOCUS FORWARD — WOMEN STORYTELLERS ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE | KEY AUDITORIUM CONVERSATION ROOM | 3/29 | 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM PRESENTED BY | SAGINDIE Hear from women flmmakers and industry guests who believe storytelling through their lens is the best way to increase the voice and relevancy of women in this industry.

12 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 13 FEATURE FILMS FEATURE FILMS BEYOND THE BOLEX ALYSSA BOLSEY DOC When visionary Jewish immigrant Jacques Bolsey invents the Bolex in the 1920’s, he puts the frst home movie camera in the hands of everyday folks, fomenting a flm revolution that still inspires artists to this day. Nearly a century later, his great-granddaughter Alyssa Bolsey uncovers his long lost archive and journeys to discover the man behind FRIDAY, 3/27 | 2:30 PM the machine. Once Jacques’ images and philosophical FEATURE FILMS ASBURY musings saw the light of day, she took 12 years to SATURDAY, 3/28 | 12:15 PM painstakingly develop this extraordinary tale of his life ANNAPOLIS ELEMENTARY and legacy, tracing back to one original idea that has ADAM magically withstood the test of time. (USA, 2018, MARYAM TOUZANI PRESENTED BY | SUSAN & GREG WALKER 94 min., Documentary) Two women transform each other’s lives in this resonant portrait about the courage and compassion it takes to move beyond living with grief and shame. Abla, a widow, lives with her 8-year-old daughter, Warda, in Casablanca where she supports them by BUTTER selling homemade pastries from her window. Samia, PAUL A. KAUFMAN unwed and pregnant, seeks a place to live and work in A lonely, super-sized boy with the nickname of “Butter” FRIDAY, 3/27 | 4:30 PM the city. When Abla reluctantly opens her home to the decides to end his troubles and make history by ASBURY shunned, desperate woman, a profound bond develops announcing that he will over-eat himself to death between them over baking, their unique struggles, while live on the internet. As the deadline approaches, and the shared experience of motherhood. Infused he gets his frst taste of popularity amidst the morbid with generosity and understanding towards its encouragement of his high school classmates and characters, the flm’s intimate camerawork amplifes experiences a new zest for life as he navigates through the emotionally measured performances of its lead SATURDAY, 3/28 | 10:00 AM relationships with his online fantasy girlfriend, his | actresses and deftly shows how chance encounters MARYLAND HALL BOWEN THEATER fair-weather friends who dare him to act out a fnal can change a life forever. After premiering at the PRESENTED BY | THE LINCOLN FINANCIAL bucket list, his ex-football player Dad who turns a 2019 Cannes Film Festival, this sublime flm went on GROUP - DIVERSITY SERIES blind eye to his son’s musical talents, and his loving to pick up awards at the Chicago, Palm Springs, and but enabling mother (tenderly played by Oscar-winner Philadelphia Film Festivals. (Morocco, 2019, 98 min., Mira Sorvino). Adapted from the award-winning Young Drama, Subtitled) Adult novel, this darkly comedic yet poignant flm serves up a full menu of timely teenage themes such ALAN MAGEE: ART IS NOT A SOLACE as cyber-bullying, childhood obesity, and teen suicide. DAVID BEREZ | DAVID WRIGHT DOC (USA, 2020, 111 min., Drama/Comedy) A breathtaking visual journey into the life of painter, illustrator, and maker, Alan Magee, and the infuences that have nourished his insatiable passions over fve decades. From serene to unsettling, his images and monotypes illuminate the beauty of the natural world, and also veer down darker paths to expose injustice, violence, and threats to the human experience. Art FRIDAY, 3/27 | 12:30 PM afcionados will delight in tracking this fascinating ASBURY story that reveals in arresting detail the anatomy of SATURDAY, 3/28 | 3:00 PM a creative genius who is not afraid to confront reality MARYLAND HALL | BOWEN THEATER and inspire hope for future generations. (USA, 2019, 60 min., Documentary) PRESENTED BY | MARY ELLEN IWATA PRECEDED BY CHARON (12 min., Documentary)

14 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 15 FEATURE FILMS FEATURE FILMS CHANGING THE GAME MICHAEL BARNETT DOC This timely, eye-opening documentary sheds light on the arduous uphill climb that transgender high school athletes endure in order to challenge boundaries and perceptions of fairness and win the freedom to be who they really are. It also shows the fip side of a very complicated issue when performance-enhancing steroid hormones as well as SATURDAY, 3/28 | 2:15 PM original physical attributes create an unfair advantage ANNAPOLIS ELEMENTARY over the other student competitors. As it traces the PRESENTED BY | THE LINCOLN FINANCIAL personal stories of three LGBTQ athletes, their battles GROUP - DIVERSITY SERIES on the playing feld pale in comparison to the struggles they face with discrimination in their home schools and communities. (USA, 2019, 88 min., Documentary) PRECEDED BY WHY SLUGS HAVE NO LEGS (11 min., Animation) SUNDAY, 3/29 | 2:30 PM SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT MARYLAND HALL | MAIN THEATER DREAM HORSE PRESENTED BY | THE MURRAY MCGEHRIN EUROS LYN THE CLIMB GROUP AT MERRILL | CHARTER FINANCIAL Oscar-nominated Toni Collette stars as Jan, a MICHAEL ANGELO COVINO GROUP/ELIZABETH LIECHTY bartender who decides to breed a racehorse in her Beginning its journey as a short flm at the 2018 Sun- Welsh village after hearing a story from the local pub dance Film Festival, The Climb is now a feature flm braggart Howard (played by Damian Lewis). With very that continues to examine the comical intricacies of STARRING | TONI COLLETTE, DAMIAN LEWIS, little money and no experience, Jan convinces her male friendship. Michael Covino and Kyle Marvin play JOANNA PAGE, NICHOLAS FARRELL, PETER neighbors to chip in their meager earnings to help Mike and Kyle, whose life-long relationship is put to DAVISON, OWEN TEALE, SIÂN PHILLIPS raise the horse named “Dream Alliance.” As the horse the test when Mike sleeps with Kyle’s fancé. The visual rises through the ranks, Jan and the townsfolk are PRODUCERS KATHERINE BUTLER, potential of artful comedy is proven through the use | pitted against the racing elite in a race for the TRACY O’RIORDAN SATURDAY, 3/28 | 7:15 PM of creative camera work in conjunction with inventive national championship. This amusing and inspiring ST. JOHNS COLLEGE | KEY AUDITORIUM storytelling. This feature-length version of The Climb WRITER | NEIL MCKAY flm is based on the true story as contained in the PRESENTED BY | DR. ANGELA PETERMAN | began its festival tour in 2019 at the Cannes Film Fes- documentary Dark Horse which won the Audience ANNE ARUNDEL DERMATOLOGY tival where it won the Un Certain Regard — Jury Coup Award at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. (UK, 2020, de Coeur award and has since screened at all the top 102 min., Drama/Comedy) festivals from Toronto and Telluride to Sundance and SXSW. (USA, 2019, 94 min., Comedy/Drama)

THE EVENING HOUR BRADEN KING A respected man in his small West Virginia town, Cole Freeman is not your average drug dealer. Working at the local old folks’ home and spending his free time reading nursing books, Cole fnds himself leading a double life. Unable to steal prescriptions from his work ethically, Cole fnds other creative ways to gather his supplies. Everything is running smoothly for Cole until SATURDAY, 3/28 | 4:45 PM Terry Rose, an old high school friend, returns home. ST. JOHNS COLLEGE | KEY AUDITORIUM In his second feature flm, Braden King brings Carter PRESENTED BY | LYNN MCREYNOLDS & Sickels’ novel to life with beautiful cinematography BERT CARP and fne acting performances from Michael Trotter, Philip Ettinger, Emmy-nominated Lili Taylor, and Oscar-nominated Tess Harper. (USA, 114 min, Drama)

16 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 17 FEATURE FILMS FEATURE FILMS LOVEMOBIL GIVING VOICE DOC ELKE LEHRENKRAUSS DOC JAMES D. STERN | FERNANDO VILLENA Once upon a time in the dark forests of rural Germany, The sage words of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright there lived a string of prostitutes who rented out old August Wilson are lifted off the page and onto the VW-buses with fashy lights on the side of country stage in this joyful documentary about six remarkable roads and lay in wait for their clients to pass by. These theater students who compete against thousands in women came from far-away places like Africa and the grueling, high stakes August Wilson Monologue Eastern Europe to pursue their dreams and wishes for Competition. Participants choose an excerpt to perform money and a better life. When one of them ends up SATURDAY, 3/28 | 5:00 PM from Wilson’s ten plays that powerfully chronicle the SATURDAY, 3/28 | 9:45 PM murdered, the spell is broken and they must confront MARYLAND HALL | MAIN THEATER African American experience in each decade of the MARYLAND HALL | BOWEN THEATER their stark reality. Elke Lehrenkrauss infuses her 20th century. Most inspiring are the hopes and dreams AFRICAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE SHOWCASE über-stylish documentary with a fascinating cast of of young talent, who with drama coaches and audition fabled characters, sensuous cinematography, and a PRESENTED BY | DR. ALYSON HALL & judges, learn to draw from their challenging personal mysterious other-worldly setting. This adult version of THE GLAUCOMA CENTER lives to meticulously hone their storytelling craft. a grim fairy tale has plenty of happy endings but no Viola Davis, John Legend, and Denzel Washington add Prince Charmings. (Germany, 2019, 103 min., soulful, touching tributes to Wilson’s legacy in this Documentary, Subtitled) Audience Award winner from the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. The late writer’s ideas remain contemporary for this next generation of artists and change-makers who step out, speak up, and fnd their voice. (USA, 2020, 90 min., Documentary) MAIDEN ALEX HOLMES DOC Tracy Edwards stunned the world in 1989 when the 26-year-old sailor set a record skippering the frst all-female crew on her yacht “Maiden” to a LATTER DAY JEW second-place fnish in the Whitbread Round the ALIZA ROSEN DOC World Race… and also set the record straight that Meet H. Alan Scott: a gay former Mormon/converted women can compete in a male-dominated sport. In Jew/cancer survivor/writer-comedian, as he fnds his an exhilarating adventure story about competition, spiritual path while preparing for his Bar Mitzvah, SUNDAY, 3/29 | 9:00 AM teamwork, and resilience, this documentary captures traveling to Israel, and immersing himself in Jewish MARYLAND HALL | MAIN THEATER the grueling 32,000 mile voyage on threatening seas with dramatic cinematography. Just as riveting are the life and culture. Along the way, he meets with other SAILING SHOWCASE converts, comedians, mensches, rabbis, Hebrew tutors, flm’s interviews with Edwards and these trailblazing Jewish educators, Sixth Grade spiritual advisers, and PRESENTED BY | RBC WEALTH MANAGEMENT | women thirty years later as their fresh, non-rehearsed SUNDAY, 3/29 | 10:00 AM other miscellaneous “mishpocha”. View the Jewish BOATYARD BAR & GRILL memories of the legendary expedition bubble up to the ST. JOHNS COLLEGE | KEY AUDITORIUM experience through new eyes, in this humorous and surface with deep pride in the winning achievements that most had thought impossible. (USA, 2018, JEWISH EXPERIENCE SHOWCASE poignant celebration of all the things that make the Jewish identity, faith, and culture so appealing to 93 min., Documentary) PRESENTED BY | TEMPLE BETH SHALOM | Gentiles. (USA, 2019, 82 min., Documentary) PRECEDED BY A CONVERSATION WITH CAPTAIN LUCY SPIEGEL & PHIL SCRIVENER | DAVID & TRACY EDWARDS, MODERATED BY GARY JOBSON CAROL STERN | FAITH GOLDSTEIN & JESSIE CUNITZ | MARTHA BLAXALL & JOE DICKEY | SUSAN & GREG WALKER

18 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 19 FEATURE FILMS FEATURE FILMS MAURICE HINES: BRING THEM BACK JOHN CARLUCCIO DOC A razzle-dazzling documentary that drills down deep to the heart and soul of Maurice Hines, a consummate performer, whose extraordinary tap routines with his brother Gregory stretch the limits of anatomy and gravity. An intimate portrait is drawn of the “dressing room life” he shares with his show business family including a rivalry and estrangement from his more FRIDAY, 3/27 | 6:45 PM famous brother, and the limitless talent he brings to ASBURY a myriad of roles as singer, dancer, director, producer, SATURDAY, 3/28 | 10:00 AM and choreographer. A grand diva to his adoring fans, ASBURY den mother to his daughter, and inspiring mentor to his ballet-tap students, Maurice is unabashedly PRESENTED BY | PATRICIA & KURT SCHMOKE himself even as an aging, black gay artist whose memory is fading, but not the authenticity he upholds every day of his life. (USA, 2019, 94 min., Documentary)

THURSDAY, 3/26 | 7:30 PM MY DARLING VIVIAN MARYLAND HALL DOC OPENING NIGHT MATT RIDDLEHOOVER PRESENTED BY | SYNERGICS FILMS | To country music fans, Johnny Cash is a superstar MILITARY WIVES HAMEL BUILDERS but to his four daughters, it is Vivian Cash Liberto, PETER CATTANEO out of their comfort zone and into the spotlight. their mom, who is the real star of the family — the With their partners deployed in Afghanistan, This flm is inspired by the actual global North Star. In this beautifully crafted mosaic, producer a group of women living on an army base in phenomenon of military wives choirs and also Dustin Tuttle shines the spotlight on his grandmother, England band together for emotional support, features a joyous soundtrack of karaoke favorites Vivian, as the true story of the rock behind the legend form a musical choir, and become a media along with a brand new original song that is emerges. With newly shared footage and anecdotes, sensation. Dame Kristin Scott Thomas worthy of an Academy-Award nomination next the Cash women — Roseanne, Kathy, Cindy, and (Oscar-nominated for The English Patient) plays FRIDAY, 3/27 | 5:30 PM Kate Barclay, the Colonel’s straight-laced wife year. (UK, 2020, 112 min., Comedy/Drama) MARYLAND HALL | BOWEN THEATER Tara — describe in vivid detail their mom’s graceful fghting spirit that enabled her to not only survive the who feels it is her obligation to keep the wives Q&A HOSTED BY JOE NEUMAIER SUNDAY, 3/29 | 12:00 PM culturally stimulated, while Sharon Horgan loss of her husband to booze, pills, and June Carter STARRING | KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS, MARYLAND HALL | MAIN THEATER (creator of TV series Catastrophe and Divorce) Cash, but to fourish as she reinvented herself in SHARON HORGAN, JASON FLEMYNG, plays Lisa, the newly-elected chair of the PRESENTED BY | CAPITAL LAW FIRM later life. Though forever linked to a voice adored EMMA LOWNDES, GABY FRENCH, GREG WISE, Social Committee, who just wants to let the by millions, Vivian instinctively knew that her quiet LARA ROSSI, AMY JAMES-KELLY, INDIA RIA women drink and have fun. Aside from their voice was heard in her unwavering devotion to family, AMARTEIFIO, LAURA CHECKLEY, KAREN SAMPFORD, disagreements over hymns vs. pop songs, Kate church, and community. (USA, 2020, 90 min., ROXY FARIDANY, ROBERT WHITELOCK, and Lisa have to frst get the group to sing Documentary) COLIN MACE & BEVERLY LONGHURST on key and then remain committed, all while battling their own personal struggles and PRODUCERS | RORY AITKEN, BEN PUGH, anxiously awaiting news from the war zone. PIERS TEMPEST When the choir gets invited to perform at the WRITERS ROSANNE FLYNN, RACHEL TUNNARD Festival of Remembrance in London, the women | LUDOVIC BERNARD collaborate on writing an original song. Known for his Oscar-nominated hit flm The Full Monty, CINEMATOGRAPHER | HUBERT TACZANOWSKI Peter Cattaneo once again directs a triumphant flm about a group of underdogs, but this time EDITORS | ANNE SOPEL, LESLEY WALKER it’s a motley crew of women who are stepping SONGWRITERS | ROBBIE WILLIAMS & GUY CHAMBERS (ORIGINAL SONG)

20 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 21 FEATURE FILMS FEATURE FILMS MY NAME IS SARA ON A MAGICAL NIGHT (CHAMBRE 212) STEVEN ORITT CHRISTOPHE HONORÉ Director Steven Oritt returns to his hometown of The boudoir fgures prominently in this outrageously Annapolis with his powerful new feature flm playful French farce about a couple in crisis that takes produced in association with Steven Spielberg’s a rollercoaster ride down memory lane. In a role that Shoah Foundation. With its raw cinematic realism, won her the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film organic performances, and authentic cultural Festival, Chiara Mastroianni plays law professor Maria details, this potent drama tells the true story of Sara who after twenty years of marriage is outed for her Goralnik, a Polish Jew, who in 1942 at age 13 fees to serial indiscretions, and moves across the street to a FRIDAY, 3/27 | 3:00 PM the Ukrainian countryside to escape the Nazis. She FRIDAY, 3/27 | 9:45 PM Montparnasse hotel to spy on her husband, Richard. MARYLAND HALL | MAIN THEATER fnds refuge with a farmer and his wife and endures MARYLAND HALL | BOWEN THEATER From there, a fantastical funhouse romp ensues with SUNDAY, 3/29 | 5:00 PM a string of atrocities that teaches her the things she SUNDAY, 3/29 | 7:30 PM plenty of sexual hijinks. As the flm toys with time, like MARYLAND HALL | BOWEN THEATER must learn in order to survive. With the grit of a MARYLAND HALL | BOWEN THEATER in It’s a Wonderful Life , a swarm of colorful charac- resistance fghter, she skillfully assumes the identity ters, including their young former selves, moves in for PRESENTED BY | MARTHA BLAXALL & of a Christian having learned how to pray from her this ingenious fusion of madcap comedy and existen- JOE DICKEY best friend including the Sign of the Cross from right tial love letter to devotion. (France, 2019, to left. Sara eventually immigrated to the U.S. where 87 min., Comedy/Romance) she raised a family that to this day, triumphantly embraces her spirit and legacy. (USA/Poland, 2019, PRECEDED BY PERSONAL BEST 111 min., Drama) (5 min., Comedy)

THE PAINTER AND THE THIEF NO FEAR NO FAVOR BENJAMIN REE DOC MIRRA BANK DOC Barbora Kysilkova, a Czech artist and self-proclaimed With her hauntingly beautiful images of Zambi’s “painting junkie” befriends Karl-Bertil, an artsy vast Kafue wilderness, documentarian Mirra Bank addict who stole two of her prized creations in this captures the tragedy of the African poaching crisis, stranger-than-fction story about empathy and new and the hope inspired by grassroots efforts to protect beginnings. To better understand his motives, Barbora and sustain threatened wildlife. Key local players in invites him to her studio to be her model and to this devastating battle between man and nature learn more about his troubled life. But everyone’s are featured in uplifting stories where heroism is SATURDAY, 3/28 | 10:00 AM perspective is fipped upside down when his drug- SATURDAY, 3/28 | 10:00 AM discovered in unlikely places, including an ex-poacher, ST. JOHNS COLLEGE | KEY AUDITORIUM fueled self destructive side yields disastrous results. ANNAPOLIS ELEMENTARY turned armed guard, who rescues orphaned elephants. PRESENTED BY | DR. GINA MASSOGLIA Barbora learns that the decent criminal to whom she SUNDAY, 3/29 | 5:30 PM The flm’s laser-like focus exposes the root of the is deeply attached is not the only one who is damaged ANNAPOLIS ELEMENTARY extinction crisis — the intimate connection between as each must face the demons of their past poverty and poaching. Only radically new reforms will before they can create a meaningful future. This PRESENTED BY | GREG & SUSAN WALKER allow people and wildlife to thrive equally. (Zambia/ documentary won a Special Jury prize at the 2020 USA, 2019, 66 min., Documentary) Sundance Film Festival. (Norway, 2020, 102 min., Documentary, Subtitled) PRECEDED BY JUDAS COLLAR (15 min., Drama)

22 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 23 FEATURE FILMS FEATURE FILMS THE PENCIL NATALYA NAZAROVA Antonina, an artist from Saint Petersburg, follows her husband, a political prisoner, to the deep north province of Russia. She starts teaching art in a local school, determined to lift the spirits of the downtrodden children in her class, but she fnds herself opposed by a twelve-year-old boy, Misha, whose brother is a feared local gang leader. Antonina is a burst of joy and hope FRIDAY, 3/27 | 10:00 AM in this bleak small town where her students feel bullied MARYLAND HALL | BOWEN THEATER and the local townsfolk feel trapped. This exquisitely SATURDAY, 3/28 | 12:30 PM crafted and powerfully acted flm is part existential MARYLAND HALL | BOWEN THEATER drama, part escape thriller, and part metaphor for a corrupt political system that renders its citizens powerless. (Russia, 2020, 93 min., Drama, Subtitled) PRECEDED BY BAVURE FRIDAY, 3/27 | 8:00 PM FRIDAY NIGHT SPOTLIGHT (France, 2019, 5 min., Animation) MARYLAND HALL | MAIN THEATER THE PERFECT CANDIDATE SATURDAY, 3/28 | 5:30 PM HAIFAA AL-MANSOUR ASBURY RINGSIDE As Saudi Arabia’s frst female director, Haifaa DOC PRESENTED BY | PARABH K. GILL & Al-Mansour has been at the forefront of her country’s ANDRE HÖRMANN HARMINDER K. GILL IN MEMORY OF discussion about tolerance and equality with her flms This riveting documentary traces the paths of boxing DR. RAJWANT K. GILL about strong, independent women. Her frst feature talents Kenny Jr. and Destyne Jr over an eight-year flm Wadjda released in 2012 was about a rebellious period. Raised on Chicago’s notorious South Side, and determined teenage girl who competes to win the the two friends and rivals begin promising careers STARRING | MILA AL ZAHRANI, bicycle of her dreams. Since then many laws have at roughly the same time. Soon, however, their paths NORA AL AWADH, DAE AL HILALI, changed in the conservative country and females are part. While Kenny starts to gain a foothold in the world KHALID ABDULRAHEEM, SHAFI ALHARTHY, now allowed to ride bikes and drive cars. Her new flm, of professional boxing, Destyne has to serve time in TAREQ AL KHALDI, KHADEEJA MUA’TH The Perfect Candidate, also features a courageous and SATURDAY, 3/28 | 7:45 PM prison. The result is a moving story about redemption, progressive woman as it portrays a young Saudi doctor ASBURY ambition, discipline and the irrepressible hope of PRODUCERS | HAIFAA AL-MANSOUR, overcoming the odds. (USA, 2019, 93 min., striving to improve the conditions of her hospital. When PRESENTED BY | WOODY & AMANDA WOOD- GERHARD MEIXNER, BRAD NIEMANN Documentary) she decides to run for offce in the local city elections, YARD | THE LINCOLN FINANCIAL GROUP - WRITERS | HAIFAA AL-MANSOUR, her community struggles to accept their town’s frst DIVERSITY SERIES PRECEDED BY SHIP: A VISUAL POEM BRAD NIEMANN female candidate. After premiering at the Venice and (12 min., Drama) Toronto Film Festivals, this inspiring flm screened as part of Opening Night of this year’s Sundance Film Festival. (Saudi Arabia, 2019, 101 min., Drama, Subtitled)

24 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 25 FEATURE FILMS FEATURE FILMS SCATTERING CJ SHEPHERD: THE STORY OF A JEWISH DOG ANDREA KALIN DOC LYNN ROTH When Hallie Twomey loses her young son, a veteran, The unbreakable bond between a boy and his faithful to suicide, she channels her grief into relentless dog is put to the ultimate test in Nazi Germany, in this passion with a digital plea to grant him a fnal journey heartbreaking and heartwarming family drama. When that ignites a frestorm of CJ celebrations around the the Nuremberg Laws are adopted in the 1930s, Kaleb, a world. In this deeply moving and inspiring flm, Emmy German Shepherd, is separated from his Jewish family. and Golden Globe-nominated Director, Andrea Kalin, Adopted by an SS offcer at a concentration camp, the celebrates the connective power of social media while dog is retrained to help round up and terrorize Jewish SATURDAY, 3/28 | 2:30 PM elevating the conversation about suicide which claims SUNDAY, 3/29 | 12:15 PM prisoners. But when Kaleb’s former master, young ST. JOHNS COLLEGE | KEY AUDITORIUM more lives annually than war, homicide, and natural ST. JOHNS COLLEGE | KEY AUDITORIUM Joshua, arrives at the camp, the dog rediscovers PRESENTED BY | OASIS: THE CENTER FOR disasters. Your heart may sink but your spirit will soar THE JEWISH EXPERIENCE SHOWCASE his unwavering loyalty. Directed by award-winning MENTAL HEALTH as this family’s unexpected effort to heal unleashes flmmaker Lynn Roth and based on the bestselling the innate goodness of humanity. (USA, 2019, 63 min., PRESENTED BY | TEMPLE BETH SHALOM | Israeli novel by Asher Kravitz, this sensitively told story Documentary) LUCY SPIEGEL & PHIL SCRIVENER | of love, loyalty and courage offers a gentler way to DAVID & CAROL STERN | FAITH GOLDSTEIN & learn about the Holocaust. (USA/Hungary, 2019, PRECEDED BY THE BIRD & THE WHALE JESSIE CUNITZ | MARTHA BLAXALL & 93 min., Drama) (7 min., Animation) JOE DICKEY | SUSAN & GREG WALKER | SATURDAY, 3/28 | 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM VR EXPERIENCE ELIZABETH LIECHTY ST. JOHNS COLLEGE | KEY AUDITORIUM SPONSORED BY SPARK MEDIA The crew of the flm, SCATTERING CJ want to provide an immersive virtual reality experience for flm-goers. Visit SIBYL the Key Auditorium lobby at St. John’s to try this unique JUSTINE TRIET VR experience. Put on the Oculus Go headset and allow With her birthday looming, a jaded psychiatrist declares yourself to feel the journey in the flm like never before! she is leaving her practice to pursue her frst passion of becoming a writer. Sober and out of practice, Sibyl fnds inspiration harder to come by, until one evening the phone rings. Enter Margot, an up-and-coming actress who has found herself in a tumultuous love triangle, SELL BY and in desperate need of counseling. Enthralled by MIKE DOYLE SATURDAY, 3/28 | 7:30 PM Margot’s hardships Sibyl begins secretly recording their This romantic comedy set in the smartphone era MARYLAND HALL | BOWEN THEATER sessions as material for her book. With temptation follows a group of friends and couples (gay and PRESENTED BY | CAFÉ NORMANDIE around every corner Sibyl’s sobriety and morals are straight) living in New York City and navigating life, constantly put to the test. Justine Triet’s third feature love, and friendship without their GPS. Finely flm was the closing night flm of last year’s Cannes observed and humorously written, this story asks Competition. (France/Belgium, 2019, 100 min., the question of whether every relationship has an Drama, Subtitled) expiration date. Adam and Marklin (played by Scott FRIDAY, 3/27 | 8:00 PM Evans and Augustus Prew) are at their 5 year mark, ANNAPOLIS ELEMENTARY while on the opposite ends of the spectrum are SATURDAY, 3/28 | 5:00 PM Elizabeth (played by Kate Walsh) who is on the verge MARYLAND HALL | BOWEN THEATER of a divorce and Cammy (played by Michelle Buteau) who is fumbling her way through a new relationship. PRESENTED BY | SAGINDIE The charismatic ensemble of actors (including Patricia Clarkson in a cameo) sparkle with on-screen chemistry and radiate authenticity as they bring to life Mike Doyle’s poignant script and witty dialogue. (USA, 2019, 94 min., Comedy/Romance) PRECEDED BY THE CHASE (11 min., Comedy)

26 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 27 FEATURE FILMS FEATURE FILMS SPACESHIP EARTH MATT WOLF DOC This fascinating documentary grants viewers inside access into the 1991 Biosphere 2 experiment, a giant replica of the earth’s ecosystem to demonstrate the viability of supporting and maintaining human life in outer space. Eight brave men and women were sent to live inside the terrarium, in the Arizona desert, for two years without contact to the outside world. Matt SATURDAY, 3/28 | 12:15 PM Wolf’s present day interviews with the remaining living MARYLAND HALL | MAIN THEATER biospherians, along with never before seen footage of PRESENTED BY | MARTHA BLAXALL & the life inside the Biosphere, raise questions on the JOE DICKEY validity of the project and the conficting motives of the leaders behind it. Oil tycoon, Ed Bass, and commune leader, John Allen, are at the forefront of the media ridicule. A flm not only for science fanatics but anyone interested in the impact our daily decisions have on SATURDAY, 3/28 | 7:30 PM SATURDAY NIGHT SPOTLIGHT our planet. (USA, 2020, 113 min, Documentary) MARYLAND HALL | MAIN THEATER STAGE MOTHER SUNDAY, 3/29 | 2:30 PM THOM FITZGERALD ST. JOHNS COLLEGE | KEY AUDITORIUM Canadian director Thom Fitzgerald has been making PRESENTED BY | DWIGHT & DEBRA FORTIER artistically audacious and emotionally daring flms for STANDING UP, FALLING DOWN decades — starting with his auspicious debut in 1997 MATT RATNER with The Hanging Garden. His flms consistently The stirrings of a quirky friendship begin in a bar-room STARRING | JACKI WEAVER, portray characters who operate on the outside of toilet when Marty (Billy Crystal), a twice widowed ADRIAN GRENIER, LUCY LIU, ANTHONY society’s margins and the support they get from their dermatologist who’s married to the bottle, meets Scott, SKORDI, LENORE ZANN, HUGH THOMPSON, tenuous familial alliances. His latest flm Stage (Ben Schwartz), a young comic whose failure to launch MYA TAYLOR, CALLUM DUNPHY, Mother is no exception as it delivers the ultimate at home has him stressed out on stage. In this buddy OSCAR MORENO, ALLISTER MACDONALD, wish-fulfllment fantasy for any misft who longs dramedy, Crystal trades in his stand-up comedy CALEM MACDONALD, JACKIE BEAT for their parent’s unconditional approval. Two-time routine for a role as a charming yet fawed mensch Oscar-nominee Jacki Weaver delivers a charming while still delivering his signature barrage of witty PRODUCERS | ANNE CLEMENTS, J. TODD FRIDAY, 3/27 | 5:45 PM performance as Maybelline, a conservative church quips and nuggets. Seemingly broken when apart HARRIS, BRAD HENNIG, DOUG PETTIGREW MARYLAND HALL | MAIN THEATER choir director from Red Vine, Texas, who inherits her but whole when together, these two lost souls riff off late son’s drag club in San Francisco. Once she gets SUNDAY, 3/29 | 12:15 PM WRITER | BRAD HENNIG MARYLAND HALL | BOWEN THEATER each other while battling their demons of regret. over her shock at opening up Pandora’s Box (also the The story’s unexpected endings and beginnings inject name of the club), she gets comfortable in the Castro PRESENTED BY | ANNE ARUNDEL a delightfully rich but bittersweet taste that favors District, and ends up mothering all the drag queens, DERMATOLOGY | REGINA & JOSEPH all its many life’s lessons. (USA, 2019, 91 min., her son’s boyfriend (played by Adrian Grenier), and HLADKY FOUNDATION Comedy/Drama) his B.F.F. (played by Lucy Liu). This feel-good, laugh-out-loud, sing-along comedy shows that PRECEDED BY HAYSEEDS it is never too late to change your mind, change (9 min., Comedy) your outlook, and change your life. (USA, 2020, 93 min., Comedy)

28 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 29 FEATURE FILMS SHORTS PROGRAMS TEST PATTERN VHYES SHATARA MICHELLE FORD JACK HENRY ROBBINS When an interracial couple who are direct opposites Shot entirely on VHS and Beta, this bizarre retro comedy pair up, Evan is a low-key tattoo artist, and Ranisha follows 12-year-old Ralph as he accidentally records is a buttoned-up PR exec, their sweet intimacy over his parents’ wedding tape while channel-surfng appears unbreakable. But when she becomes a victim through his favorite late night tv shows and of a sexual assault, the relationship is put to the test. videotaping his explorations of a haunted Sorority Their struggle to confront a biased medical system and house. With his 1980’s period parodies, flmmaker do the right thing but still “show up for each other” Jack Henry Robbins recreated public-access tv shows FRIDAY, 3/27 | 9:15 PM sparks debate in the current conversation around SATURDAY, 3/28 | 9:30 PM and infomercials to create a nostalgic take on the ASBURY feminism and the #MeToo movement. Director Shatara ST. JOHNS COLLEGE | KEY AUDITORIUM found-footage genre. Featuring cameo appearances by SATURDAY, 3/28 | 2:30 PM Michelle Ford draws a nuanced portrait of consent his parents, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon. (USA, within a patriarchal society, trusting the audience to SUNDAY, 3/29 | 7:45 PM 2019, 72 min., Comedy) MARYLAND HALL | MAIN THEATER ANNAPOLIS ELEMENTARY color in their own perceptions and beliefs. (USA, 2019, PRESENTED BY | NORMA & BILL BYRD 82 min., Drama) PRECEDED BY YOUR LAST DAY ON EARTH (15 min., Comedy/Fantasy) PRECEDED BY AN ANOMALOUS LOVE (16 min., Drama)

A WOMAN’S WORK: THE NFL’S THE STORY OF PLASTIC CHEERLEADER PROBLEM DOC DEIA SCHLOSBERG DOC YU GU After tackling climate change, fracking, and the They compete for a spot, wear a uniform, and train Dakota pipeline protests in her previous flms, intensely but cheerleaders are at the bottom of the environmental advocate flmmaker Deia Schlosberg social hierarchy in America’s favorite sport. This turns her lens on plastic pollution and ironically creates thought-provoking expose follows two ex-cheerleaders one of the most beautifully crafted documentaries on from the Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills who one of the world’s ugliest problems. Striking footage, mount a formidable defense against wage theft and original animations, and archival material combine to SATURDAY, 3/28 | 12:15 PM gender discrimination. Emboldened to speak truth to FRIDAY, 3/27 | 12:30 PM point out the disastrous impact of the manufacture and ST. JOHNS COLLEGE | KEY AUDITORIUM power, they challenge the industry’s culture of toxic MARYLAND HALL | MAIN THEATER use of plastics, shedding new light on a pressing global | masculinity and devaluation of women’s labor. But challenge that threatens the life expectancy of animals, SUNDAY, 3/29 10:00 AM their fnal win is more personal than political as they SATURDAY, 3/28 | 3:00 PM MARYLAND HALL | BOWEN THEATER ASBURY humans, and Earth itself. This documentary will be discover their own voice doing what they love. (USA, preceded by a short stop-motion animation made by 2019, 80 min., Documentary) ENVIRONMENTAL SHOWCASE high school students, examining global pollution PRECEDED BY KNOCKING DOWN THE FENCES PRESENTED BY | HANNON ARMSTRONG from the viewpoint of the younger generation who are inheriting the environmental problems of this world. (12 min., Documentary) (USA, 2019, 95 min., Documentary) PRECEDED BY CLOSED LOOP (3 min., Animation)

30 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 31 SHORTS PROGRAMS SHORTS PROGRAMS

SKIN | GUY NATTIV SHORTS PROGRAM II | A racist encounter sends two gangs into a ruthless war LOST IN TRANSLATION that ends with a shocking misunderstanding. (USA, FRIDAY, 3/27 | 12:30 PM | 2018, 20 min., Drama/Thriller) MARYLAND HALL | BOWEN THEATER PRESENTED BY | THE MURRAY MCGEHRIN GROUP SATURDAY, 3/28 | 7:00 PM | ANNAPOLIS AT MERRILL ELEMENTARY ANNA | DEKEL BERENSON One missed signal or misspoken word Living in the war-torn Eastern Ukraine, an aging can detonate a relationship or ignite single mother is lured by a radio advertisement to a SHORTS PROGRAMS a crisis that propels us into life and matchmaking party with a group of American men. death situations. In these trying tales, (Ukraine/U.K., 2019, 15 min., Drama/Comedy, connections go haywire and jeopardy BROTHERHOOD | MERYAM JOOBEUR Subtitled) SHORTS PROGRAM I | Living in rural Tunisia with his wife and two sons, lurks around every corner. Mohamed is deeply shaken when his oldest son Malik COMING HOME EXAM | SONIA K. HADAD FRIDAY, 3/27 | 10:00 AM | ASBURY returns home after a long journey with a mysterious new wife. (Tunisia, 2019, 22 min., Drama, Subtitled) A teenage girl reluctantly agrees to deliver a pack of SATURDAY, 3/28 | 4:00 PM | cocaine on the day of an important test. (Iran, 2019, ANNAPOLIS ELEMENTARY 15 min., Drama/Thriller, Subtitled) THE NEIGHBORS’ WINDOW | MARSHALL CURRY Whether leaving, staying, returning, A mother of young children who has grown frustrated lending, or coveting the ideal home, the with her husband and her daily routine fnds her life JUST A DRILL | JULIANNE DONELLE foundation of these stories digs into the shaken up when two free-spirited twenty-somethings When an active shooter drill becomes a horrifying deeper feelings aroused in us when our move in across the street. (USA, 2019, 21 min., Drama) reality, an overworked teacher in an underfunded sense of security shifts. classroom must make an impossible choice. (USA, PRESENTED BY | NEWTON & PAMELA GENTRY 2019, 11 min., Drama/Thriller)

HEARTH (FOYER) | SOPHIE B. JACQUES TRASHY | KEVIN ALEXANDER After renting her house to strangers, Emillie returns A man inadvertently insults his date while attempting home completely oblivious to what actually happened to give her a compliment. (USA, 2019, 4 min., Comedy) there during her absence. (Canada, 2019, 10 min., Thriller, Subtitled) REAL TALK | ARTEMIS SHAW PRESENTED BY | WALKER & JOAN JOHNSON A woman goes on a live talk show to confront a famous music producer, only to fnd him armed with JUST ME AND YOU (JUSTE MOI ET TOI) | the “perfect apology.” (USA, 2020, 15 min., Drama) SANDRINE BRODEUR-DESROSIERS After a road trip to Mexico in an 18-wheeler, a young THE CHRISTMAS GIFT | BOGDAN MURESANU girl and her father return home to Montreal with their In communist Romania a few days before Christmas precious cargo. (Canada, 2019, 21 min., Drama, in 1989, a boy writes a letter to Santa Claus asking Subtitled) for the death of the dictator . (Romania, 2018, PRESENTED BY | ELIZABETH ASHBOURNE 23 min., Drama, Subtitled) PRESENTED BY | DICK DAMATO #3 NORMANDY LANE | BRENDA STRONG Army wife and young mother, Sarah Winston’s life is inextricably altered when a series of visitors arrive on her doorstep. (USA, 2019, 22 min, Drama) PRESENTED BY | JO-ANN HENRY, RE/MAX PREMIER SELECTIONS

32 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 33 SHORTS PROGRAMS SHORTS PROGRAMS

THIS TIME AWAY | MAGALI BARBÉ BAD ASSISTANT | KYLE COGAN SHORTS PROGRAM III | Haunted by his past and memory of the family he once SHORTS PROGRAM IV | A devoted Hollywood assistant is pushed to the limits THE SOCIAL NETWORK had, an elderly recluse gets an unexpected visitor THERE’S NO BUSINESS of what she’ll do for her manipulative boss when he FRIDAY, 3/27 | 3:00 PM | that disrupts his lonely routine. (U.K., 2019, 14 min., seeks her help in moving a dead body. (USA, 2019, Drama/Sci-Fi) LIKE SHOW BUSINESS MARYLAND HALL | BOWEN THEATER FRIDAY, 3/27 | 7:30 PM | 26 min., Comedy) SATURDAY, 3/28 | 9:30 PM | MARYLAND HALL | BOWEN THEATER PRESENTED BY | SOUND DEPARTMENT UTOPIA | KOSTA NIKAS ANNAPOLIS ELEMENTARY A man returns to his home country only to fnd a society SUNDAY, 3/29 | 3:00 PM | Technology giveth and taketh away: where citizens police each other with their mobile ANNAPOLIS ELEMENTARY CONNECTIONS | KEVIN ALEXANDER As social media becomes the new phones. (Australia, 2018, 15 min., Comedy/Sci-Fi) Hollywood in the modern era produces A young male screenwriter’s meeting with an religion and people become more experienced female producer takes an unexpected PRESENTED BY | DEE & SANDRA MURRAY a lot to laugh about in these scathing connected through miraculous new satires that expose the bad behavior turn. (USA, 2018, 5 min., Comedy) machines, individuals become infected rampant in this crazy business of PRESENTED BY | WALKER & JOAN JOHNSON by a plague of problems when this Tower SELFIES | CLAUDIUS GENTINETTA flmmaking, deal breaking and of Cyber-babble falls. Hundreds of quaint, embarrassing and dreadfully real faking. disturbing selfes are arranged in a veritable frework MARSHA! | ROWEN KAHN display of digital self-portraits. (Switzerland, 2018, Sibling rivalry is turned on its head as washed-up 4 min., Animation) actor Aidan now fnds himself stuck in a hole, playing the lead role in his little brother’s directorial flm debut. (USA, 2020, 17 min., Comedy) UPLOAD TO STORY | EMMA PÅL BRUNZELL Two bored and broke girls decide to rob a drunken man and record the whole encounter on their mobile phone. I LOVE LISHA | DAN ROBERT | LISHA BROOKS (Sweden, 2019, 10 min., Drama, Subtitled) In this parody of a 1950’s sit-com, housewife Lisha is worried that her husband Ricky will leave her, and so she enlists her closeted gay best friend Dan to help KINDRED SPIRIT | CAROLINE LINDY her with a half-baked scheme. (USA, 2019, 15 min., After chatting on a dating app, hopelessly single Eloise Comedy) invites Jonathan to her apartment and discovers that he has less of a life than her. (USA, 2019, 18 min., Comedy/Romance) LADY PARTS | ERIN RYE | JESSICA SHERIF After portraying a dancing tampon in a commercial, PRESENTED BY | DEE & SANDRA MURRAY a struggling actress suffers the indignities of Hollywood to get her frst real break. (USA, 2019, WESTFALIA | HALEY FINNEGAN 15 min., Comedy) A couple embarks on an epic road trip in an attempt PRESENTED BY | PAMELA FORBES & to gain more followers after their Instagram rival’s STEVEN BOOKSHESTER fame doubles overnight. (USA, 2019, 18 min., Comedy) CASTING COUCH | JUSTIN LEE | MATT THIESEN An ancient insatiable casting couch feeds on INFLUENCED | ARI HALEVY unsuspecting Hollywood hopefuls in this campy take A gym newbie attempts to quell his loneliness by on #MeToo in Hollywood. (USA, 2019, 11 min., transforming into a muscular #instagay but becomes Comedy/Horror) disillusioned after meeting his ftness infuencer idol. (USA, 2020, 20 min., Drama) FORMER CULT MEMBER HEARS MUSIC FOR THE FIRST TIME | KRISTOFFER BORGLI A documentary crew flms a cult member listening to music for the frst time. Her reaction is unexpected. (USA, 2020, 12 min., Comedy)

34 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 35 SHORTS PROGRAMS SHORTS PROGRAMS

ENFORCEMENT HOURS | PALOMA MARTINEZ GHOST IN CONTEXT | MASON STANDISH DOCUMENTARY SHORTS | In a climate of xenophobia and confusion, a San STUDENT SHORTS | Martin, a down on his luck Mama’s boy, fnds himself REBEL WITH A CAUSE Francisco hotline aims to provide limited assistance AN EDUCATION having to choose between the mother with whom he SATURDAY, 3/28 | 12:30 PM | to a targeted population. (USA, 2018, 13 min., SUNDAY, 3/29 | 10:00 AM | shares his home, and a mysterious stranger who’s just ASBURY Documentary) ANNAPOLIS ELEMENTARY moved in. (USA, 2020, 12 min., Comedy) SUNDAY, 3/29 | 2:30 PM | Diverse themes come together in this MOTHERLAND EMILY MKRTICHIAN TWO EMRE OKTEN MARYLAND HALL | BOWEN THEATER | | learning fest that explores the human | JESSE SOURSOURIAN Two robotic companions forge a friendship during their spirit. Film students test their mettle in the Crossing barriers and defying A group of Armenian women shake tradition and break decades-long mission on an unmanned research ship school of life with everything from love and stereotypes are the requisites for these stereotypes to rid their country of landmines leftover headed for the Sun. (USA, 2019, 6 min, Animation) loss to politics and religion, to parenting unlikely activists who strive to align from a devastating ethnic war. (Armenia, 2019, their beliefs with their actions. Even problems and teenage turmoil. 19 min., Documentary, Subtitled) LET’S TALK? BARNA SZÁSZ when risking life, limb or reputation, | Concerned by the growing political divide and the they remain defant. ST. LOUIS SUPERMAN | SAMI KHAN | violent debates on his college campus, a student SMRITI MUNDHRA tries the impossible: to create dialogue between Battle rapper turned state representative Bruce Franks conservative and liberal students. (USA, 2019, Jr. uses his own harrowing experience with gun violence 19 min., Documentary) to create change. (USA, 2019, 28 min., Documentary) PRESENTED BY | SRB COMMUNICATIONS PEARL | YUCHAO FENG In a desolate Chinese fshing village, a single mother TRUE BELIEVER | SARAH COLT | JOSH GLEASON gives her 6-year-old daughter one fnal lesson. (China, Alarmed by the evangelical movement’s embrace of 2019, 13 min., Drama, Subtitled) Trump, Robb Ryerse, a progressive pastor and lifelong Republican, launches a grassroots congressional LEFTY/RIGHTY | MAX WALKER-SILVERMAN campaign to combat the rhetoric of hate. (USA, 2019, A young, divorced rancher gets a day with his daughter. 23 min., Documentary) (USA, 2019, 12 min., Drama) PRESENTED BY | SONIA & JERRY FELDMAN BROKEN BIRD | RACHEL HARRISON GORDON Birdie, a biracial girl raised by her Jewish mom, spends USA V SCOTT | ISABEL CASTRO | ORA DEKORNFELD a rare visitation day with her father while preparing for A geography professor awaits felony trial and a her Bat Mitzvah. (USA, 2020, 11 min., Drama) possible 20-year-prison sentence for giving food and shelter to migrants in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert. (USA, 2019, 16 min., Documentary) K.I.N.G. | RASHAD FRETT A troubled teen ventures into an unfamiliar city PRESENTED BY | THE MURRAY MCGEHIRN GROUP seeking a bond with his estranged father. (USA, 2019, AT MERRILL 12 min., Drama, Subtitled) PRESENTED BY | SIMS & CAMPBELL, LLC

FRIDA | LAURA TEJERO NÚÑEZ In 2017, when the strongest earthquake in a century hits Mexico, 12-year-old Frida survives under the rubble of an elementary school. Through 24-hour media coverage, the whole country follows every step of her rescue until something completely unexpected happens. (Mexico, 2020, 20 min., Documentary, Subtitled)

36 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 37 SHORTS PROGRAMS SHORTS PROGRAMS

CRISIS ON THE HALF SHELL: THE CHESAPEAKE BAY | AN ANOMALOUS LOVE | REGGIE WILLIAMS LOCAL SHORTS | MICHAEL WATTS A man in his mid 20’s and a woman in her mid 40’s OUT OF MARYLAND As overfshing, industrialization, and climate change SHORTS PRECEDING FEATURES navigate a casual relationship. (USA, 2019, 16 min., SUNDAY, 3/29 | 12:30 PM | continue to wreak havoc on the Chesapeake Bay, Drama/Romance) marine biologists and advocates try to restore the Preceding TEST PATTERN ANNAPOLIS ELEMENTARY oyster population which acts as a water fltration Inspired by their regional surroundings, system, encourages biodiversity and protects coastal BAVURE | DONATO SANSONE these local flmmakers create areas and marine life during storms. (USA, 2020, The evolution of a human being from creation to an documentaries, mysteries, comedies, and 14 min., Documentary) awareness of the mysteries of the universe. (France, romances in this love letter to Maryland. PRESENTED BY | PHIL SCRIVENER 2019, 5 min., Animation) Preceding THE PENCIL THE MILLION | RYAN MAYERS A Baltimore artist attempts to paint one million THE BIRD & THE WHALE | CAROL FREEMAN portraits of gun violence victims to help herself and After straying too far from his family to explore a other families heal. (USA, 2020, 12 min., Documentary) shipwreck, a young whale discovers its sole survivor, a caged songbird. (Ireland, 2019, 7 min., Animation) THE UNDEPARTED | CHRIS MCGUINNESS Preceding SCATTERING CJ At a small antique shop in Marriottsville, MD, a flmmaker purchases an antique item and is CHARON | CULLEN PARR confronted by the idea of spirit attachments. (USA, Myron Dyal, an artist with temporal lobe epilepsy, 2020, 37 min., Documentary) creates striking images inspired by the visions he has during his seizures. (USA, 2019, 12 min., Documentary) TURTLE | MATT KENCHINGTON Preceding ALAN MAGEE: ART IS NOT A SOLACE On a blistering hot summer day, Bruno tries to stay cool while waiting for the sweet jingle of the ice cream THE CHASE | MIKE DOYLE | NICK JANDL truck. (USA, 2019, 10 min., Comedy) A brazen theft leads a newly married couple on a wild chase across the streets of Los Angeles and MOON EYES | SALLIE KEENA into a complex intersection of race, justice, and Shelby goes on a date with Nick at the Air and Space self-discovery. (USA, 2019, 11 min., Comedy) Museum where she explores their magnetic connection Preceding SELL BY and the great unknown. (USA, 2019, 17 min., Romance) PRESENTED BY | THE MURRAY MCGEHRIN GROUP AT MERRILL

CLOSED LOOP | DANIEL M. CASHDAN III A stop-motion paper style animation to spread awareness of environmental issues. (USA, 2020, 3 min., Animation) Preceding THE STORY OF PLASTIC

HAYSEEDS | TYLER GRAHAM PAVEY | MARTHA MAGRUDER Running away from their husbands, a couple of rural gals decide to rob a convenience store in order to fnance their escape. (USA, 2020, 9 min., Comedy) Preceding STANDING UP, FALLING DOWN

38 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 39 SHORTS PROGRAMS PANELS & PANELISTS

JUDAS COLLAR | ALISON JAMES In outback Australia a wild camel is captured and ftted with a tracking device, forcing her to exile herself from the herd. (Australia, 2018, 15 min., Drama) Preceding NO FEAR NO FAVOR SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE KNOCKING DOWN THE FENCES | MEG SHUTZER AJ Andrews is the frst woman to win a Rawlings Gold Glove as one of the best professional softball players THURSDAY, 3/26 in the world. (USA, 2019, 12 min., Documentary) TIME MD HALL PARTIES Preceding A WOMAN’S WORK: THE NFL’S MAIN CHEERLEADER PROBLEM SLOT PRESENTED BY | THE ANNAPOLIS (MD) CHAPTER OF THE LINKS INC. 5 - 5:30 pm OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION PERSONAL BEST | KEVIN ALEXANDER 5:30 - 6 (PRIVATE EVENT) Dirty talk during sex backfres when the girl reveals 5:00 - 7:00pm something the guy doesn’t want to know. (USA, 2019, 6 - 6:30 Gold, Silver, 4 min., Comedy) Purple Passes Preceding ON A MAGICAL NIGHT 6:30 - 7 SHIP: A VISUAL POEM | TERRANCE DAYE On the day of his cousin’s funeral, a young black boy 7 - 7:30 learns conficting lessons of manhood and masculinity. (USA, 2019, 12 min., Drama) 7:30 - 8 OPENING NIGHT Preceding RINGSIDE FILM PRESENTED BY | OGOS ENERGY 8 - 8:30 MILITARY WHY SLUGS HAVE NO LEGS | ALINE HÖCHLI WIVES Slugs have a hard time keeping up with the pace 8:30 - 9 112 min. of life in the city of insects. When a fnancial crisis hits, the industrious bees only see one solution. 9 - 9:30 Q&A to follow (Switzerland, 2019, 11 min., Animation) 7:30 pm - Preceding CHANGING THE GAME 9:30 - 10 10:00 pm

YOUR LAST DAY ON EARTH | MARC MARTÍNEZ JORDÁN OPENING NIGHT 10 - 10:30 A man attempts to travel back through time in order to FB: annapolisfilmfestival AFTER PARTY spend some time with his wife. (Spain, 2019, 12 min., BOYS & GIRLS Sci-Fi/Comedy/Drama, Subtitled) TW: @annapolisff 10:30 - 11 CLUB Preceding VHYes ALL PASSHOLDERS and Ticket holders IG: @annapolisfilmfest 11 - 12:00 10:00 -12:00 am CHART FEATURE FEATURE PANELS BEST OF SHORTS PARTIES LEGEND FILM DOC & TALKS FEST PROGRAM

40 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 41 FRIDAY, MARCH 27 SATURDAY, MARCH 28 TIME OBRIEN’S THE LIVERY CITY HALL MD HALL MD HALL ASBURY UM ANNAP. ELEM. TIME MD HALL MD HALL ASBURY UM ANNAP. ELEM. ST. JOHN’S ST. JOHN’S LIGHTBOX SLOT BULDING MAIN BOWEN CHURCH @ COMPROMISE ST. SLOT MAIN BOWEN CHURCH @ COMPROMISE ST. KEY AUD CONV. STUDIO

COFFEE TALKS COFFEE TALKS 9 - 9:45 am WITH… 9 - 9:45 am WITH… 9am -10am 9am -10am The Pencil SHORTS 1: BUTTER MAURICE HINES: NO FEAR THE PAINTER 10 - 10:30 10 - 10:30 BRING THEM NO FAVOR AND COMING HOME SHORTS 111 min. BACK 65 min. THE THIEF PANEL: 111 min. CHALLENGE 10:30 - 11 10:30 - 11 Comedy 99 min. Q&A to follow 94 min. preceded by 102 min. 10:30am Q&A to follow 90 min. Judas Collar Q&A to follow 11 - 11:30 ends 11:30am 11 - 11:30 Q&A to follow 15 min. No Q&A

Q&A to follow 11:30 - 12 11:30 - 12

PANEL: 12 - 12:30 Storytelling 12 - 12:30 BEYOND A WOMAN’S 12:00pm SPACESHIP THE BOLEX WORK ends 1:00pm THE PENCIL DOC SHORTS PANEL: 12:30 - 1 ENVIRONMENTAL SHORTS 2: ALAN MAGEE 12:30 - 1 EARTH 80 min. SHOWCASE: REBEL WITH Producers/ LOST IN 58 min. 94 min. THE STORY 93 min. A CAUSE preceded by Directors TRANSLATION preceded by 113 min. 1 - 1:30 OF PLASTIC 1 - 1:30 Q&A to follow Knocking Down Roundtable Charon No Q&A preceded by the Fences 12:30pm -1:30pm 85 min. 103 min. 12 min. 100 min. preceded by 12 min. PANEL: Q&A to follow Bavure 1:30 - 2 Platforms Closed Loop 1:30 - 2 Q&A to follow 4 min. Q&A to follow 1:30pm 3 min. ends 2:30pm 2 - 2:30 Q&A to follow PANEL to follow 2 - 2:30 CHANGING THE GAME BEYOND TEST PATTERN 91 min. 2:30 - 3 2:30 - 3 SCATTERING C.J. THE BOLEX preceded by Why Slugs Have 63 min. 82 min. THE STORY PANEL: SHORTS 3: ALAN MAGEE preceded by 3 - 3:30 Documentaries MY NAME 94 min. 3 - 3:30 No Legs THE SOCIAL preceded by 58 min. OF PLASTIC The Bird and 3:00pm IS SARA 11 min. NETWORK An Anomalous preceded by 85 min. the Whale ends 4:00pm No Q&A Love No Q&A 3:30 - 4 114 min. 3:30 - 4 Charon 7 min. 12 min. preceded by 97 min. 16 min. Closed Loop Q&A to follow Q&A to follow 4 - 4:30 4 - 4:30 Q&A to follow Q&A to follow Q&A to follow 3 min. Q&A to follow SHORTS 1: 4:30 - 5 ADAM 4:30 - 5 COMING HOME THE EVENING 98 min. 5 - 5:30 RECEPTION 5 - 5:30 AFRICAN- SELL BY 99 min. HOUR PRIVATE PARTY 93 min. No Q&A AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: Q&A to follow 114 min. 5:30 - 6 O'Brien's MY DARLING 5:30 - 6 preceded by THE PERFECT GIVING VOICE The Chase 5:00-7:00pm STANDING UP, VIVIAN CANDIDATE Q&A to follow 11 min. 6 - 6:30 FALLING DOWN, 87 min. GOLD & PURPLE 6 - 6:30 101 min. 90 min. Q&A to follow PASSHOLDERS 92 min. Q&A to follow 6:30 - 7 preceded by No Q&A 6:30 - 7 No Q&A Hayseeds MAURICE HINES: 9 min. BRING THEM 7 - 7:30 7 - 7:30 No Q&A BACK SHORTS 2: CHART LEGEND LOST IN THE CLIMB 7:30 - 8 SHORTS 4: 94 min. 7:30 - 8 STAGE MOTHER SIBYL TRANSLATION THERE’S NO 94 min. RINGSIDE BUSINESS LIKE Q&A to follow 93 min. 101 min. 103 min. 8 - 8:30 8 - 8:30 94 min. FEATURE FEATURE PANELS BEST OF SHORTS PARTIES SHOW BUSINESS SELL BY Q&A to follow FILM DOC & TALKS FEST PROGRAM THE PERFECT Q&A to follow No Q&A Q&A to follow CANDIDATE 96 min. 93 min. preceded by 8:30 - 9 8:30 - 9 SHIP: preceded by 101 min. Q&A to follow The Chase a visual poem 9 - 9:30 9 - 9:30 12 min. Q&A to follow TEST PATTERN 11 min. Q&A to follow Q&A to follow GRADUATE 9:30 - 10 82 min. 9:30 - 10 VHYes Annapolis Hotel ON A SHORTS 3: 72 min. preceded by MAGICAL LOVEMOBIL THE SOCIAL preceded by 10 - 10:30 NIGHT An Anomalous 10 - 10:30 NETWORK Your Last Day SATURDAY 86 min. Love 105 min. on Earth NIGHT BASH preceded by 97 min. 10:30 - 11 16 min. 10:30 - 11 12 min. GOLD, SILVER, Personal Best No Q&A No Q&A BRONZE and Q&A to follow Q&A to follow 5 min. PURPLE PASSES 11 - 11:30 11 - 11:30 10:00pm -1:00am ADVERTISERS SUNDAY, MARCH 29 TIME MD HALL MD HALL ANNAP. ELEM. ST. JOHN’S ST. JOHN’S LIGHTBOX SLOT MAIN BOWEN @ COMPROMISE ST. KEY AUD CONV. ROOM STUDIO

BAGEL BREAKFAST COFFEE TALKS 9 - 9:45 am SAILING WITH… 9:00am SHOWCASE: 9am -10am MAIDEN A WOMAN’S STUDENT JEWISH 10 - 10:30 WORK SHORTS: EXPERIENCE: 97 min. 80 min. LATTER DAY 10:30 - 11 preceded by 105 min. JEW ANNAPOLISFILMFESTIVAL.ORG Q&A before Knocking Down 82 min. the film the Fences Q&A to follow Q&A to follow 11 - 11:30 Designs from past festivals 12 min. (FREE TICKETS) also available. Q&A to follow 11:30 - 12

12 - 12:30 MY DARLING VIVIAN STANDING UP, JEWISH FALLING DOWN, EXPERIENCE: PANEL: 12:30 - 1 90 min. 92 min. LOCAL SHORTS: SHEPHERD: Women STORY OF Storytellers preceded by 1 - 1:30 Q&A to follow 90 min. A JEWISH DOG: 12:30pm - Hayseeds 1:30pm 93 min. 10 min. Q&A to follow 1:30 - 2 Q&A to follow

2 - 2:30

2:30 - 3 DREAM HORSE DOC SHORTS STAGE MOTHER REBEL WITH 102 min. A CAUSE SHORTS 4: 93 min. 3 - 3:30 Citizen Pride is a proud Sponsor of the AFF. THERE’S NO No Q&A Q&A to follow BUSINESS LIKE Q&A to follow Festival themes illustrated by AFF Art Director, 3:30 - 4 SHOW BUSINESS 100 min. Joe Barsin. Visit CitizenPride.com to see more. 96 min. 4 - 4:30 Q&A to follow

4:30 - 5 ALL 7 YEARS

5 - 5:30 AWARDS MY NAME TBA IS SARA SHOW 120 min. 5:30 - 6 102 min. NO FEAR 5:00pm - NO FAVOR No Q&A 5:30pm Q&A to follow 65 min. 6 - 6:30 BY

preceded by JOE BARSIN Judas Collar 6:30 - 7 BEST OF 15 min. FEST Q&A to follow 7 - 7:30 Audience Award

7:30 - 8 Winners ON A MAGICAL TBA NIGHT :

5:30pm - 86 min. SEE MORE 8 - 8:30 120 min. 10:00pm preceded by VHYes TEA ROOM Personal Best 72 min. No Q&A 8:30 - 9 5 min. preceded by RESTAURANT Your Last Day on Earth CITIZENPRIDE.COM 9 - 9:30 12 min. HISTORIC PUB ACCOMMODATIONS 9:30 - 10 7 Church Circle Annapolis 10 - 10:30 www.reynoldstavern.org 410.295.9555 10:30CHART - 11 11 - 11:30 FEATURE FEATURE PANELS BEST OF SHORTS PARTIES Reynolds Tavern LEGEND FILM DOC & TALKS FEST PROGRAM www.annapolisflmfestival.org 45 ADVERTISERS ADVERTISERS

qīďķÌĴďÅÐĴìÐZŨÆð­ă }ðÆāÐĴðĊæqīďŒðÌÐīďå ĊĊ­ĨďăðĮ9ðăĉ9ÐĮĴðŒ­ă

Let’s Chat Discover why more Film P. 615.360.6700 Festivals choose us! E. [email protected] W. agiletix.com/AFF

46 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 47 ADVERTISERS ADVERTISERS

Jean’ Louis CAFE NORMANDIE

French Country Cuisine with Maryland Seafood Specialties. Open for 31 years, Café Normandie is one of the most Romantic Restaurants in Annapolis. Famous for its cozy atmosphere, and well-known for its typical French cuisine created and prepared by Award Winning Chef Jean-Louis.

185 Main Street • Annapolis, MD. 21401

Annapolis Leader in Sustainability and Eco-Friendly,        LOVE FILM? SO DO WE.

SUMMER AND FALL 2020 FILM & VIDEO COURSES AT AACC The 21st first century has seen demand increase ART 112 - Audio Production ART 160 - for everything from cinematographers and actors Video 1 ART 161 - Video Editing to video game developers who can write code ART 180 - Introduction to Film and create inspired landscapes for tomorrow’s ART 181 - Introduction to American Film game consoles. AACC ofers a balanced program ART 216 - Independent Film emphasizing digital video production and aesthetics. ART 218 - Writing for Stage and Screen     Our students often transfer to top-flight schools ART 251/252 - Animation 1 and 2 such as FSU, MICA, NCSA, NYU, SCAD and others. ART 260 - Video 2      REDEFINE YOURSELF.®

Take your first step into this future today by visiting www.aacc.edu.

48 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 49 ADVERTISERS ADVERTISERS

We’re proud to be the exclusive Coffee&Tea sponsor for The Annapolis Film Festival

PR Partner Annapolis Film Festival FIND US AT: NOW OPEN: Coffee Talks with... (Fri-Sun) Annapolis Towne Centre 2020 Volunteer/VIP Headquarters (Wed-Sun) 1910 Towne Centre Blvd. Jewish Experience Showcase (Sun) 410•573•5792 Pop•Up Cafes (Daily TBD) www.BaltCoffee.com www.L38Marketing.com · 410.279.1596

At DoubleTree by Hilton Annapolis, we pride ourselves in caring about the little things that make a big difference - from our warm cookie welcome to serving the communities around us. Because there is a universal truth in a simple gesture. You can make real connections, create a place that matters and make memories to last a lifetime. From check-in to check-out, we deliver award-winning service... and always with a smile. So kick up your feet, enjoy a sweet treat (or two!) and leave the work to us.

• 219 newly renovated guestrooms • 12,000 square feet of flexible meeting space • On-site award-winning Ports of Call Restaurant • Olympic size outdoor pool • Complimentary parking and shuttle service within 5-mile radius of hotel • 24-hour Fitness Center Covering the Annapolis Film Festival for EIGHT years!

50 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 51 ADVERTISERS ADVERTISERS

NextCar is a proud supporter of the Annapolis Film Festival & the film community! qīďķÌwĨďĊĮďīĮ ďåĴìÐǡǟǡǟ ĊĊ­ĨďăðĮ 9ðăĉ9ÐĮĴðŒ­ăȝ

1023 Bay Ridge Avenue Annapolis, MD 21403 877-877-1800 Eastport Shopping Center (410) 263-6941 nextcarrental.com

www.palatepleasers.com 9AU'}'tAU::Z€tT'}ȭ}Zȭ:ZAU>Z€w'N'tš

Enjoy The Show

Graphic Web Print Extraordinary Events design Start Here www.spingraphics.com

KO-Events.com INCORPORATED 410-919-8393

52 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 53 ADVERTISERS ADVERTISERS

@WRNR

WRNR.COM

PROUD SPONSOR OF THE ANNAPOLIS FILM FESTIVAL

healthy Skin is our pledge to you BOOK AN APPOINTMENT ONLINE VISIT AADERMATOLOGY.COM/BOOK

With over 45 years of service to the local community, Anne Arundel Dermatology has assembled the fnest group of Dermatologist to best serve our patients.

Connect With Us!

54 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 55 ADVERTISERS ADVERTISERS

FILM | PERFORMANCES | SHOWS ARTS EDUCATION | EXHIBITIONS

Celebrating 40 Years as the Region's Cultural Core!

Discover the arts at marylandhall.org & follow @marylandhall

We help companies grow and communities thrive by providing permanent capital for climate change solutions. Learn more at hannnonarmstrong.com

56 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 57 ADVERTISERS ADVERTISERS

HAMEL IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE ANNAPOLIS FILM FESTIVAL

THE WINE GROUP PROUDLY SUPPORTS THE The 2020 Taycan 2020 ANNAPOLIS takes center stage. FILM FESTIVAL

tents, tables, chairs, etc.

410.544.7474 Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm Porsche Annapolis Sat: 9am-2pm

visit us! 20 Hudson Street, Annapolis, MD 21401 www.absolutepartyrental.net 443-837-2600 | PorscheAnnapolis.com

58 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 59 ADVERTISERS ADVERTISERS

A Proud Supporter of The Annapolis Film Festival www.marylandfilm.org

Three Levels of Instruction First Two Weeks of August

A Proud Hotel Partner of The Annapolis Film Festival www.graduatehotels.com/annapolis

60 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 61 SPONSORS & PATRONS SPONSORS & PATRONS CONTINUED SUPPORTING FRIEND RESTAURANT PARTNERS WARD & KATHY ANDERSON CAROLE ALEXANDER & TOM MUHA CAFÉ NORMANDIE TED & GEORGIE BERKINSHAW K. LEE ANDERSON CAMP SEVERN SHORE SPONSORS & PATRONS 2020 JIM & BRENDA BILES THE ANNAPOLIS (MD) CHAPTER OF CARPACCIO TUSCAN KITCHEN & PREMIER FEATURE SUSTAINING BOATYARD BAR & GRILL THE LINKS, INCORPORATED WINE BAR ARTS COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE COFFEE & TEA AGILE TICKETING SOLUTIONS CAPITAL LAW FIRM BHAWNA BAHETHI, M.D. LIGHT HOUSE BISTRO ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY MARTHA BLAXALL & JOE DICKEY ART LIFE COMCAST NBC UNIVERSAL THE CIVIDANES FAMILY METROPOLITAN KITCHEN & LOUNGE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF ASBURY UNITED SHEREE & ROSS DIERDORFF JANE COOPER & PHILIP ANGELL MISS SHIRLEY’S CAFÉ MAJOR ANNAPOLIS & METHODIST CHURCH FLYNN & ASSOCIATES DICK AND DOROTHY D’AMATO O’BRIEN’S OYSTER BAR & DTA GLOBAL (PROJECTION) ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY BAUM JACKSON INVESTMENT PAMELA FORBES & DRUM, LOYKA & ASSOCIATES, LLC SEAFOOD TAVERN FILMSTERS BREAKTHRU BEVERAGE GROUP CHARITABLE STEVEN BOOKSHESTER SONIA & JERRY FELDMAN MARYLAND HALL DEBRA & DWIGHT FORTIER CHARLES FINDLEY RESTAURANT FRIENDS THE BREITTHOLZ FAMILY FOUNDATION CHICK-FIL-A CHARTER FINANCIAL GROUP/ BILL & NORMA BYRD FRIENDS OF THE ARTS ANNAPOLIS PERINAAZ & NAVROZ GANDHI SIGNATURE AL & GINGER FROM NEWTON & PAMELA GENTRY EVELYN’S ANNAPOLIS ANNE ARUNDEL DERMATOLOGY ELIZABETH LIECHTY EDWARD & MARY BYRNS WHOLE FOODS MARKET CHESAPEAKE FAMILY LIFE MICHAEL & BEVERLY DARROW GRAUL’S MARKET DR. HARMINDAR GILL CITIZEN PRIDE MANDISA HENRY DRS. SONNY & HEATHER GILL BAGELS AND… CITY OF ANNAPOLIS DOUBLETREE BY HILTON FIRST HOME MORTGAGE HOTEL ANNAPOLIS DENNIS & KAREN FRANK I.A.T.S.E. LOCAL 487 MID-ATLANTIC JO-ANN HENRY, RE/MAX DC CAMERA STUDIO MECHANICS PREMIERE SELECTIONS GRADUATE ANNAPOLIS EYE ON ANNAPOLIS IRONMARK FADO IRISH PUB & RESTAURANT MARY ELLEN IWATA WALKER & JOAN JOHNSON VISHNUPRIYA KRISHNA, M.D. HAMEL BUILDERS | J.M. KAPLAN FUND DR. JEFF KUCINE | THE GIBBS FAMILY TRUST FAMILY PROTECTION M&T CHARITABLE FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE SECURITY V. LYNN MORGAN DDS LLC MALINA N. KOERSCHNER BACK TO BALANCE HENNINGER MEDIA SERVICES THE LIGHTBOX STUDIO MID ATLANTIC DECK & KO EVENTS NORMAN J. FISHER & OASIS THE CENTER FOR DORIS FISHER FOUNDATION MENTAL HEALTH JULIE & BOBBY MANDELL FENCE CO., INC. L’ATTITUDE 38, DR. GINA MASSOGLIA OGOS ENERGY LLC MEDIA, MARKETING, THE GLAUCOMA CENTER RAMS HEAD ON STAGE FAITH GOLDSTEIN & JESSE CUNITZ SAGINDIE DR. JUNE MILLER SUE & DAVE RUSSELL PR, SPECIAL EVENTS MISS SHIRLEY’S CAFE PHIL SCRIVENER SANDY LIOTTA | THE LIOTTA HANNON ARMSTRONG KURT & PATRICIA SCHMOKE REGINA & JOSEPH HLADKY SEVERN RIVER ENT FRANK & MARY ELLEN MOORMAN THE SCRIVENER FAMILY OSTERMAN BUCHINSKI GROUP BOB & ALLIE MURPHY RAYMOND & LINDA SIMANOWITH AT MERRILL LYNCH WEALTH FOUNDATION LUCY SPIEGEL & PHIL SCRIVENER LINCOLN FINANCIAL GROUP SPRINGHILL SUITES BY DEE & SANDRA MURRAY SIMS & CAMPBELL, LLC MANAGEMENT WILLIAM J. & DOROTHY K. O’NEILL SOUND DEPARTMENT MARYLAND FILM OFFICE LAW OFFICE OF MARRIOTT ANNAPOLIS THOMAS MARONICK JR LLC THE STANDISH FAMILY FOUNDATION THE SPECIALE FAMILY MARYLAND STATE ARTS COUNCIL JAMES & THEODORE PEDAS SRB COMMUNICATIONS LYNN MCREYNOLDS & BERT CARP THE MURRAY MCGEHRIN GROUP STAR THROWER ENTERTAINMENT AT MERRILL KENDALL B. SUMMERS, FAMILY FOUNDATION WALL TO WALL HOME STAGING ONE MORE SPONSOR MICHAEL & LAURA PHILLIPS ARLENE & JIM WALSH THE PALATE PLEASERS GRACA MCKENNEY KENDALL SUMMERS LAW GRAPHIC SERVICES TEMPLE BETH SHALOM RBC WEALTH MANAGEMENT PATTI & GEOFFREY WHITE PORSCHE ANNAPOLIS REYNOLDS TAVERN & 1747 PUB SERIOUS GRIP & ELECTRIC ROB & PARABH MEEK WHOLE REALM TECHNOLOGIES NEXTCAR ALL VEHICLE RENTALS WILMINGTON TRUST CAROL & DAVID STERN SIR SPEEDY NIKKI & BRIAN TREVEY SPINGRAPHICS, INC. CORKY PIWOZ & ALEX MCCRARY WNAV MARTHA & JOHN SCHWIETERS MARTIN TURCHIN SYNERGICS FILMS UP.ST.ART TITO’S HANDMADE VODKA TREEBRANCH GROUP THE WESTIN ANNAPOLIS KAREN WALSH & ASHBY WILLIAMS TWO PRODUCER STUDIOS WOODY & AMANDA WOODYARD VISIT ANNAPOLIS & THE WINE GROUP ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY WHALE WORKS DESIGN SUSAN & GREG WALKER & ILLUSTRATION THE WASHINGTON SOURCE FOR SUSAN WHEATLEY | JUST SHOW UP! LIGHTING/RED STAR PICTURES WRITER’S HAVEN WRNR

62 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 63 BOARD, STAFF & TEAMS BOARD, STAFF & TEAMS TEAMS SCREENING COMMITTEE SPONSOR RELATIONS COMMUNITY OUTREACH MANDISA HENRY Team Leader AZIZ ABDUR RA’OOF Team Leader ANNE WOLFE ANN CHRISTIAN RICHARD CLIFFORD BOARDS, STAFF & NANCY CLIFFORD SARAH DANIELS DESIGN MATTHEW GREEN JIM MILLER TEAMS 2020 SUZANNE MARSHALL Print MIKE KAISER LARA BORNEMANN MISH Program Design KATHY MILLER AMANDA NORTON FESTIVAL DIRECTORS AMBASSADOR SHABAZZ VENUE MANAGER COORDINATOR GRACA MCKENNEY Large CARRIE PAUL KATHERINE SCHMOKE PATTI WHITE LUCY SPIEGEL ANNE SAUL Signage Design MARY RATHLEV KIM WITMER DANIELLE TROSTORFF LEE ANDERSON GUEST RELATIONS LYN SONGY DAVID S. WARD PRINT TRAFFIC COORDINATOR VOLUNTEERS DIANE SANCILIO EMMA SPINDLER TIM WHITE BRADLEY WILLIAMS SUSAN WHEATLEY Team Leader BOARD OF DIRECTORS KIRA REMY CATHERINE WYLER SOCIAL MEDIA WEB CONTENT MANAGERS LYNN MCREYNOLDS President TECH ASSISTANTS KATIE SHINSATO Team Leader SUSAN H. WALKER Vice President JOSHUA KRUGER HOSPITALITY EMMA SPINDLER TORI MARKHAM THOMAS SMITH SPINGRAPHICS PARABH GILL, MD Treasurer STAFF MITCHELL MAKOWICZ EMMA SPINDLER REGINA NOVOTNY Secretary FESTIVAL PRODUCER VENUE MANAGERS PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS LIVE STREAMING LEE ANDERSON Co-Founder CINDY MILLER SPECIAL EVENTS QUENTIN SMITH Lead ADAM STOVALL TWO PRODUCERS STUDIO PATTI WHITE Co-Founder KARMA O’NEILL Team Leader Venue Manager DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING STEVEN A. BOOKSHESTER OPERATIONS JULIE BAYS PAUL LOFGREN DEREK HORNE MERCHANDISE COORDINATOR MICHAEL P. DARROW GLENCORA GUDGER JEFF BARLOW Team Leader HILARY RAFTOVICH SUZETTE KETTENHOFEN PAMELA GENTRY ART DIRECTOR PABLO ALVAREZ Co-Leader BESS RIDDLE BILL LANG PHIL GIBBS JOE BARSIN PRODUCTION INTERNS COOPER FLYNN ROBIN TALBOT MYRNA PITTAWAY MANDISA HENRY LIZ GRIER CHERA HOWEY THOMAS HALL MARY ELLEN IWATA ASSOCIATE PROGRAMMER DANNY WILLIAMS PUBLIC RELATIONS MARY AUSTIN ROBYN KRESS ASHLEY DECKMAN LISA SEBOROWSKI Team Leader DIANE FANTONE DIT ELIZABETH LIECHTY MARY GRACE GALLAGHER WENDY NORRIS COORDINATING PRODUCER LU FOSTER CHERYL MILLER LESLEY HARRIS SARAH HOCTOR CHELLIE SCHOU DENISE HIGHTOWER MICHAEL K. PHILLIPS HOSTS JON SCHWENZER FESTIVAL COORDINATOR EMIL GALLINA KATIE SHINSATO TORI MARKHAM JOE NEUMAIER ADVISORY BOARD KEN WASCH MAYOR GAVIN BUCKLEY CONTENT MANAGER IT THOMAS SMITH STEVE L. BURNS KATIE SHINSATO JUDE DECOTEAU SUSAN O’BRIEN RUTH ANDERSON COGGESHALL KIRA REMY DICK D’AMATO CONTENT COORDINATOR STILL PHOTOGRAPHERS JANICE ROPER JANET DAVIDSON EMMA SPINDLER DONNA COLE DAVID WILDER MARIANNA “MIMI” EDMUNDS ANNE WEATHERSBY CARLESA FINNEY DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR SYDNEY BARLOW DEBRA FORTIER Co-Founder CHRIS EDWARDS KIERSTAN BOYD EMIL GALLINA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR PROGRAM COPYWRITERS JACK GERBES CHRIS BREDENBERG CHRIS HALEY NANCY CLIFFORD MICHAEL I. MILLER BOX OFFICE MANAGER ASHLEY DECKMAN JOE NEUMAIER KAITLYN RYAN DEREK HORNE APRIL NYMAN PRODUCTION ASSISTANT WAYNE ROGERS ASSISTANT BOX OFFICE MANAGER ERIN MCINNIS COOPER FLYNN

64 2020 Annapolis Film Festival www.annapolisflmfestival.org 65 Lynn McReynolds & Bert Carp Susan and Greg Walker The mission of the Annapolis Film Festival has been formally extended through the establishment of the Annapolis Film Society (AFS), which will host screenings and other film-related events all year long. AFS is dedicated to celebrating the art of film, to using its power and magic to bring together our diverse community in thoughtful dialogue, and to partnering with other artistic organizations and business leaders to foster ongoing conversations.

Current offerings are the Founders Circle and General Membership. Individu- als and couples who wish to support independent filmmaking and make a major commitment to AFS will want to become a member of the Founders Circle, which includes exclusive benefits and perpetual recognition for a one-time payment of $2,500. Membership in the Founders Circle is only available until June 30, 2020. Additional membership opportunities may be offered following the close of the Founders Circle. Please visit www.annap- olisfilmfestival.org for more information and updates on AFS memberships and benefits. AFS is delighted to recognize the following members of the Founders Circle, whose generous support is gratefully acknowledged (includes memberships through March 4, 2020). FOUNDERS CIRCLE Dick & Dorothy D’Amato Dee & Sandra Murray Emil N. Gallina Regina Novotny & Charles Findley Martha Blaxall & Joe Dickey Corky Piwoz & Alex McCray Newton & Pamela Gentry Angela Peterman & Ed Ponatoski The Breittholz Family Martha & John Schwieters Parabh Gill & Rob Meek Mark Piccirilli Norman J. Fisher & Doris Fisher Foundation Susan Wheatley - Just Show Up! Mary Ellen Iwata Wayne Rogers Regina and Joseph Hladky Foundation Bryan & Jennifer Klepper Janice John Roper-Graham Elizabeth A. Liechty Phil Scrivener & Lucy Spiegel Sandy Liotta & Carl Osterman Leo & Cheryl Staurulakis Lynn McReynolds & Bert Carp Susan & Greg Walker V. Lynn Morgan

Annapolis Film Society is a Registered Trade Name of Annapolis Film Festival, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations in excess of the value of goods or services provided by AFF are tax deductible to the extent allowed by applicable law. Navy- ROWE BLVD U.S. NAVAL Marine Corps KING GEORGE ST Memorial ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE ACADEMY Stadium KEY AUDITORIUM

BLADEN ST 2 P3 C ANNAPOLIS ST. JOHN’S ST N

O

R COLLEGE AVE

T

H

W 70

E

GRADUATE S T S MARYLAND AVE ANNAPOLIS HOTEL T R CI

TAYLOR AVE TAYLOR E FILMMAKER LOUNGE T A 435 T RCH CIR S P4 U H H1 CALVERT ST C O’Brien’s Crown Springhill MADISON PL MAIN ST Steakhouse

Plaza Suites DUKE OF GLOUCESTER ST

T

S

H4 H3 Westin WEST ST H P2 3 T P6 Hotel COLONIAL ST U 3 P1 O Ego Alley MURRAY AVE CATHEDRAL STS WEST ST 1 450 A H2 P5 B 4 SMITHVILLE ST. Boys & Girls SOUTHGATE AVE GREEN ST Club CHARLES ST ASBURY UNITED CITY HALL 2 THE LIGHTBOX METHODIST CHURCH M

C O H N ANNAPOLIS A A T S I E M C ELEMENTARY O E S P S L T L SCHOOL R G O E A Parking E A R T V Available R E LAFAYETTE AVE COMPROMISE ST E FRANKLIN ST T 1 T

B L V D Spa Creek MARYLAND HALL TICKET & PASS CENTRAL EASTPORT 2020 MAP Graduate Annapolis Hotel - Filmmaker Lounge HOTEL PARTNERS Maryland Hall - Ticket & Pass Central H1 Graduate Annapolis Hotel H2 Westin Annapolis FILM VENUES: H3 Springhill Suites 1. Maryland Hall - Main Theater and Bowen Theater H4 Crown Plaza - Jennifer Road Ticket & Pass Central 2. St John’s College - Key Auditorium FOOD AVAILABLE 3. Asbury United Methodist Church Maryland Hall - Food Truck 4. Annapolis Elementary School Snacks available for purchase at Asbury and St. John’s PANELS / CONVERSATION VENUES: A. The Lightbox Studio - Co ee Talks with... PARKING B. Annapolis City Hall - Panels P1 City Dock C. St. John’s Conversation Room - Panels P2 Noah Hillman Garage P3 Bladen St. Garage PARTY VENUES P4 Gott’s Court Garage 1. Fado Irish Pub P5 Knighton Garage 2. Boys & Girls Club P6 Park Place Garage 3. O’Brien’s (Event is Upstairs) City Circulator Bus Stops - complimentary

MARCH 26-29 2020