The Chesapeake Film Festival (CFF) is back with a new season and a new president, and they are both ready for their close-ups.
The Chesapeake Film Festival will take place Oct. 10 through Oct. 12, with a lineup of over 40 independent and student films in historic downtown Easton.
Early-bird tickets, which are on sale now until Aug. 15, give purchasers 17% off the normal $150 ticket price and guarantee a seat at the festival’s top screenings at the Ebenezer Theater, the Academy Art Museum, and the Talbot County Free Library.
Irene A. Magafan, an accomplished independent filmmaker herself, has been involved with CFF’s programming committee for years before. Now, instead of reviewing and choosing films for the festival, as president she’s in a position to shape the legacy of this established cultural and artistic tradition on the Eastern Shore.
“Regional film festivals like CFF are an essential bridge between filmmakers and audiences,” Magafan said. “We have the power to discover and elevate films and the platform to engage and inspire audiences. As a filmmaker, it’s just thrilling to be able to participate in curating the upcoming season and to see how this remarkable organization works behind the scenes with our communities, universities, as well as cultural and environmental organizations to offer such inspiring programming,”
The Chesapeake Film Festival’s board of directors chose Magafan as CFF’s president because of her talent as an award-winning documentary filmmaker and her passion for storytelling. The also aligned with her belief that cinema can spark dialogue and be a catalyst for change, especially in the fields of nature and social justice.
Magafan knows how to attract filmmakers and audiences, as well, something to which her career can attest. She is a senior video specialist and editor at the World Wildlife Fund and has a resumé that includes the award-winning documentary “The Bonobo Connection,” narrated by Hollywood actor and activist Ashley Judd. That film will be shown on CFF’s Opening Night of environmental films, with a panel discussion following.
“We’ve always been grateful for CFF’s terrific leadership over the years,” said Cid Collins, executive and artistic director for CFF. “Having a filmmaking pro like Irene guiding us this season makes us confident that our programming will continue to be entertaining and compelling to all who attend the festival in downtown Easton this fall.”
Submissions for films are also open on the CFF’s filmmakers’ portal, FilmFreeway. Filmmakers from around the world are invited to submit their work and join the local and global community of CFF. Every year the festival reviews and rates hundreds of film submissions. In 2024, there were more than 200 films from 30 states and six countries submitted. The festival’s goal is to curate the most compelling and diverse array of films to include features, environmental films, documentaries, shorts, animation, and student films. Information on film categories, rules, key submission dates, and more are available at the portal here.
Last year, tickets for the festival sold out nearly a month before opening night, so organizers are encouraging people to get their tickets early. For online registration and ticket purchases, click this link.
