25 Films, 7 Live Q&A Panels 3 Days

 Local Films from Local Filmmakers  

The 2020 Community Stories Film Festival showcases people, places and events of Maryland, Washington DC, and Northern Virginia.

What began in 2010 as a one night showcase of Docs In Progress student work has grown to a weekend of public screenings of films by everyone from professional filmmakers to first-time adult and youth filmmakers, sharing stories from our local community. This year, Community Stories will be a virtual festival via Eventive. 

This year the festival is virtual and FREE. Please see the schedule below and follow to the links for more information for each event and to reserve your tickets.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20

FEATURE PRESENTATION:
Resisterhood, CJ Crim (dir)
(Film screening followed by a
live Q&A with the filmmakers)

When historians tell the story of the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election, Resisterhood will be Exhibit A: is a film about the power of women, hope and resistance in modern American politics. Beginning at the 2017 Women’s March in Washington, DC, the film follows six diverse Americans as they fight for social justice on the streets and in the halls of power. Find out more here. 

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21

FEATURE PRESENTATION:
Maryland Mystery Lady
(Film screening followed by a
live Q&A with the filmmakers)

In 2017, a routine state archaeological project in Hyattsville, MD unearthed something extraordinary: the forgotten remains of over 70 individuals at the former site of St. Paul Baptist Church's Simon Hill Cemetery including the perfectly preserved remains of an unknown woman.

This film is presented in conjunction with Maryland Public Television, a community partner of this year's Community Stories Film Festival, and in celebration of their 50th Anniversary.

Find out more here. 

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22

FEATURE PRESENTATION:
The Invalid Corps, Day Al-Mohamed, (dir)
(Film screening followed by a
live Q&A with the filmmakers)

In July 1864 a Confederate army advances on Washington DC. The North has already sent every able-bodied soldier to Petersburg leaving the Union capital defenseless. Made up of men injured in battle or by disease, these "hopeless cripples" will hold out for a desperate 24 hours until reinforcements arrive. With Abraham Lincoln himself on the ramparts of Fort Stevens, the Invalid Corps cannot afford to fail. Find out more here. 

The 2020 Community Stories is sponsored by

Thank you to our Community Sponsors

ABOUT COMMUNITY STORIES

The festival features films made by professional filmmakers as well as works produced by adults and youth in our our production classes and camps. To allow these first-time filmmakers to focus on learning effective storytelling and the technical aspects of using a camera and editing equipment, we identify local individuals, small businesses, and nonprofits for the students to profile in short videos. 

Below are just a handful of Community Stories profile videos which have been made by our students over the years. You can see even more on our Youtube page.