Founded in 2008, it is the mission of the Chesapeake Film Festival to entertain, enrich and inspire by bringing the finest in narrative, documentary and short film to the Chesapeake Bay community. The films we showcase are broadly focused to illuminate both the diversity and universality of the human condition. We believe that films can affect positive change, and through this medium, individuals and communities can gain a greater understanding of themselves and the world. The Chesapeake Film Festival serves to stimulate, educate and empower.
Best Environmental Feature
Best Environmental Short
Best Documentary Feature
Best Short Film
Best Biographical Feature Film
Best Animated Film
Best Emerging Filmmaker
Best Emerging Performance
Best Emerging Director
Best Editing
Best Sound Editing
Jury’s Prize
Best Environmental Short Animation
Best Narrative Short
Best Sound Design
Best Narrative Feature
Best Animated Short
Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Director
2020 WINNERS
Best Animated Film – “Les Animaux Domestiques”
Best Comedy – “A Piece of Cake”
Best Director – Stephan Schwartz – “About Us”
Best Documentary Feature – “You Don’t Know Nothin’ Bout Groove City”
Best Drama – “Unarmed Man”
Best Editing – “Fort Bliss”
Best Emerging Filmmaker – Mason Mirabile – “Never Too Small” and Micaa Thomas, “Our House is On Fire”
Best Environmental Feature – “Unbreathable: The Fight for Healthy Air”
Best Environmental Short – “Seeds of Hope”
Best International Film — “Imaginarius”
Best Made In Maryland Film — “Squeegee”
Best Performance – Actor – Both Aaron Williamson, case investigator by Shaun Woodland and Greg Yelich, Police Officer by Danny Gavigan in “Unarmed Man”
Best Short Film – “Wake Up”
Best Sound Editing – “Balloon Man”
Jury’s Prize – “Emanuel”
2019 WINNERS
Best Environmental Feature – “Sharkwater Extinction”
Best Environmental Short – “Nassawango Legacy”
Best Documentary Feature – “The Pollinators”
Best Short Film – “Appy Days”
Best Biographical Feature Film – “The Spy Behind Home Plate”
Best Animated Film – “Late Afternoon”
Best Emerging Filmmaker — Short – Joshua Ziggy Popkin – “Bishop”
Best Emerging Filmmaker – Lehr Jackson, “The Endless War”
Best Emerging Performance – Actor – Herman J. Johansen – “The Land”
Best Emerging Director – “Light from Light” – Paul Harrill
Best Editing – “Sea of Shadows”
Best Sound Editing – “The Bonobo Connection”
Jury’s Prize – “The Cold Blue”
2018 WINNERS
Best Environmental Feature – “Saving Sea Turtles: Preventing Extinction”
Best Environmental Short Animation – Lynne Tomlinson – “The Elephant’s Song”
Best Environmental Short – “Current Revolution”
Best Documentary Feature – “Moving Stories”
Best Narrative Short – “Othello-San”
Best Sound Design – “The Elephant’s Song”
Best Narrative Feature – “I, Matter” – Llysa Rie & Shayne Pax
Best Animated Short – “Shadow” – Lei Lei
Best Emerging Filmmaker – Shayla Racquel – “Riverment”
Best Editing – “In the Executioner’s Shadow: A Story of Justice, Injustice and the Death Penalty”
Best Actress – Llysa Rie – “I, Matter”
Best Actor – Timothy Troy – “Hold My Horse”
Best Director – Llysa Rie & Shayne Pax – “I, Matter”