About


Welcome to the Columbia Film Festival, presented by Columbia Festival of the Arts!

MISSION & OBJECTIVE

The Columbia Film Festival aims to introduce Howard County audiences to the best in world, national, and local cinema, and is dedicated to inspiring and reflecting the diverse community it serves.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Movie lovers will delight in the vast variety of films presented as part of this year’s Columbia Film Festival.  In addition to unique panels of film industry professionals and special events, we celebrate the very best in features, shorts, documentaries, web series, with world cinema, national and local films, plus the best student projects.  Founded in 2016 and produced in partnership with Columbia Festival of the Arts, the Columbia Film Festival reflects the beautiful diversity of our region.

Programming will be presented in a series of socially conscious and entertaining blocks throughout the Columbia Film Festival which highlight a wealth of compelling topics. Film enthusiasts can enjoy a wide selection of genres that includes a Classic Corner Vintage Film, an exceptional Student Film series, Maryland feature films & shorts, comedies and much more.

From June 17 – 26, 2020 Columbia Film Festival offers morning to evening events continue with two unique live script readings as free events in partnership with Rep State, a powerful collection of documentary films, plus a series of inspirational films that deal with balance, health and wellness..

Other highlights include feature films, and almost three dozen remarkable short films representing multiple cultures, comedy, drama, animation and cinematic beauty.  We will again include he very best shorts of the International, DC and Baltimore 48 hour film Festival, and a very special collaboration with The Horizon foundation to present their Mental Health Film Festival with guest filmmakers and exciting Awards Ceremony!  (Scheduled films subject to change)

The Columbia Festival of the Arts is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit. Founded in 1987, the Festival’s popularity and growth has transformed it into one of the Baltimore/Washington Corridor’s premiere arts events. The Festival presents four weekend-long arts festivals throughout the year, comprised of both free and ticketed events, featuring world-class performances, exhibitions, film programs, concerts, family activities, master classes, workshops and community dialogues. Columbia Festival of the Arts brings together the arts community, businesses, local schools, and individuals to create events that shine a spotlight, not only on the arts, but on the Howard County community as a Maryland showplace.

The mission of the Columbia Festival of the Arts is to present a world class celebration of the arts and entertainment that attracts, engages and inspires the broad and diverse community it serves.

In support of its Vision and Mission the Columbia Festival of the Arts seeks to attract, engage and inspire through the achievement of the following goals:
•Broaden the scope of programming to expand the diversity of offerings for greater community involvement and to increase the Festival’s year-round presence.
•Deepen audience engagement through strong programming and artistic experiences.
•Strengthen, expand and add local, as well as regional and national, partnerships.
•Optimize leadership and management of the Festival and its engagement with Columbia and Howard County residents and businesses.
•Build a financially sustainable organization.

The Festival is dependent upon a variety of funding sources, including grants, corporate sponsorships and individual donations. The funds are used to subsidize Festival programming costs in order to make the arts accessible for people across a broad spectrum of social, cultural and economic strata. The Festival’s focus is on reaching out and embracing the vast and diverse community that exists in the region.

Now in its third decade, the Festival continues to thrive because so many organizations and individuals are committed to its success.

AWARDS

Columbia Film Festival celebrates cinema with selected awards. All categories eligible!

AWARDS & PRIZES

Cash Best Of Fest prize, Anchor Trophies and Laurels Awarded:
Best of Fest Award
Best Director
Best Student Film
Best Actor Short Film
Best Actor Feature Length
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Audience Choice Award

2019 AWARD WINNERS

BEST OF FESTIVAL: After Forever
BEST DIRECTOR:  Jennifer Pepperman, After Forever
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Matt Simpkins, Free
BEST ACTOR FEATURE LENGTH: Kevin Spirtas
BEST ACTOR SHORT: Donald Imm
BEST STUDENT SHORT: Take Me to the Stars
BEST EDITING: After Forever
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD: The Pharaohs

2016 AWARD WINNERS

BEST OF FESTIVAL: Roller Coaster
BEST ACTOR: Dan Franko, The Recursion Theorem
BEST DIRECTOR: Bradley Hawkins, Roller Coaster
FRI AUDIENCE CHOICE GOLD: My Brother Is A Zombie
SAT AUDIENCE CHOICE GOLD: Lightyears
FRI AUDIENCE CHOICE SILVER: The Recursion Theorem
SAT AUDIENCE CHOICE SILVER: Since The Bombing of PAN AM 103
FRI AUDIENCE CHOICE BRONZE: Roller Coaster
SAT AUDIENCE CHOICE BRONZE: Life of the Party

Congratulations to all our winners and all the fantastic filmmakers who were part of our 2019 and 2016 inaugural Columbia Film Festival!