2024 Film Fest Schedule, stay tuned closer to the event for 2025 info!

Please note all panels and timings are subject to change.

Room 206 (2nd Floor)

Ocean City Film Fest Screening Room
The Ocean City Film Festival is Ocean City’s first and only film festival that celebrates independent filmmakers from near and far. Founded in 2017, the festival continues to deliver an original program of films year after year. Content is NOT rated by MPAA and viewer discretion is advised. Learn more at OCMDFilmFestival.com

12:00PM: The 2024 Ocean City Film Challenge. 70 minutes approx.
The Ocean City Film Challenge is the OCFF’s annual summer contest for people to make a short film in or about Ocean City. Applicants are automatically featured in the annual OCFF and contestants are eligible for cash prizes and bragging rights!

Go Long
Directed by Davis Mears. Two friends play catch on the beach that leads to a near death experience. 7 minutes.

Thirsty
Directed by Josh Vine. A man’s struggle with desire and despair. 1 minute.

Why Not?
Directed by Douglas M. Armstrong and Joan L. Floyd. He needs a break and a bucket of donuts. She wants to plan their next project. They’ve come to the right place. 10 minutes.

Shoreside News
Directed by Myah Stokes. Shoreside News involves puppetry characters that were in the short film, The Ballad of Pop and Corn. This film focuses on the story of a woman named Kara Mell who is obsessed with Fisher's Popcorn. When she runs out of popcorn, she searches throughout Ocean City to find a container of Fishers that vanished in front of her own eyes. She finds it, however, it is not what she expects. 4 minutes.

Dating in 2024
Directed by Jesse. Jesse is an ordinary human that basically lives in a car. After chatting with LayLadyLegsXoXo on the interwebs, they agree to meet for a day at the beach in Ocean City, MD. Jesse will use every trick in the acrobatic playbook to win the heart of a woman who was really never there. This human centered love story explores what one will do when trying to find a life partner. No wonder she keeps choosing the bear. 15 minutes.

Swedish Fish
Directed by Fiona O’Brien and Zoe Couloumbis. Two fish from Sweden journey across the Atlantic Ocean washing up on Ocean City's sand. New to America, they experience the marvels of Ocean City while missing home. The fish friends stumble upon a Candy Kitchen and notice a popular candy being sold, "Swedish Fish", which sends them running back to the water. 3 minutes. (1st Place)

Staring Contest
Directed by Jackson Dutton. In Ocean City, Maryland, there is a Staring Contest League. The reigning, defending, undisputed champion is Big Poppa Stare! Big Poppa Stare has run through every stare contestant in town and has become so bored with the weak competition, that he has opened a title shot to anyone who dares to accept. Who will accept this challenge? Will Big Poppa Stare retain his beloved title? You won’t want to miss this exhilarating, action-packed night! 5 minutes.

Ocean VS Bay
Directed by Marlon Wallace. Two young men battle over which part of Ocean City, Maryland, is better, the oceanside or the bayside. From the Atlantic to the Assawoman, the fight has been for bragging rights, but a young tourist gets in the middle and ends up inflaming the two rivals to determine once and for all which side should be on top. 13 minutes. (3rd Place)

The Boardwalk
Directed by Erik Espinosa. Spending his golden years floating by the pier of the now-quiet Ocean City Boardwalk, an old man devotes his time to picking up discarded trash. In a small boat carried and swayed by the sea, the man picks up after debris and discarded objects in honor of what he has known and loved. He is surprised when he unearths more than what he bargained for by one little piece of plastic. 6 minutes.

The Ocean City Summer Heat Drones On
Directed by Thomas Taylor. Ocean City Heat Drones On is a fun story about a beach town during summer, where some drones unexpectedly come to life. Amidst the hustle and bustle of vacationers, these drones add a bit of chaos and humor, showing how technology can surprise us. It’s all about finding creative ways to beat the heat and enjoy the sunny days. 3 minutes. (2nd Place)

2:00PM: OCFF 2024 Horror, Sci-Fi and the Weird Showcase 127 minutes approx.
This is a specially curated selection of strange films for strange people. Horrifying to some, humorous to others, and a truly unique showcase!

Marbles
Directed by Robert Hamilton. A record store clerk plays a mysterious vinyl record and unwittingly unleashes the spirit of a homicidal musician hellbent on killing her with the very thing she loves most... music. 15 minutes.

Midnight Oil
Directed by Trevor Taylor. A detective hunts down a mysterious killer through a series of dreams and memories. Shot entirely on a 1989 VHS Camcorder. 9 minutes. Salisbury, MD United States.

Personalized Futures
Directed by Max Delfino. In a future in which a personalized algorithm decides which major students have to pick, Kate, an econ major with an artistic calling, is faced with the choice of trusting the system or trying to subvert it from within. 10 minutes. Chicago, IL United States.

The Metamorph
Directed by Maximilian Remmler. A child shapeshifter longs for a best friend, but their involuntary form changes leave them unrecognizable to any friends they do make. Tyler has struggled to control their morphing abilities their entire 9-year-old life. Unable to be recognized by anyone they knew prior, they reside alone near a public park. They meet a boy named Sam, hoping to form a friendship with him that won't end as soon as they transform again. 12 minutes. Wilmington, DE United States.

Three Ninety Five
Directed by Nicholas Thurkettle. The world has gone quiet. With no home and no memory, a nameless traveler searches for fellow survivors along a remote highway. 7 minutes. Huntington Beach, CA United States.

Familiar
Directed by Rebecca Mlinek. A groundskeeper vies against her accomplished brother for control of her house, until a mysterious cat appears to tip the balance. 18 minutes. Upperco, MD United States.

Red Yellow Blue
Directed by Julia E. Cooke. A girl gets haunted by her own demons as we follow her through her colorful, surreal, bizarre descent into insanity. 19 minutes. Baltimore, MD United States.

The Boog
Directed by Brian Wild. The Boog is snot your average horror tale, it's a kid-friendly monster movie partially inspired by the pandemic, celebrating the heroic efforts of everyday families facing a new kind of horror. 7 minutes.

Ray of Sunshine
Directed by Tyler Jennings, Jon Kemmerer. The year is 1999. Ray (16), along with his adopted siblings Anna (16), and Florence (11), lives with their abusive foster parents, Miranda and Father. After years of trauma and turmoil, the kids have had enough. They soon embrace a dark and supernatural force to give them all they need. 31 minutes.

Room 206 (2nd Floor)

11:30AM: The 2024 Ocean City Film Challenge. 70 minutes approx.
The Ocean City Film Challenge is the OCFF’s annual summer contest for people to make a short film in or about Ocean City. Applicants are automatically featured in the annual OCFF and contestants are eligible for cash prizes and bragging rights!

Go Long
Directed by Davis Mears. Two friends play catch on the beach that leads to a near death experience. 7 minutes.

Thirsty
Directed by Josh Vine. A man’s struggle with desire and despair. 1 minute.

Why Not?
Directed by Douglas M. Armstrong and Joan L. Floyd. He needs a break and a bucket of donuts. She wants to plan their next project. They’ve come to the right place. 10 minutes.

Shoreside News
Directed by Myah Stokes. Shoreside News involves puppetry characters that were in the short film, The Ballad of Pop and Corn. This film focuses on the story of a woman named Kara Mell who is obsessed with Fisher's Popcorn. When she runs out of popcorn, she searches throughout Ocean City to find a container of Fishers that vanished in front of her own eyes. She finds it, however, it is not what she expects. 4 minutes.

Dating in 2024
Directed by Jesse. Jesse is an ordinary human that basically lives in a car. After chatting with LayLadyLegsXoXo on the interwebs, they agree to meet for a day at the beach in Ocean City, MD. Jesse will use every trick in the acrobatic playbook to win the heart of a woman who was really never there. This human centered love story explores what one will do when trying to find a life partner. No wonder she keeps choosing the bear. 15 minutes.

Swedish Fish
Directed by Fiona O’Brien and Zoe Couloumbis. Two fish from Sweden journey across the Atlantic Ocean washing up on Ocean City's sand. New to America, they experience the marvels of Ocean City while missing home. The fish friends stumble upon a Candy Kitchen and notice a popular candy being sold, "Swedish Fish", which sends them running back to the water. 3 minutes. (1st Place)

Staring Contest
Directed by Jackson Dutton. In Ocean City, Maryland, there is a Staring Contest League. The reigning, defending, undisputed champion is Big Poppa Stare! Big Poppa Stare has run through every stare contestant in town and has become so bored with the weak competition, that he has opened a title shot to anyone who dares to accept. Who will accept this challenge? Will Big Poppa Stare retain his beloved title? You won’t want to miss this exhilarating, action-packed night! 5 minutes.

Ocean VS Bay
Directed by Marlon Wallace. Two young men battle over which part of Ocean City, Maryland, is better, the oceanside or the bayside. From the Atlantic to the Assawoman, the fight has been for bragging rights, but a young tourist gets in the middle and ends up inflaming the two rivals to determine once and for all which side should be on top. 13 minutes. (3rd Place)

The Boardwalk
Directed by Erik Espinosa. Spending his golden years floating by the pier of the now-quiet Ocean City Boardwalk, an old man devotes his time to picking up discarded trash. In a small boat carried and swayed by the sea, the man picks up after debris and discarded objects in honor of what he has known and loved. He is surprised when he unearths more than what he bargained for by one little piece of plastic. 6 minutes.

The Ocean City Summer Heat Drones On
Directed by Thomas Taylor. Ocean City Heat Drones On is a fun story about a beach town during summer, where some drones unexpectedly come to life. Amidst the hustle and bustle of vacationers, these drones add a bit of chaos and humor, showing how technology can surprise us. It’s all about finding creative ways to beat the heat and enjoy the sunny days. 3 minutes. (2nd Place)

1:00PM: OCFF 2024 Horror, Sci-Fi and the Weird Showcase 127 minutes approx.
This is a specially curated selection of strange films for strange people. Horrifying to some, humorous to others, and a truly unique showcase!

Marbles
Directed by Robert Hamilton. A record store clerk plays a mysterious vinyl record and unwittingly unleashes the spirit of a homicidal musician hellbent on killing her with the very thing she loves most... music. 15 minutes.

Midnight Oil
Directed by Trevor Taylor. A detective hunts down a mysterious killer through a series of dreams and memories. Shot entirely on a 1989 VHS Camcorder. 9 minutes. Salisbury, MD United States.

Personalized Futures
Directed by Max Delfino. In a future in which a personalized algorithm decides which major students have to pick, Kate, an econ major with an artistic calling, is faced with the choice of trusting the system or trying to subvert it from within. 10 minutes. Chicago, IL United States.

The Metamorph
Directed by Maximilian Remmler. A child shapeshifter longs for a best friend, but their involuntary form changes leave them unrecognizable to any friends they do make. Tyler has struggled to control their morphing abilities their entire 9-year-old life. Unable to be recognized by anyone they knew prior, they reside alone near a public park. They meet a boy named Sam, hoping to form a friendship with him that won't end as soon as they transform again. 12 minutes. Wilmington, DE United States.

Three Ninety Five
Directed by Nicholas Thurkettle. The world has gone quiet. With no home and no memory, a nameless traveler searches for fellow survivors along a remote highway. 7 minutes. Huntington Beach, CA United States.

Familiar
Directed by Rebecca Mlinek. A groundskeeper vies against her accomplished brother for control of her house, until a mysterious cat appears to tip the balance. 18 minutes. Upperco, MD United States.

Red Yellow Blue
Directed by Julia E. Cooke. A girl gets haunted by her own demons as we follow her through her colorful, surreal, bizarre descent into insanity. 19 minutes. Baltimore, MD United States.

The Boog
Directed by Brian Wild. The Boog is snot your average horror tale, it's a kid-friendly monster movie partially inspired by the pandemic, celebrating the heroic efforts of everyday families facing a new kind of horror. 7 minutes.

Ray of Sunshine
Directed by Tyler Jennings, Jon Kemmerer. The year is 1999. Ray (16), along with his adopted siblings Anna (16), and Florence (11), lives with their abusive foster parents, Miranda and Father. After years of trauma and turmoil, the kids have had enough. They soon embrace a dark and supernatural force to give them all they need. 31 minutes.

Room 215 (2nd Floor)

11:30 Saber Guild: Adult Lightsaber Training
Ages: 15 - and up
Time: 20 - 30 minutes
Number of Participants: 10
Lightsabers for use in the class will be provided
In the Adult Intro to Lightsaber Choreography class, participants will experience an introductory course to learn the basics of wielding a Lightsaber. Saber Guild’s seasoned members will demonstrate a variety of movements and techniques used when learning lightsaber combat choreography. Along with these skills, participants get acquainted with how to use a stunt Lightsaber, handle it safely, and how to work safely with a partner. Participants will learn three established sets that we use in our regular performances and a Force Move. At the conclusion of this training class, we will create a “show off” opportunity for their Lightsaber training archives.

12:30 Saber Guild: Kids Lightsaber Training
Ages: 6-14
Time: 20-25 minutes
Number of Participants: 20
Lightsabers for use in the class will be provided
The younglings will take their first steps into a larger world during this introductory course to Lightsabers and the Force. Saber Guild’s elite Jedi will demonstrate their skills before introducing the younglings to the Force and guiding them through the first form of Lightsaber combat: Shii-Cho. Once the younglings understand this form, the instructors will teach them how to use their lightsaber for defense, showing them basic dodges, blocks, and Force moves to protect themselves from the Empire or the First Order. The younglings might have the chance to use what they have learned against Saber Guild’s Sith. At the conclusion of this training class, we will create photo opportunities for parents including a class photo and the younglings will receive a certificate for their studies in Lightsaber training.

Bayfront Ballroom (2nd Floor)

3:00 Group Cosplay Contest