Bethesda Film Fest

Bethesda Film Fest

Apr 10
Apr 11
Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema, 7235 Woodmont Avenue
7pm

The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District announces the 2026 Bethesda Film Fest.  Five short documentary films have been selected by the esteemed panel of judges. The screenings will be held at 7pm on Friday, April 10th; and 7pm on Saturday, April 11th. All films are shown at both screenings, and are followed by a discussion with the filmmakers. Tickets are $15.

2026 Selected Films

A Score in Absence

Film by Max Rykov • 28 minutes

At 17 years old, Ukrainian pianist Khrystyna has already fled war twice: first from Crimea, and then from Irpin as Russia’s invasion advanced. With her brother still in Ukraine under martial law, she turns to music to find agency in exile.

Director Biography

Max Rykov is a Ukrainian-born documentary filmmaker, journalist, and multimedia artist who grew up in Potomac, MD. His award-winning short documentary Hindsight has been screened at festivals across Europe and North America, including Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Indy Shorts and DC/DOX. Previously, he worked as Head Video Producer at ARTECHOUSE, collaborating with world-renowned digital artists and creating work featured by the United Nations Foundation, Pantone Color Institute, Forbes, The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Bay to Baltimore

Film by Camila De Ilhéus & Samantha Mitchell • 27 minutes

Ultramarathon open water swimmer and painter Katie Pumphrey hopes to become the first person to swim 24 miles from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Baltimore’s newly swimmable Inner Harbor. As she trains for and promotes this difficult swim, Pumphrey must face a public who thinks she’s crazy to swim in the historically polluted waters.

Director Biography

Camila De Ilhéus is a sound mixer born and raised in Ilhéus, Brazil. While studying communications for her bachelor’s degree, she found a passion for recording and editing sound through podcasts and shortly after transitioned into film. Camila’s work has appeared on Netflix and EPIX, as well as independent projects in the United States and Brazil. Recently, Camila became a member of the ABC, the Brazilian Association of Cinematography as a sound editor.  Samantha Mitchell is a film producer, cinematographer, editor, writer, and curator living and working in Baltimore. Samantha has worked on projects ranging from music videos to feature docs to corporate to microbudget indie features.

Jacob Kainen: The Last Expression

Film by Jon Gann • 25 minutes

From his immigrant upbringing to his rebellious artistic journey in New York City, his leftist ideologies and eventual impact on the Washington, D.C. art scene, Jacob Kainen’s story is one of perseverance and passion. Despite facing challenges like McCarthyism and career limitations, he found solace in his art, especially with the support of his second wife, Ruth. His legacy as an artist’s artist and influential mentor endures, shaping generations of artists to come.

Director Biography

Jon Gann is a film producer and director, creating award-winning commercial, documentary, and narrative films since 2000. His most recent award-winning productions include the feature documentary Karen Carpenter: Starving for Perfection, exploring the singer’s career and struggle with an eating disorder through her friends and never-heard recordings, and the short documentary, Miss Alma Thomas: A Life in Color, detailing the incredible life of the D.C.-based Black Woman abstractionist painter. Jon is the Founder of DC Shorts, a non-profit organization championing short filmmaking, and the creator of the DC Shorts Film Festival, one of the country’s premier short film showcases.

Kil & The Kids

Film by Ethan Baker • 11 minutes

In Southeast Washington, D.C., a mentor named Kil supports youth through Horton’s Kids while coping with the loss of one to gun violence. When another teen is robbed at gunpoint, Kil helps him process the trauma through art and expression, revealing how showing up can transform pain into resilience.

Director Biography

Ethan Baker is a Washington, D.C.-based filmmaker and editor whose passion for visual storytelling began at age nine when he launched a YouTube channel. He serves as Assistant Director of Advancement Communications at American University, leading video production and post-production initiatives, and previously worked as Festival and Documentary Program Manager at Anacostia Youth Media. Ethan specializes in biographical and special-interest stories that explore the intersections of race, class, art, and pop culture, creating documentaries, news features, promotional content, and music videos that inform, inspire and mobilize communities.

The Danger of Disclosure

Film by Carolyn McCulley • 21 minutes

Seeking to protect future victims, Jennifer Lyell discloses her sexual abuse—only to discover that the act of telling her truth carries its own devastating cost.

Director Biography

Carolyn McCulley is a filmmaker and storyteller whose work explores the human and systemic cost of truth, trauma, and institutional power. She is an award-winning author and filmmaker with three books, 200+ branded content films, and dozens of podcast episodes to her credit. Her last independent film was The Rage of Evil: Thoughts from a Former School Shooter. Because of this film project, she also launched the Safe to Speak Initiative, which works to remove the legal barriers that silence survivors of sexual assault and abuse.

Tickets

The 14th annual Bethesda Film Fest will feature five short documentaries by regional filmmakers. The screenings will be held at Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema located at 7235 Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda.  All films are shown at both screenings, and are followed by a discussion with the filmmakers. Tickets are $15.  All ticket sales are final. There are no refunds. Parking is available adjacent to the theatre.

Friday, April 10 at 7pm – Online ticket sales for Friday, April 10th will close at 3pm that day, and resume at 6pm at Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema.
Saturday, April 11 at 7pm – Online ticket sales for Saturday, April 11th will close at 3pm that day, and resume at 6pm at Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema.

Jury

E. Samantha Cheng

E. Samantha Cheng is an American producer, director, writer, documentarian and journalist. She has devoted much of her career to raising the visibility of Asian Pacific Islander Americans, and women in technology and their contributions to United States history. Cheng is the president and co-founder of Heritage Series which specializes in educational programs about ethnic minorities in the United States. She owned and operated the multi-media company, Television Production Services (TPS), for 25 years. Ms. Cheng’s broadcast and media production spans over 40 years. She has worked extensively both in the United States and throughout the world. Prior to establishing TPS in 1992, Ms. Cheng’s broadcast credits include: World News Tonight, ABC Weekend News, ABC This Week with David Brinkley, ABC Nightline, and Maryland Public Broadcasting.

Amy Oden

Emmy Award winning producer and director Amy Oden is best known for her person-first documentary and multimedia work. Amy served as senior director of the video team at the Human Rights Campaign where her work won the 2025 social impact award at TribecaX, was screened at Sundance’s BrandStorytelling slate in 2025, and earned a 2024 Vimeo Staff Pick. Amy also served as senior producer and manager of multiplatform strategy at PBS’s Maryland Public Television where her work earned three Emmy Awards and shed light on a variety of social and scientific topics, including the Baltimore uprising, fracking, mass incarceration, and the opioid crisis. Amy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Maryland and a Master of Arts from George Washington University. Her work has won Communicator, Emmy, Davey, Tribeca, and W3 Awards.

Malachi E. Robinson

Malachi E. Robinson is a creative force whose mission is to inspire a revolution through film, music, wellness and collaborative art. As the founder and Chief Creative Officer of point.black creative agency, Malachi has garnered national recognition for his bold and impactful storytelling. An award-winning filmmaker, music video director, writer, and creative director, he is known for pushing boundaries with his bold storytelling and unconventional visuals. His recent documentary, The Poppaw Queen, won Best Documentary at the 2024 Prince George’s Film Festival. His short film, BLACK X, debuted as an interactive exhibit to over 600 attendees at the iconic Dupont Underground in Washington, D.C., and was later selected for screening at the 2022 Heritage Film Festival. With every project, Malachi strives to “elevate narratives that are authentic, powerful, and impactful, leaving audiences inspired and transformed.”

Sponsors

We also thank our community sponsors for their support:

  • The Jane Fairweather Team 
  • Arlene Begelman 
  • The Donohoe Companies 
  • The Jane Fairweather Team 
  • Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center
  • Bethesda Row
  • Bonnie Fogel 
  • The Greenhill Companies 
  • Robert Hebda 
  • Amy Kaslow Gallery 
  • Lerch, Early and Brewer 
  • Robin Sherman
  • Wendy Susswein

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