Ocean City Film Festival returns with John Waters, plus 100 flicks to enjoy. All to know.
Dive into the wonderful world of independent cinema at this year's Ocean City Film Festival.
The 8th Annual Ocean City Film Festival, a production of the Art League of Ocean City showcasing 100 new films by regional and international filmmakers of all backgrounds and genres, is coming to resort town theaters and venues from March 7-10, 2024.
The festival will showcase independent films at various locations across Ocean City, including Flagship Cinemas in West Ocean City, Morley Hall at Seacrets, Princess Royale Oceanfront, Ashore Resort Hotel and the Performing Arts Center.
From ticket options to celebrity guest appearances to special film screenings, here's everything you need to know about the upcoming Ocean City Film Festival.
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This year’s festival features films both local and international, including from Canada, Portugal, Iran, Turkey, France and Germany. Short films are packaged into showcases so viewers can attend their preferences, said the Art League in a news release.
The showcases include Listening Experience; For Your Health; Chuckles, Chortles, Snickers & Snorts; Environmental & Aquatic; For the Love of Film; Horror, Sci-Fi & the Weird; It’s Personal; Old Line Cinema, and Pride. Also, Tire Tales, Spotlight on Fatherhood, Storytelling Ability, Strife Stories, Surf’s Up and The Media & Me.
In addition, the festival will screen nine feature length films, including “American Meltdown," which won best feature at the Chattanooga Film Festival, and “Get on the Bus,” a documentary about the James Taylor Justice Coalition's second Justice Day event in Chestertown, Md.
The films have not been rated and may feature adult content, so viewer discretion is advised.
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Meet John Waters, director of the 1988 cult hit 'Hairspray'
Legendary filmmaker John Waters will also be making a grand return to the resort town for the film festival. Waters will give a live performance on Saturday, March 9, at 8 p.m. at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center as part of the festival.
“We are honored to welcome back the legendary filmmaker, John Waters, as the headliner for the 2024 OC Film Fest,” said Rina Thaler, executive director of the festival and Art League of Ocean City. “The entire festival is a great opportunity for film lovers to watch never-before-seen films, including locally-created movies, and mingle with the filmmakers and film crews.”
Waters performed to a sold-out audience in 2023 with his stand-up show at Ocean Downs Casino. This year, the Baltimore-based filmmaker will perform at a larger venue, the Performing Arts Center, with increased seating and accessibility available.
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Waters will present his 1998 film “Hairspray,” and provide eye-popping commentary during the screening, sharing memories of making the film in Baltimore the 1970s and the true events that inspired it.
General admission tickets are available, with a limited number of VIP tickets to meet and greet Waters after the show available at a special price and on a first-come-first-serve basis.
“Like a sneaker wave dancing on an unwanted wind turbine, I can’t wait to get back to Ocean City to infect the winter community with musical mayhem and cinematic turbulence,” Waters said. “We’re off-season! We’re off our rocker! We’re the Ocean City Film Festival.”
Ticket Options for the Ocean City Film Festival
Ocean City Film Festival passes are available for one day of films and parties, four days of films and parties, and individually-sold John Waters tickets. All three tickets options are as follows:
Bundle Pass for $169: Includes the John Waters show on March 9 at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center. Plus, enjoy all the films, parties, and events with the 4-day festival pass.
Four-day Festival Pass for $125: Includes all in-person screenings of feature films and short film blocks, as well as all in-person events. Does not include John Waters.
One-day Festival Pass for $35: Includes all in-person screenings of feature films and short film blocks and all in-person events for that specific day. Does not include John Waters.
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Also listed on the Ocean City Film Festival website are special, off-season hotel rates for festivalgoers, with oceanfront resort rooms starting at $99 per night.
“Traveling to Ocean City is incredibly affordable this time of year, even more now that our hotel sponsors are offering festival attendees discounted rates,” said film festival director B.L. Strang-Moya. “These are waterfront rooms in major hotels that are booked solid in the summer season.”
The festival, organized by Film Festival Director and Towson University alumnus B.L. Strang-Moya, receives support from the town of Ocean City, the State of Maryland Film Office and the Ocean City community.
If you go:
WHAT: Ocean City Film Festival
WHEN: March 7-10, 2024
WHERE: Ocean City theaters and venues: Flagship Cinemas in West OC, Morley Hall at Seacrets, Princess Royale Oceanfront, Ashore Resort Hotel and the Performing Arts Center
COST: Bundle Pass for $169, Four-day Festival Pass for $125, One-day Festival Pass for $35
INFO: https://ocmdfilmfestival.com/
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Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com.
This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Ocean City Film Fest puts indie flicks in spotlight, plus John Waters
