Ocean City Film Festival Marlon Wallace

OCEAN CITY, MD - The winners have been announced for the 9th annual Ocean City Film Fest held March 6-9, 2025.

“We thank the hundreds of people who came out this year to support independent film and the filmmakers who made them,” Rina Thaler, executive director of the Art League said. “We are so proud of how our festival has grown and how it has supported the art of film over the past nine years, bringing excitement and culture to the shoulder season in Ocean City.”

The winner of The First Place Audience Choice was “The Henry Hotel,” directed by WBOC’s very own editor Marlon Wallace. Wallace’s film also won 1st place in the Historical Film Challenge.

“Warriors Beyond the Battlefield: African Americans in the Armed Forces,” produced by Unscene Productions in cooperation with the Beach to Bay Heritage Area as well as “Her Name is Alesia: Ms. Macer to You” by Eric Myrieckes also earned Audience Choice wins.

Other winners of the 2025 Ocean City Film Fest include:

Documentary Feature Film 1st Place: “Bankie Banx: King of the Dune,” directed by Nara Garber

Narrative Feature Film 1st Place: “Cast & Crew,” directed by Jason Taylor

Best Female Director: Samantha Aben for “Drifting”

Documentary Short Film 1st Place: “On Water’s Edge,” co-produced by the Maryland/DC Nature Conservancy

Narrative Short Film 1st Place: “Listen with Your Eyes,” directed by Sam Von Hagen

Historical Film Challenge 2nd Place: “Tales from the Dock,” directed by Maurice Waters

Historical Film Challenge 3rd Place: “Eyes of the Fort,” directed by Megan Dodson

The 10th Annual Ocean City Film Fest is now slated for March 5-8, 2026.

 

Digital Content Producer

Sean joined WBOC as Digital Content Producer in February 2023. Originally from New Jersey, Sean graduated from Rutgers University with bachelor’s degrees in East Asian Studies and Religion. He has lived in New York, California, and Virginia before he and his wife finally found a place to permanently call home in Maryland. With family in Laurel, Ocean Pines, Berlin, and Captain’s Cove, Sean has deep ties to the Eastern Shore and is thrilled to be working at WBOC serving the community.

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