Film Fest Returns With 5 Short Documentaries

BETHESDA-CHEVY CHASE, MD — Downtown Bethesda will play host to the 14th annual Bethesda Film Fest this April.

Screenings will be held at the Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema, located at 7235 Woodmont Avenue.

A total of five short documentaries will be available to watch on April 10 and 11, with showings starting at 7 p.m. for both days.

Each screening will include a discussion with the filmmakers afterward.

Tickets are $15 and are available online. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door.

Find a list of the participating films below:

"A Score in Absence"
Directed by Max Rykov
Run time: 28 minutes
Khrystyna, a Ukrainian pianist who has fled war, finds a sense of agency in exile by turning to music.

"Bay to Baltimore"
Directed by Camila De Ilhéus and Samantha Mitchell
Run time: 27 minutes
Katie Pumphrey is an athlete and painter with hopes to be the first to swim from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Baltimore's Inner Harbor. She faces challenges as many question her drive to swim the notorious waters.

"Jacob Kainen: The Last Expression"
Directed by Jon Gann
Run time: 25 minutes
Dive into a look at Jacob Kainen, whose life experiences and artistic journey left an impact on the local art scene.

"Kil and the Kids"
Directed by Ethan Baker
Run time: 11 minutes
A look into youth mentor Kil, who strives to help young kids process grief and trauma through art.

"The Danger of Disclosure"
Directed by Carolyn McCulley
Run time: 21 minutes
Jennifer Lyell, a prominent whistleblower within the Southern Baptist community, discloses her sexual abuse in an effort to protect the next generation but learns the repercussions of doing so.