Columbia Maryland Film Festival Returns for 8th Season, Sept. 7–13, With Its Largest Lineup Built Around Human Stories

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Columbia Maryland Film Festival Returns for 8th Season, Sept. 7–13, With Its Largest Lineup Built Around Human Stories
More than 55 films, three Howard County venues, and a week of stories about struggle, growth, and connection
COLUMBIA, Md., August 11, 2026: The Columbia Maryland Film Festival is rolling out the red carpet for its unforgettable 8th season from September 7–13, 2026, with over 55 live, in-person film screenings hosted at the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center (Howard Community College), the Maryland Innovation Center, and The Collective ENCORE, plus all films streaming virtually via Eventive, reaching audiences across the DelMarVa region. Beyond the screenings, organizers say what unites this year's lineup is people: filmmakers turning their own struggles, relationships, and turning points into stories audiences will recognize as their own.
 
"We're incredibly proud of how far the festival has come. Each year we welcome remarkable filmmakers and audiences from around the world. The films we've programmed this year aren't just entertainment, they're conversations about how people grow, connect, cope, and build things, on screen and in this community. We're building our community closer together here in Howard County, one that brings together filmmakers, students, educators, entrepreneurs, artists, local businesses, and audiences through the power of storytelling," said Robert Neal Marshall, Executive Producer and creator of CMFF and recent Co-Chair of Howard County's Film Industry Task Force.
 
Highlights of the 2026 Festival Include:
  • A curated selection of 55+ films, local, international, and U.S. features, award-winning shorts, and documentaries that are all available to stream virtually September 7–13.
  • Live, in-person screenings September 7–13 at three Howard County venues: The Collective ENCORE, the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center, and the Maryland Innovation Center, with themes ranging from drama and comedy to LGBTQ+, music, and international stories.
  • Opening Night Festivities begin Monday, September 7, 6:00pm at The Collective ENCORE, featuring The Best of the 48 Hour Film Project, a global film challenge that gives emerging filmmakers a hands-on opportunity. Founder Mark Ruppert joins CMFF in person to share how he built the world's largest and longest-running filmmaking competition. Alongside the US and international selections, the evening includes Maryland filmmakers, great menu & bar options from The Collective ENCORE, and a direct look at how CMFF helps encourage the region's next generation of storytellers.
  • Maryland Filmmaker Shorts & Closing Celebration on Sunday, September 13, 5:30pm at The Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center, spotlighting the work of filmmakers from Columbia, Howard County, and across the state, followed by an in-person filmmaker Q&A and community reception.
  • A special evening screening of Colors & Curves director Walter Johnson Jr.'s documentary on human creativity, Friday, September 11, 6pm, at the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center. This double feature includes the short film Masterpiece, followed by a live panel discussion with Johnson and Howard County business & creative professionals. Colors & Curves challenges a common assumption: that creativity belongs to the young and a gifted few. Instead, it traces how this primary instinct gets suppressed early, often starting in childhood, and what is lost as a result, yet is vital not only in the arts but in business, architecture, technology, and medicine. 
  • Active partnerships with the Maryland Film Office, Howard County Economic Development Authority, the Maryland Innovation Center, The Collective ENCORE, and Howard Community College, and more.
Tickets & Passes
Now available at https://columbiamarylandfilmfestival.com
Individual VIRTUAL Tickets:
  • Short Films – $12/$15 · Feature Films – $20
LIVE In-Person Screening Tickets:
  • Feature Films & Multi-Film Packages – $20
  • Opening Night & Maryland Shorts Filmmaker Celebration – $30 (Food & beverage available for purchase directly through Collective Encore, separate from your festival ticket.)
ALL-FESTIVAL DISCOUNT PASS – $75.
  • Includes unlimited access to ALL 55+ VIRTUAL and LIVE films, plus admission to the Opening Night and Maryland Shorts Filmmaker Celebration. Limited seating available and early purchase is strongly recommended.
About the Columbia Maryland Film Festival
Now in its 8th season, the Columbia Maryland Film Festival is dedicated to bringing the finest in global, national, and local cinema to Howard County. We strive to inspire and engage our diverse community through a shared love of film, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the cinematic arts. Produced by RNM Productions, LLC, CMFF has grown from a week of screenings into a year-round home for filmmaking, education, mentorship, and creative collaboration. Additional information, the complete festival schedule, and tickets are available at ColumbiaMarylandFilmFestival.com.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColMDFilmFest/  @ColMDFilmFest
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colmdfilmfest/ @colmdfilmfest
Substack:  https://colmdfilmfest.substack.com/

MEDIA LINK: https://columbiamarylandfilmfestival.com/media/
#CMFF2026 #ColumbiaMarylandFilmFestival

Press Contacts
Brian Patella, Associate Producer & Marketing Director
BPatella@ColumbiaMarylandFilmFestival.com · 310-463-1303
Robert Neal Marshall, Executive Producer
RobertNealMarshall2@gmail.com · 410-984-0225

Columbia Maryland Film Festival Returns for 8th Season, Sept. 7–13, With Its Largest Lineup Built Around Human Stories

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