72 Film Fest: 72 Hours to Make a Movie.

THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL YEAR LOOKING BACK!

It was an amazing year of films! 61 in total, running through all of the themes of 72 Film Fest. The most eclectic batch we’ve probably seen in our 20 years, and there were more films “on the cusp” of moving on to Saturday Night than we’ve ever had…which means so many great films were “left behind”. If you missed any, be sure to catch up when teams begin uploading their entries. We’ll post a playlist on 72Fest.com soon.

We want to congratulate all of the teams that were able to make and turn in a film this year. It’s no small feat to go into one weekend with nothing and come out the other side with a finished film. We hope you had fun from the first reveal to launch, from making your films until the screenings. We couldn’t have gotten to Year 20 without you.

Congratulations to all the finalists and award winners.
Keep an eye out in your emails – we will be sending out judging notes for all judged teams in the coming weeks. Also – winning teams- we’ll be sending instructions how to claim any prizes.

We hope to see you all at next year’s SilverVox Film and Music Festival in June – Film Submissions opening soon!

72 FILM FEST FREDERICK AWARDS

72 FILM FEST ONLINE AWARDS

Online Competition
8:30pm Friday Night Premieres
Will be at ~~WATCH.72FEST.COM~~
Stream Finished.

72 FILM FEST IN PERSON
WEINBERG CENTER

DOWNLOAD DIGITAL PROGRAM
2025 DATES!
IN PERSON

Oct 10th Friday Night Premieres at Weinberg Center
6:30pm Students/Amateurs
8:30pm Amateurs/Pros
SCREENING BLOCKS

Oct 11th Saturday Main Event at Weinberg Center
12:30 PM Year 20 Online Entries
3:00 PM The Black Hills Night Hike Feature Film Screening
7:00 PM Main Event with Finalists and Award Nominees from 2025

GET TICKETS TO WEINBERG CENTER

For Year 20, we are expanding!
Local-ish teams will screen at Weinberg Center.
Non-local teams will screen online simultaneously.
Each competition will be judged separately, with separate awards!
More info on our FAQ.

Would you like to volunteer for 72 Film Fest? Visit SilverVox.org

View 72 Film Fest 2025 film guide.

SUPPORTERS

BLACK HILLS NIGHT HIKE PREMIERING at 72 FILM FEST 2025

Saturday Oct 11th 3pm
Tickets here

HOSTS

Mikael Johnson has been writing and performing in the DMV for over 20 years. He has been a part of the 72 Film Fest team every year except one or two. A native of Middletown, Mikael got his start taking classes at the Maryland Ensemble Theater (MET), where he eventually joined the company and was cast in several productions. Currently, he resides in Fairfax, Virginia, and is the proud father of the world’s greatest almost eleven-year old girl. Mikael couldn’t be prouder to be a part of the 72 Film Fest team and wants to thank all the teams that come back year after year to participate—we couldn’t have done it without you.

Doug Powell is a Frederick local with a background in standup, storytelling and writing. As an actor, Doug has been a part of several short films over the past 20 years including shorts by 72 Fest alum, Star Wipe Films. As a master electrician, Doug proudly co-owns Lumen Brothers Electric Company, a Frederick-based, family-owned electrical service company. Since 2010, he has been a part of the 72 Fest production team, serving as co-host alongside Mikael Johnson.

2025 JURY (assembling)

GUEST JUDGE Eduardo Sanchez was born in Cuba in 1968. He studied television at Montgomery College in Rockville, MD and film at the University of Central Florida in 1994.

It was at UCF where Eduardo met his Haxan Films partners and in 1998 he co-wrote and co-directed THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. He went on to helm various indie features before moving into television, directing such shows as SUPERNATURAL, LUCIFER, QUEEN OF THE SOUTH, Ryan Murphy’s AMERICAN HORROR STORIES and the season 1 finale of YELLOWJACKETS. He recently worked on STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS and directed a segment of the new horror anthology feature, SATANIC HISPANICS, which won the best horror director award at the 2022 FANTASTIC FEST.

Richard Jefferies grew up in Frederick, Maryland where he graduated from Frederick High School in 1974. After 36 years of building a career in Hollywood, Richard returned to live in the Frederick area. During his time in Hollywood, Richard delivered 28 feature film writing assignments to major studios including Tron: Legacy, Cold Creek Manor (which he also executive produced) and Man of the House at Disney, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer at Fox, Searchers and The Bad Place at Warner Bros. Richard has done uncredited writing work on many movies including sci-fi features Virus, Species and lmposter. Richard wrote, directed and produced Organizm aka Living Hell, which premiered on Syfy Channel and wrote the cult horror classic Scarecrows. Richard joined Wiseacre Films in 2010, where he co-wrote and produced the Christmas comedy Elf-Man and China Bigfoot: Legend of the Yeren, which was shot in the remote mountains of central China. Jefferies was a creative consultant to Sam Tressler's "Leda" and Danielle Weinberg's "Invasion '53

Bethany Michalski is a Los Angeles & Baltimore-based cinematographer and director. The instincts from her street photography days and MFA training from the AFI Conservatory (MFA Cinematography 19') have shaped her focus today. Michalski embraces her naturalistic sensitivities and interest in blending the narrative & documentary worlds focusing on queer and female lead productions and stories.
Most notably, Bethany’s directing and cinematography work have premiered at SXSW, DGA, Vimeo Staff Pick, Nobudge, Camerimage, Outfest, and Cinequest. At SXSW 2025, the TV Pilot, Denim, she lensed won a SXSW Special Jury award. The feature film “She’s the He” she lensed was also one of four feature films chosen for SXSW “Buzz Screenings 2025

Matt Edens: In more than two decades writing for television, Matt has scripted everything from Saturday morning cartoons to true crime documentary series such as A&E’s City Confidential, Snapped on Oxygen and Murder Comes to Town for Investigation Discovery. Currently, he is the head writer for Fatal Attraction on TV One.

RONA MENSAH is an accomplished Professional Broadcaster, Emcee, and Actor. She is best known for having worked as a Radio and TV personality in Washington, DC Metro region. In addition, she serves on the Board of Trustees and is a Company Member of Maryland Ensemble Theatre where she’s just as comfortable contributing onstage as she is behind the scenes. She’s thrilled to return to 72 Fest

ADELINE THERY is a French actress and musical artist living in Brooklyn, New York. Performing from a young age, she relocated to Barcelona in her late teens to study physical theatre. She later moved to New York and has continued to act and perform between Europe and the United States. Her on-screen work spans between commercial and narrative, with roles in films such as Are We Not Cats, Come to the Show and Leda. She co-created the stage show Este verano hice parapente y me reconcilié con el vacío, and recently released her second full length music album under the stage name Lizzy Young.

Indrani Desouza has over 3 decades of experience in the film & television industry. Originally from Toronto, Canada, she moved to the US in 1986.
After several years of teaching at another acting studio she realized that it was time to open a place of her own.
She's quickly gaining a reputation for getting actors booked, and in fact, she is now listed as one of the preferred acting coaches at some of Hollywood's top-tier talent agencies.
Indrani's unique approach is getting noticed. "I'm not reinventing anything. The age-old techniques are the same, they haven't changed in years. That's because they work. What I do differently has to do with my delivery. I teach in a manner that's approachable, honest and simple. My job is to give actors the tools they need to move into the Hollywood mainstream".

SKIZZ CYZYK is a filmmaker, writer, musician, artist, and film festival careerist. He has held positions at MicroCineFest, Maryland Film Festival, Slamdance, and Atlanta Film Festival, as well as serving on juries and advisory boards at many other festivals. His documentary features include Sound Mechanic, Icepick To The Moon, Hit & Stay, and Freaks In Love. His short films include The French Toast Man, Alfred Jarry & 'Pataphysics, Little Castles, Managers Corner and music videos (Beach House, Young Fresh Fellows). He performs music with The Stents, Coastguard, Go Pills, The Jennifers, Garage Sale, Half Japanese and Mink Stole & Her Wonderful Band, and hosts the show, Point Me At The Sky, on RadioPlastique.com.

CAOIMHE CARTY is a Northern California-based Video Editor from Ireland, which explains the confusing name. Originally intending to be a Zoologist she moved to the US and fell into the world of film, where she was able to combine her skills as an artist and classically trained musician.
She has worked on a wide range of projects, including Green Day’s feature film Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk, broadcast shows for Animal Planet and Science Channel, TV commercials, Short Docs, and more.
When not working she enjoys sketching, boxing, and writing the plot outline for her detective show which she hopes to some day pass off to someone who can actually write.

SAMUEL TRESSLER IV is a filmmaker based in New York and Maryland. While working professionally in production camera work and post-production editing both at home and abroad, his focus lies on writing & directing narrative, concept-driven motion picture pieces both short and long. A former participant of 72, Samuel joined the board in 2014 and became the first former team to collaborate with the fest in making a feature film, Leda, the 3D passion project now available on streaming platforms and physical media.

Adam Lemnah is a transplant to Los Angeles
who grew up in Frederick. I’m a film and
television editor with work on shows including
Once Upon a Time, Drunk History, Amazing
Stories and Lovecraft Country. Recently I was
the recipient of the Best Editing award at the
2021 LA Indie Film Festival for my work on the
feature film AMERICAN CHERRY, a coming-of-
age thriller. When I’m not working, I am spending time with my wife and son and our two dogs Betsy and Mando. @adamlemnah (IG) @AdamLemnah (FB)

In 2006, Michael Tully's first feature, COCAINE ANGEL - chronicling a tragic week in the life of a young drug addict - made its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. The film solidified the director as one of the "25 New Faces of Independent Film" (Filmmaker Magazine), a reputation that was reinforced a year later when his follow-up feature, SILVER JEW - a documentary capturing the late David Berman's rare musical performances in Tel Aviv - world-premiered at SXSW and landed distribution with cult indie-music label Drag City.
In 2011, Michael wrote, directed, and starred in his third feature film, SEPTIEN, which debuted at the 27th annual Sundance Film Festival before being acquired by IFC Films' Sundance Selects banner. He returned to Sundance in 2014 with the world premiere of his fourth feature film, PING PONG SUMMER - an 80s set coming-of-age tale - which was quickly picked up for theatrical distribution by Gravitas Ventures. Subsequent feature films include DON'T LEAVE HOME (2018, Cranked Up Films/Shudder) and LOVER, BELOVED (2022, SXSW World Premiere).

Salyer is an award-winning writer/director with over 30 years of experience in film and television production. Known as an out-of-the-box thinker with a gift for storytelling, his work consistently explores how film can shape culture and inspire change.
He co-founded the 72 Film Fest in 2005 alongside Clark Kline and Jason Streff, an event that has since grown into a beloved regional tradition celebrating its 20th year.
Currently, Salyer is in production on BOOMTOWN, a feature docudrama he has written and directed. The film, set for release at the Weinberg Center in early 2026, chronicles the transformation of Frederick, Maryland, and the pivotal role art and creativity played in revitalizing the community.
In 1992, Salyer launched the Big Blue Foundation, Inc in Beverly Hills, California, to create films for the greater good—an ethos that continues to guide his work today.

Visit/Join Facebook Group

Let’s bring together all the filmmakers, writers, editors, actors and other screen artists in Frederick! Whether you’ve participated or even helped out on 72 Film Fest, or you’re a creative wanting to meet other likeminded folks, let’s make some connections and have some fun. Check the Frederick Filmmakers Meetup or Frederick Filmmakers FaceBook Group for casual meet ups, movie trips and more! If you’d like to host an event, let us know and you can share to the group.