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Cultural Arts committee highlights inaugural film festival, asks council for funding support
Summary
Cultural Arts Advisory Committee chair Chris Wallace reported that the inaugural Gaithersburg Film Festival received 72 submissions from nine countries, screened two features and 15 shorts, and sold more than 330 tickets; the committee asked the council to consider a budget enhancement to support the 2026 festival and fill two vacancies on the committee.
Chris Wallace, chair of Gaithersburg’s Cultural Arts Advisory Committee, told the mayor and city council at their Dec. 8 work session that the committee’s inaugural Gaithersburg Film Festival drew wide interest and generated revenue but needs city budget support to grow.
"We had a total of 72 films submitted from 9 countries," Wallace said, and the festival "screened 2 features and 15 shorts over 4 film blocks and sold over 330 tickets." He asked council members to back a budget enhancement request to better fund the 2026 festival and other arts-and-events programming.
Wallace said the committee will update its mission in 2026 to better reflect its role, increase its involvement in city special events and pursue grant opportunities alongside staff. Jason Demarkey, division chief for Cultural Events and Services, told the council the festival used FilmFreeway to accept submissions and that ticket revenue helped offset reception costs and software expenses.
Mayor Ashman and several council members praised the festival. Council member Rob Wu said he was impressed by the inaugural revenue and asked why the festival charged admission when the city’s book festival remains free. Demarkey replied that ticket sales helped cover receptions and platform costs and that staff would pursue grant funding "to either reduce ticket prices even further or possibly make some free events."
Wallace also noted two vacancies on the Cultural Arts committee and invited residents with arts experience or a passion for public programming to apply. The committee said it will work more actively with staff as a resource for city events in 2026.
The committee’s request for a budget enhancement for the Gaithersburg Film Festival will be considered during the city’s budget process.
