For the Love of Movies - Two Film Festivals to Check Out

Calling all film lovers! In this episode, host Sandra Abrams takes you into the world of two Mid-Atlantic film festivals to discover hidden gems and help you get more bang for your buck.  First up, is Kirtana Banskota, a co-founder of the Nepal America International Film Festival (NAIFF). Now in its 10th year, NAIFF takes place in Silver Spring, Maryland. It runs in June, with opening night kicking-off with a Nepalese blessing. She explains why there is a growing interest in films from Nepal and documentaries in the D-M-V and around the world.  Learn more: https://nafilmsociety.org/ In the second part of this episode,she talks to the team at the Alexandria Film Festival (AFF): Jill Ray, the chief of the festival, and Patti North, the founder. They share how this event got started, the challenges of selecting multi-genre films, and how they keep it fresh year after year. Now in its 20th year, AFF takes place in Alexandria, Virginia, runs November 13-15, 2026 and will showcase 80 films.  Learn more: https://www.alexfilmfest.com/2026-film-festival/ The guests also explained another advantage for attending film festivals: the chance to participate in post-screening Q & As with writers, directors, and actors. So check-out these festivals to discover great films and gain insights directly from their creators.  Support the show --- Subscribe to learn more about filmmaking, production, media makers, creator resources, visual storytelling, and every aspect that brings film, television, and video projects from concepts to our screens. Check out the MediaMakerSpotlight.com show page to find even more conversations with industry professionals that inspire, educate, and entertain! We on the Women in Film & Video (WIFV) Podcast Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!