9th Annual Ocean City Film Challenge Presents Winners on Aug. 8 at 94th St. Tennis Courts

OCEAN CITY, MD — July 14, 2026 — The Ocean City Film Festival presents “Film Challenge Night,” showing the entries into the 9th Annual Ocean City Film Challenge. The screenings are free to the public and take place on Saturday, Aug. 8 at the tennis courts in Little Salisbury Park, next door to the Art League of Ocean City Center for the Arts, 502 94th St. bayside. This is a FREE event! Donations are welcome, and popcorn will be available.

Gates open at 7 p.m., with the films beginning at 8 p.m. No advance tickets are required. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs, as seating will not be provided for this outdoor movie experience. Throughout the evening, attendees can cast their vote for their favorite film in the challenge, adding a fun, interactive twist to the event—the favorite will win the Audience Choice Award. In the event of inclement weather, the screenings will move indoors to the Ocean City Center for the Arts. Whether the event is held outdoors or indoors, guests should plan to bring their own chairs.

2026 challenge and will be screened on Film Challenge Night with a total run time of approximately 2 hours. 

The 9th Annual Ocean City Film Challenge inspired filmmakers to produce an original short film no longer than 15 minutes and made between July 1 and July 31, 2026. Films must have been shot in Ocean City or outside of Ocean City but with the resort central to the premise of the film. 

B.L. Strang-Moya, creative director of the OC Film Festival, said, “Ocean City is a great place to tell a story, and the entries into this year’s challenge are creative and inspiring. On last year’s Film Challenge Night, more than 120 audience members gathered under the stars for a magical evening, and we invite everyone to come share the night and see the films with us this year.”

The Ocean City Film Festival will announce the winning films during Film Challenge Night and present awards to the top filmmakers. Prizes include:

1st Place: A Season 11 Filmmaker Pass to the 2027 Ocean City Film Festival (plus a guest pass), a swag bag, and a hotel stay during the festival.

2nd Place: A Season 11 Filmmaker Pass to the 2027 Ocean City Film Festival (plus a guest pass), a swag bag, and a $50 cash prize.

3rd Place: A Season 11 Filmmaker Pass to the 2027 Ocean City Film Festival (plus a guest pass).

Audience Choice: Ocean City Film Festival swag bag.

The winning films will also be screened during the 2027 Ocean City Film Festival, taking place March 4–7, 2027.

The Ocean City Film Festival and the Ocean City Film Challenge are programs of the Art League of Ocean City.

The Art League of Ocean City is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the visual arts to the community through education, exhibits, scholarship, programs and community art projects. Financial support comes primarily through membership dues from individuals and corporate sponsors.