Monica Schorn Takes Helm at Environmental Film Festival in D.C.

Silver Spring resident and native Monica Schorn has been named the new Executive Director of the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital.

Started in 1993, the DCEFF is the country’s largest and longest-running film festival dedicated to issues affecting the planet.

“Each March, we bring our annual event to museums, embassies, universities, and other cultural institutions across Washington D.C.,” the festival said in a press release. “In addition to the many thousands of audience members we serve with our in-person programming, DCEFF offers year-round virtual screenings to passionate and environmentally-conscious viewers across the United States and the world.”

“Monica Schorn has the experience, insight, and leadership that we celebrate at the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital,” said DCEFF Founder Flo Stone. “Her clear instinct for teamwork and collaboration, as well as her knowledge of quality films, environmental issues, and strong public programs provide inspiration for our work and future plans.”

After graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Film and Television Production in 2010, Schorn went on to work as a reader for Nantucket’s annual screenwriting competition. Additionally, Schorn has taken on roles as a script analyst and judge for various film festivals and screenplay competitions including the Richmond International Film Festival, the Creative World Awards, the Bluecat Screenplay Competition, and NYC Midnight. Schorn also provides feedback and analysis for individual screenwriters.

Upon returning to the D.C. area in 2011, she worked for nine years at the American Film Institute’s documentary film festival, initially known as Silverdocs and later as AFI DOCS. Before joining DCEFF, she held positions as a production coordinator, associate programmer, and director of programming at the Annapolis Film Festival.

She will guide the DCEFF’s strategy and vision for its 33rd Annual Festival, which will be held March 20-29, 2025.

“33 years in and we only have more to say,” Schorn said. “As an institution at the heart of the nation’s capital, the Environmental Film Festival couldn’t be better positioned to spotlight those on the frontlines of storytelling, activism, policymaking, and community-building. The calibre of filmmaking and the stakes of these conversations have only increased since our inaugural Festival in 1993. It’s an honor to carry on this work, in collaboration with our partners and on behalf of the planet, towards a more just and verdant future.”

DCEFF Photo

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