Justinian Dispenza

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Justinian Dispenza
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Born1990
OccupationDocumentary filmmaker, environmental activist, educator, politician

Justinian Dispenza is a Maryland based environmental activist, documentary filmmaker, educator, and former municipal official. His documentary films have been selected by multiple regional and national film festivals and he especially works on social and environmental projects.[1][2][3][4] Dispenza served on the Galena, Maryland Town Council for 4 years and was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Maryland in the 2022 Democratic primary.[5][6]

Early life and education

Dispenza was born in 1990 and graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Digital Media Production. He later spent his early career living and working in China, where he produced environmental documentary media projects focused on ecological education and sustainability in Asia.[7] This led to work for a non-profit at the Wolong Panda Reserve in central China and then to environmental education and film-work in Hong Kong. This international work informed his later focus on environmental advocacy and community-based education in the United States.

Political career

Maryland municipal government

Starting in 2017, Dispenza has been the Chairman of Galena's Park and Tree Committee and he was elected to the Galena, Maryland Town Council in 2021, where he served alongside fellow council member Tyler Carpenter.[5][6] His tenure focused on local governance, environmental grants, and sustainability issues in the town and the greater county.[7]

Statewide politics

In the 2022 Maryland gubernatorial election, Dispenza was selected as the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor on the ticket headed by philosopher and activist Jerome Segal.[6][7] The campaign emphasized progressive economic policy, environmental protection, and social justice. They lost to current Maryland governor Wes Moore.

Environmental activism

Dispenza is the founder of the Eastern Shore Permaculture Institute, an organization based on Maryland’s Eastern Shore that promotes sustainable living, permaculture education, and community ecological resilience.[8][9][10][11] The institute hosts monthly potlucks that hop hosts around the eastern shore community as well as workshops and community events focused on sustainable agriculture, ecological stewardship, handicrafts, and local food systems.[11][12]

Filmmaking career

Dispenza works primarily in documentary film-making, with projects addressing environmental issues, social justice, community history, and cultural narratives.[1][2][3][4] He is also an award winning wedding videographer and photographer through his business, Andover Media.[13]

Notable films

  • Everybody Eats (2016) – A documentary examining community-based responses to food insecurity. The film received the Lens on Hunger Prize from the Real Food Media Contest.[2][14]
  • Get on the Bus! (2023) – A documentary chronicling a multi-stop journey to historic civil rights and cultural sites in the United States. The film received official selections at multiple national film festivals and was covered by independent media outlets.[3][4][15] This film was also used in educating elected officials regionally and has been screened at churches and other private events.
  • Looking Inward: Black History & the Arts (2023) – A documentary exploring African American history, art, and cultural expression in Kent County, Maryland. The film was officially selected by multiple film festivals.[1][16] This film represents the continuing collaboration between Andover Media and The Kent Cultural Alliance[17]

Film festival selections

Get on the Bus! received official selections at 8 national film festivals, including the Ocean City Film Festival, Bill Johnson Black Film Festival, DMViFF, LightReel Film Festival, Chesapeake Film Festival, North Beach American Film Festival, Utopia Film Festival, and Prince George's Film Festival.[3][4][16]

Looking Inward: Black History & the Arts was officially selected for the Ocean City Film Festival, Maryland International Film Festival, DMViFF, LightReel Film Festival, Rehoboth Beach Regional Film Showcase, North Beach American Film Festival, and Utopia Film Festival.[1][16]

Recognition

  • Everybody Eats received the Lens on Hunger Prize from the Real Food Media Contest in 2016.[2]
  • Dispenza’s films have been screened at regional film festivals and featured in independent media coverage.[1][2][3][4][14][15][16]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Looking Inward: Black History & the Arts – Film Festival Selections". FilmFreeway. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Everybody Eats". Real Food Media Contest. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Film by Local Filmmaker Justinian Dispenza to Show at OC Film Festival". Chestertown Spy. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Get on the Bus! – Film Festival Selections". FilmFreeway. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Carpenter, Dispenza Join Galena Council". MyEasternShoreMD. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Maryland governor candidate Jerome Segal names running mate". The Daily Record. February 10, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Political Notes: Elrich's Endorsements, Pippy's Plans, Segal's LG, and CD-4 News". Maryland Matters. February 10, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Maryland". permaculture-design. Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  9. ↑ The Spy Newspapers of Maryland (2021-09-26). Eastern Shore Permaculture Institute on the Road: Smoky Mountains State Park. Retrieved 2026-01-07 – via YouTube.
  10. ↑ @plj.events. "🌾The Eastern Shore Permaculture Institute Always has so much to offer at our Open-Air Markets from Fresh Produce & Wild Flowers to Local Honey & Pottery!". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 S2:E4 April Permaculture - The Garden Thyme Podcast. 2021-04-07. Retrieved 2026-01-07 – via gardenthymepodcast.buzzsprout.com.
  12. ↑ "Galena resident promotes sustainable community". MyEasternShoreMD. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
  13. ↑ "WEDDING". andover-media. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Everybody Eats, Envolved Productions, 2016-07-13, retrieved 2026-01-07
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Get on the Bus!, Andover Media, 2023-01-04, retrieved 2026-01-07
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Looking Inward: Black History & the Arts, Andover Media, 2022-12-02, retrieved 2026-01-07
  17. ↑ "KCA/Chesapeake Heartland Artist Fellowships". Kent Cultural Alliance. Retrieved 2026-01-28.

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