The annual Maryland Film Festival, now in its 11th year, takes place over four days in early May. Screening over 150 films — narrative, documentary, animation, experimental, and hybrid — the festival takes place in and around Baltimore’s Charles Theater in the Station North Arts District. In addition to emerging contemporary films, signature film programs include: Opening Night Shorts & Party – a program of five short films with the filmmakers present; a classic 3-D film (past films have included, DIAL M FOR MURDER, HOUSE OF WAX, & MISS SADIE THOMPSON); a vintage silent film with live musical accompaniment by The Alloy Orchestra (past films have included, SPEEDY, THE EAGLE, & NOSFERATU); and the always-popular, John Waters Picks, a film selected and hosted by director John Waters. The MFF Guest Host program invites celebrity guest hosts from outside the film world to present favorite films (past guests have included Henry Rollins with MAXED OUT, Dorothy Hamill with sing-a-long MARY POPPINS, Julian Bond with SWEET SWEETBACK’S BAAADASS SONG, and “Survivor” star Colleen Haskell with THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN). Concurrent to the festival is the Filmmakers’ Tent Village which invites the public to engage in discussion panels, master classes, workshops, outdoor screenings and Q&As with the filmmakers and other film industry insiders – all for free.
The Maryland Film Festival works year-round to connect audiences to films and filmmakers. It is our mission to bring filmmakers to Baltimore in a unique, relaxed, creatively charged atmosphere; to expand the horizons of audiences by presenting diverse voices and uncompromising visions on film and video; to extend and fortify the festival, museum, and commercial lives of emerging films via active, direct advocacy; to help filmmakers advance their careers and artistic visions; to nurture and challenge the next generation of filmgoers; to present film as both entertainment and as art; and to showcase Baltimore as a thriving center of film culture and filmmaking.
Year-round, the MFF maintains a membership support program, Friends of the Festival, for whom MFF presents an average of 5 screenings each month in a variety of Baltimore venues. These include advance screenings of upcoming theatrical releases, as well as special events ranging from 3-D film festivals, outdoor family screenings, repertory screenings, and seasonal series co-programmed with the Maryland Institute College of Art.
