The 25th Annual Maryland Film Festival (MdFF) has released its full schedule, taking place May 2 – 5, 2024.
The 25th MdFF’s theme, “Stepping Beyond the Screen and into the Story,” will include diverse films, tech-forward programming, and free community events for all ages centered around the iconic Stavros Niarchos Foundation Parkway Theatre in Baltimore’s Station North Arts District. There will be feature films, shorts, panels, talks, receptions, parties, and MdFF’s first-ever emerging sidebar.
The full line-up of films and events are listed on the Main Slate, which can be reached by clicking this link. There will also be a “How to Fest” guide to help festival attendees create a personalized itinerary specific to their tastes, tickets, and schedules.
“To celebrate 25 years of the Maryland Film Festival we’re looking back to look forward, celebrating our beloved and storied festival with special retrospective screenings, filmmaker alumni, and by showing appreciation for all of the hard work and audience love that has gone into making MdFF the Mid-Atlantic’s preeminent film festival,” said KJ Mohr, MdFF’s Festival Director & Director of Programming. “We will be celebrating filmmakers who are Baltimore born and raised, as well as the extraordinary talent that is currently drawn to and who have adopted Maryland as home. Plus, after watching films all day, we invite audiences to get out of their seats and turn up at one of our many nightlife events happening in the surrounding neighborhood.”
This year’s MdFF will also offer tech-forward programming with CineTech, an exploration of cinema and emerging technologies. This is sponsored by Evergreen Digital, Johns Hopkins ISET, and BaltiVirtual.
“Much like other major film festivals around the world, we will be looking to the future of moving image creation in Baltimore and beyond with our focus on emerging filmmakers and on emerging cinematic technologies,” said Q. Ragsdale, curator of CineTech. “We hope audiences will embrace this opportunity to dive into the future of storytelling, where technology blurs the line between viewer and story, creating unforgettable experiences. Whether exploring new worlds in VR, bringing stories to life with AR, immersing yourself in multidimensional narratives, or taking control of your journey in interactive games, CineTech offers something for everyone. We’ll be stepping beyond the screen and into the story.”
The 25th MdFF will also take a nostalgic look back with special retrospective screenings showcasing highlights from the festival’s history. Audiences can revisit beloved classics, discover films they’ve never seen, and honor filmmakers who have made MdFF the institution it is. Retro MdFF will also include essential early silent Black cinema with a life score, in keeping with the beloved MdFF tradition.
There will also be “a kooky late-night offering from a Charm City distributor and restorator, and a recognizable Baltimore story that was released the year our Festival began and was supported by MdFF’s founders,” reads the press release announcing the lineup.
Since 2019, BaltiShorts has become an integral part of the MdFF program. These short films highlight DMV creators and films they make about the greater Baltimore community. This year’s program features documentaries, narratives, experimental work, animation, and more.
The 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Maryland Film Festival will demonstrate the consistent emphasis of the festival’s “Film for Everyone” raison d’etre. “The festival has evolved, embracing new technologies, formats, and voices while remaining true to its core mission of celebrating the power of cinema to inspire, provoke, and unite audiences. Each screening is an opportunity for audiences to engage directly with filmmakers, enhancing the communal viewing experience.”
Will there be any Distribution workshops/lectures featuring creditable members from the Film Industry held during the festival.