The New/Next Film Festival returns for its fourth year, opening Thursday, Oct. 1 at Baltimore’s historic Charles Theatre. Over four days, the festival will screen more than 160 films across the venue’s five screens, offering local audiences a rich mix of emerging works, world premieres, and restored classics.
Program highlights
Festival organizers have highlighted more than 30 emerging titles, six world premieres, and five United States or North American premieres. Audiences can look forward to over 100 cutting‑edge short films and features such as Chronovisor, Everytime, La Gradiva, The Lorraine and Zi. Restored classics Sitting Ducks and The Shepherds of Berneray will also be presented.
The opening night will feature “Eternity One,” a Baltimore‑made documentary by Marnie Ellen Hertzler that chronicles a disappearing Chesapeake Bay island community, accompanied by an original score from local dream‑pop duo Beach House. The festival will close Sunday, Oct. 4 with “The Projectionist,” a haunting drama by Alexandre Rockwell about an elderly projectionist confronting his past. Rockwell will attend the Baltimore showing alongside members of his cast.
World and North American premieres
World premieres include Riptides, a dark comedy by Alex Karpovsky starring Steve Little; the personal documentary You Don’t Know My Name by Tommy Franklin; and the DIY regional‑cinema effort The Tower from Auden Lincoln‑Vogel and Philip Rabalais. North American premieres feature the comedy Kiss and Be Friends set in Lisbon, and the experimental piece The Arrow at Rest at Every Instant of its Flight by Theodore Schaefer.
Community focus and access
“We’re thrilled and humbled that so many world‑class talents have chosen us for their premieres,” said Eric Allen Hatch, co‑founder of New/Next and director of programming. “This festival isn’t about red carpets, but about discoveries and new experiences through cinema. Every one of these features, whether playing to its first audience or its fiftieth, affirms the robust state of film as an art form—and moviegoing as one of life’s great joys.”
For film lovers who want a deeper experience, a limited number of All‑Access Passes are now available. Pass holders receive premium entry to all screenings, opening and closing night parties, exclusive filmmaker events, and additional perks. Full details, including the complete schedule and ticketing information, are posted on the New/Next Film Festival website.
Why it matters for Baltimore
The festival adds cultural vibrancy to Baltimore’s downtown area, drawing regional and national attention to the city’s historic theater and its thriving arts community. By featuring local filmmakers alongside international talent, New/Next supports the city’s tradition of creative expression and offers families, students, and film enthusiasts a wholesome, family‑friendly entertainment option.
Residents are encouraged to attend, support local artists, and experience the joy of cinema in a setting that celebrates both the past and the future of filmmaking.
Original reporting: Baltimore Fishbowl — read the source article.
