The New/Next Film Festival

The New/Next Film Festival will host its third edition on Oct. 2-5, 2025 at Baltimore’s historic five-screen Charles Theatre. The festival, presented by Baltimore Public Media, is curated by veteran film programmer Eric Allen Hatch.

“Baltimore Public Media is incredibly proud to bring back the New/Next Film Festival for its third year, further solidifying our commitment to expanding arts and culture in Baltimore and beyond,” said Craig Swagler, Baltimore Public Media’s President and General Manager. “This festival is more than just a celebration of film — it’s a showcase of the bold creativity and diverse storytelling that make our city and region a cultural epicenter. Hosting some of the best independent films from across the state and country, New/Next continues to reflect the spirit, resilience, and artistic excellence of our outstanding community here in Maryland and right here in Baltimore City. We look forward to once again uniting filmmakers, audiences, and artists for this signature event that enriches and elevates our shared cultural experience.”

This announcement builds on the success of New/Next’s remarkable second festival in October 2024, which saw the festival expand its scope to four days. New/Next 2024 presented more than 100 films, hosted by over 200 visiting film directors, cast, and crew members.

This year, filmgoers can look forward to an opening night screening of OBEX followed by an after-party at the Metro Gallery right across the street, happening October 2.  On October 4, the organizers have planned a real special Baltimore treat: a special revival screening of the 1985 maximalist action film Commando, guest-curated and introduced by local comedian Stavros Halkias. The festival will close on October 5 with a screening of Natchez and an after-party at Metro Gallery. Individual screening tickets and all-access passes are available here.

Highlights of New/Next’s 2024 edition included the opening night world premiere of Alexi Wasser’s Messy, named one of the year’s best films by John Waters; the world premiere of Jinho Myung’s Softshell, named the best film of the fest in Filmmaker magazine; and the Baltimore premiere of Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat, nominated for Best Documentary Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.

New/Next 2024 also featured a film curated and hosted by Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally of Beach House; free-admission community screenings in collaboration with legendary documentarian Sam Pollard; and dozens of short-film world premieres, including new work from Albert Birney and Clara Mamet. In addition, the festival donated 30 All Access Passes to local high school and college film students and offered discounted tickets for neighborhood residents.

“The depth and array of emerging talent on display in our 2024 lineup was the most exciting I’ve ever experienced as a film programmer,” said Hatch, who programmed the Maryland Film Festival from 2007-2018. “I can’t wait to see what discoveries our call for entries yields in 2025.”

A limited number of All Access Passes for this year’s New/Next Film Festival are still available! Get your now… they typically sell out!

More info: newnextfilmfest.com / filmfreeway.com/NewNextFilmFestival

Twitter / Instagram: @NewNextFilmFest