Mass Ave

This event is called a festival for a reason, and we are here to celebrate great moving image storytelling and our return to watching these wonderful films together on the big screen. We started devoting our Opening Night program to short work in 2002, because the short form is where most filmmakers get their start and establish their creative identity. Over the years, our opening night shorts block has featured such accomplished filmmakers as Angel Kristi Williams, Bob Odenkirk, Bill Plympton, Laura Wolkstein, David Lowery and Terence Nance, all of whom have gone on to create celebrated feature work. We continue to support and advocate for short films and filmmakers throughout their careers and are thrilled to showcase the work of seven up and coming directors whose work delighted, moved and stunned us. This year’s Opening Night program includes extraordinary narrative and documentary work, stellar, stirring performances, moments of hilarity, and a taste of Baltimore’s unique charm.