Set a year after a school shooting, The Graduates is a poignant exploration of grief, healing, and the search for meaning in the wake of tragedy. Hannah Peterson’s deeply personal direction captures the raw, unspoken moments of resilience that define teenage life, while the intimate, naturalistic cinematography draws viewers into the fragile beauty of the everyday. Produced by Jon Cho and Chloé Zhao and anchored by quietly powerful performances, this deeply moving film invites us to sit with the weight of loss and the courage it takes to imagine a way forward. Each screening of the feature will be preceded by the short film Grace, a MdFF 2024 favorite about 16-year-old Grace preparing for her baptism in the 1950s rural South while grappling with romantic feelings for her best friend, Louise. Join us on January 9 at 7 PM for a special screening with Grace director Natalie Jasmine Harris (in person) and Hannah Peterson (via Zoom), moderated by Jena Burchick of Towson University and BWMA.

Premiering at Sundance and gaining cult-classic status thanks to its infectious theme song “Watermelon,” popularized on TikTok, Dinner in America is unapologetically quirky, rebellious, and fun. Simon, a fiery punk rocker on the run, stumbles into the life of Patty, an eccentric dreamer stuck in suburban monotony. Together, these two outcasts set the world ablaze—one irreverent, electrifying moment at a time. With razor-sharp wit, a pulse-pounding soundtrack, and a “Napoleon Dynamite meets Heathers” charm, Adam Rehmeier’s genre-defying triumph grows on you, leaving you cheering for their unlikely love.