Not even a week after the 2025 New/Next Film Festival has passed, organizers have announced it will return for a fourth installment in the fall of 2026.
Presented by Baltimore Public Media (BPM), the festival brought more than 150 films and 300 filmmakers to the Charles Theatre the first weekend in October 2025. Craig Swagler, Baltimore Public Media’s president and general manager, is eager to continue the festival’s mission of offering cutting-edge cinema from Baltimore and beyond.
“I’m excited to announce the continuation of what is fast becoming a tradition—the 2026, fourth edition of the New/Next Film Festival will return next autumn,” Swagler said. “As we conclude the 2025 New/Next here at the Charles Theatre, know that we will be back again next year to celebrate another extraordinary season of art. Each year, this festival has grown, and I cannot wait to see what new partnerships, collaborations, and expansions await the independent film community.”
This year’s attendance was larger than the previous year’s in terms of both filmmakers and audience size. There were 3,500 attendees in addition to the 300 filmmakers. Programmer and co-founder Eric Hatch hopes to continue that trend.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled with how the first three editions of New/Next have gone and am so excited to get to work on curating the fourth,” Hatch said. “The over three hundred filmmakers attending New/Next this year set a new record for a Baltimore festival and included unforgettable experiences like bringing documentarian David Bim from Cuba to share his incredible documentary ‘To the West, in Zapata’.”
The Jay Orr Student All-Access Pass Fund — new this year— helped Baltimore high school and college students attend the festival and events for free, and gave them the chance to interact with the filmmakers. The program honors Jay Orr’s memory, a local architect and film lover with deep ties to the Baltimore community. Orr passed away in January 2025.
“Film and art serve as both a window and a door—a window that allows us to see the world through new perspectives, and a door that opens pathways to understanding, connection, and transformation,” Swagler said. “With New/Next, we honor that role, and together we are building a future where independent film thrives, and our community continues to be enriched by its power.”
Baltimore Public Media hopes to continue the New/Next Film Festival’s steady growth, cementing it as a signature presence in Baltimore’s cultural scene.
“Watching the whole block come alive with thousands of filmmakers and film lovers all weekend was truly special,” said Sam Sessa, BPM’s director of events and community engagement. “I’m excited to help bring New/Next back in 2026 – events like this showcase Baltimore at its best.”
