Filmmaker John Waters and Maryland Public Television CEO Larry Unger will be honored on Thursday, March 20, at the 13th Maryland International Film Festival-Hagerstown.
The Maryland International Film Festival-Hagerstown is a non-profit organization that celebrates and promotes the art of filmmaking while highlighting local talent and contributions to the industry.
The awards will be presented at the Maryland Theatre in downtown Hagerstown on the first night of the four-day festival, which runs from March 20 to 23.
Waters will receive the Mendez Award, given to someone who has succeeded and made a positive impact in the television, film and broadcast industries or has supported film and television and has given back to the community, according to film festival board of directors president Nicole Houser.
With two films in the U. S. Library of Congress’ prestigious National Film Registry – “Pink Flamingos” and “Hairspray” — Waters “has been a vociferous champion for Maryland filmmaking and is always known as one of the most adventuresome directors in the nation,” Houser said in a statement.
“John Waters is one of the best-known film directors who came from Maryland. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,” said festival co-founder Tom Riford. “John Waters has testified in favor of State of Maryland assistance for filmmaking. He is one of the most recognized independent filmmakers in the nation.”
First given in 2013, the Mendez Award is named for the Mendez family, strong supporters of the festival. The award’s first recipient was the late Antonio Joseph “Tony” Mendez, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) master of disguise, founder of the Spy Museum in Washington, and award-winning author and painter.
An American technical operations officer for the CIA, Mendez specialized in support of clandestine and covert CIA operations, wrote four memoirs about his CIA experiences and was depicted by Ben Affleck in the 2012 Academy Award-winning film “Argo.” His award was given one month after “Argo” won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Other previous Mendez Award recipients include film director and producer Joe Carnahan; author Nora Roberts; Frederick County councilman and film industry advocate Billy Shreve; actresses Kerry Cahill and Ann Mahoney; actor Amir Arison; former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan; current MPT executive vice president and station manager Steven Schupak, and broadcaster Johnny Holliday.
Mendez passed away in 2019. His widow, former CIA agent and author Jonna Mendez, will present this year’s award. Waters is expected to appear at the festival via video, because he has a schedule conflict.
Nora Roberts Foundation Award
Unger, the MPT CEO, will receive the Nora Roberts Foundation Award, which honors individuals for their success in the film and television industry or for creating opportunities in the arts community, particularly for people with ties to Maryland.
Unger was selected for his contributions to the television industry over the past 27 years, including his support of the arts and filmmaking in Maryland and the role he has played in helping MPT secure numerous regional Emmy Awards.
Past recipients of the Nora Roberts Foundation Award include Jack Gerbes, longtime director of the Maryland Film Office; actor William H. Macy Jr., and former Baltimore Film Office director Debbie Donaldson Dorsey, all recognized for their contributions to the film and television industry in Maryland.
Unger is set to retire on June 30 after overseeing advancements at MPT such as the transition from analog to digital broadcasting and the launch of three additional channels. He also managed a $9 million expansion of the Irene and Edward H. Kaplan Production Studio in Owings Mills and led initiatives such as MPT Salutes Vietnam Veterans and the Maryland Center for Media Literacy & Education. MPT’s Schupak has been named to replace him.
Last month Unger received the 2025 Pillar of Public Service Award from America’s Public Television Stations for his work in education and community engagement. Several films featured at the Maryland International Film Festival-Hagerstown have previously been screened on MPT.
250 submissions
In addition to the Mendez and the Nora Roberts Foundation awards, the festival will present the City of Hagerstown Fidelity Award on Thursday. Filmmaker awards will be presented on March 22 for Best Feature; Best Short; Best Animation; Best Student; Best Documentary; Best Local Film and Best Foreign Film.
The event will begin on Thursday with a VIP reception at 5:30 p.m. at the Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., followed by the opening night award presentations and a world-premiere sneak peek of an IMAX film.
The festival received more than 250 submissions this year, and more than 115 films were selected for screening. Major sponsors include the City of Hagerstown, the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Washington County Arts Council. After opening night, other venues besides the Maryland Theatre will host screenings throughout the weekend.
More information about the festival is available on its website, http://www.marylandiff.org.
John Waters in North Carolina
On March 22 at 7:30 p.m., Waters will present his spoken-word show, “The Naked Truth,” at Kenan Auditorium, 515 Wagoner Drive, on the University of North Carolina-Wilmington campus.
The day before, organizers of the Cucalorus Film Festival will present a double feature billed as a “John Waters night of chaos” at Jenga’s Playhouse, 815 Princess Street in Wilmington. It will pair Waters’ 1974 film, “Female Trouble” with “Scala!!!,” a documentary about a legendary London film house known for screening subversive films. The event starts on March 21 at 6:15 p.m.
