For years Friday night has been John Waters Night at the Maryland Film Festival, the night when the Baltimore-based filmmaker picked a movie for audiences to view and personally served as host.
But this year Waters won’t do that because the festival moved to Nov. 5 to 9, and that conflicts with his spoken-word show touring schedule.
“While John Waters has been a beloved presence at past festivals, he will not be presenting this year,” explained Maryland Film Festival Director KJ Mohr, in a message. “His holiday tour contract includes a no-compete clause that prevents him from making official public appearances in November. That said, we are hopeful to welcome him as a guest if he’s able to attend any of the screenings.”
While Waters won’t be choosing a film to screen, the film festival will honor him in his Friday night slot by showing one of his early “celluloid atrocities.” It’s a rare 16 mm print of “Multiple Maniacs,” to mark its 55th anniversary. This is the film in which the Cavalcade of Perversion, a traveling freak show, acts as a front for Lady Divine, who is out for blood after discovering her lover’s affair.
“Multiple Maniacs” also marked the film debut of Edith Massey and the only appearance of a creature called Lobstora, fabricated and brought to life by brothers Vince and Ed Peranio. Other stars include David Lochary, Mary Vivian Pearce, Mink Stole and Cookie Mueller. Special guests in attendance at the Parkway will include Dreamlanders George Figgs and Susan Lowe.
“Multiple Maniacs” will be shown at the Parkway Theatre, 5 W. North Ave., on Nov. 7 at 9:30 p.m. Tickets cost $30 and can be purchased here: https://snfparkway.org/events/multiple-maniacs-on-16mm/
Print and audio books of the “Multiple Maniacs” screenplay were released by Macmillan Publishers last month.
In 2026, the Maryland Film Festival will move back to the spring, when Waters presumably won’t have a schedule conflict. The dates are April 8 to 12, 2026 – just before Waters’ 80th birthday on April 22.
