Friends,
Since the groundbreaking 25th Annual Maryland Film Festival re-opened the SNF Parkway in May, your friends over here at Charles and North have not taken a breath in working to unfurl a new vision for the future of film, community, and media in Baltimore.
Take a minute, if you would, to revisit all we’ve done together in just three short months…
MdFF 25: One for the Books
Over 6,000 film-lovers, filmmakers, and media creatives showed up for this year’s festival. We kicked things off with the opening night screening of Luther: Never Too Much, introduced by Governor Wes Moore. Cinetech left everyone talking about the future of new media in Baltimore and beyond. The parties went off. And you, our friends and supporters, collaborators and inspiration, came together to make this milestone anniversary something truly special.
“Suffice it to say, the Maryland Film Festival has come back with strong institutional force, an anchoring point for the burgeoning film community in the city and a draw to those outside.” – Filmmaker Magazine
A Bold New Vision for the Future
Board members Scot Spencer and Camille Blake Fall hosted a public presentation of our new strategic vision, generating some serious buzz about our future. In case you missed it, you can find the recording here. We’re expanding our reach to be more responsive to you, focusing on five key program pillars: film, filmmaker support, live arts, education, and new media and gaming.
To get this ambitious program underway, we are doubling down on partnerships with our friends at Crew Call, Baltimore Filmmaker Collective, JHU/MICA Film Centre, the Baltimore Comedy Festival, Game4Good, and many more. (And we welcome your interest in partnering in the future – please hit us up!).
“It’s so great to have the Parkway back in the game! It’s been wonderful to see the doors reopened and a new, galvanized leadership team in place bringing energy and fresh, outside-the-box thinking to the Station North Arts District.” – Sig Libowitz, Director and Senior Lecturer, Graduate Film and Media Program, Johns Hopkins University.
Filmmaker Support Services: From the Core
In June, we launched a revamped Filmmaker Support program, kicking things off with an industry panel for local filmmakers in partnership with the JHU-MICA Film Centre and the Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund.
We were also fortunate enough to host, in partnership with Baltimore Filmmakers Collective, filmmaker and mentor Moon Molson, who workshopped pitch concepts and helped local filmmakers hone their projects in a master class setting. As Alisha Patterson, one of our local filmmakers, said:
“Seeing our film on SNF Parkway’s Theater 1 screen during the event affirmed the power of community screenings…The care and consideration audience members took in providing constructive feedback on the film after the screening was beyond what we anticipated.”
And that’s just the beginning. We’ve got several more opportunities in the works for local filmmakers to learn, grow, and showcase their work right here in Baltimore. Join us on Friday, September 20 for a free community event to learn more (see our website for details).
“We are delighted that the Parkway has reopened with such energy and enthusiasm for the filmmaking community in Baltimore. Partnering with the Parkway on SZIF and Fellow’s events in these early days since reopening helped broaden both the scope and reach of the Fund’s and Fellow’s events. We look forward to working together on future productions.” – Annette Porter, Director, Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund
“Film Plus” on the Rise: Swingin’ with Mobtown & Rolling down the Aisles with BCF\
Part of our recommitment to film at the Parkway is to make every night at the cinema something special – fusing film with live experiences that cannot be replicated anywhere else (and no, not at home either, not even close).
As the Baltimore Sun reported, we were thrilled to host an exclusive screening of Apple TV’s Lady in the Lake earlier this summer. The incredible Moses Ingram made the night even more special, sharing her personal journey to Hollywood stardom with the supportive audience and noting the significance of Baltimore – her hometown – in the series.
In July, our friends at Mobtown Ballroom spent a swingin’ weekend with us, bringing iconic dance-themed films, live dance lessons, and performances to the Parkway.
We partnered again with Mobtown to host friends on their way to Mobtown’s Goth Prom with a preamble at the Parkway for the classic silent film Nosferatu, accompanied live by Parkway favorite Aaron Hill.
And, over Labor Day weekend, we teamed up with Baltimore Comedy Festival to show off some of our favorite films showcasing stand-up greats Richard Pryor, Martin Lawrence, and Andy Kauffman while opening the stage to live performances from some of the festival’s top talent during its Premier Showcase. If you’re still recovering, you’re not alone.
“Part of what we are responding to is the desire for those communities to have a space that is welcoming to them. The range of experiences that are within the Parkway are responsive and meeting communities, those distinct communities, where they are. And I think that’s one of the important features that we need to underscore for where we’re going and how we’re going to be a service in a partnership with communities going forward.” – SNF Parkway Board Chair Scot Spencer, quoted by the Baltimore Fishbowl in this fantastic profile.
Shelter from the Storm / Opening in the Sky
Wide Angle Youth Media Filmmakers
We’d like to think that it was more than the drenching deluge that drove over 1,100 visitors through our doors during this year’s electrifying Artscape. Thanks to support from BOPA and MSAC, we were able to present Openings, a showcase of bold short films from youth makers at Wide Angle Youth Media, students and faculty at JHU-MICA Film Centre, the team at Sweaty Eyeballs Animation Festival, and a few of our favorite shorts from MdFF. It was a thrill to see so many people – from all walks of life – come as they were to experience the magic of film.
Lighting up Station North
And then there was Windows on Charles – a groundbreaking public art installation featuring over 60 short films made in Baltimore, about Baltimore, and by Baltimore creatives. These films lit up the windows of the SNF Parkway, as well as those of our Station North neighbors at Mobtown Ballroom, Club Car, Baltimore Youth Arts, Impact Hub Baltimore, the Walbert Building, Pearson’s Florist, Treehouse Juicery and True Vine Records throughout August. We just love how the videos turned the neighborhood into a surprising, joyful new media landscape.
“Its was an amazing experience being able to see my film around the city I grew up in as an artist! No rain or thunder could keep me away.” – Sofia Gomez, Windows on Charles filmmaker
Getting on with Some Help from our Friends
Thanks to a gift from our long-time friends at Johns Hopkins University, we’ve got some much-needed renovations in the works. These upgrades are set to transform the Parkway into a multi-disciplinary venue, enhancing the movie-going experience and making the building usable by many more people, artists, and performers. This is more than just a facelift – it’s about unlocking the full potential of the Parkway as a true cultural hub. We remain so grateful to JHU for taking other meaningful, generous steps to help pave the way for our long-term sustainability.
Thanks to support from the Central Baltimore Partnership and Station North Arts District, you’ll be seeing some important changes taking place outside as well, including new lighting, greenery, and safety improvements along Charles Street. Our goal is to make your walk from the parking lot to the Parkway more accessible, well-lit, and convenient.
And that’s not all. We’re already gearing up for the 2025 MdFF with an award of ARPA funding from the City of Baltimore and the United Way of Central Maryland. Together, this represents a significant investment in our renewed vision – resources we’ll use to bring more diverse programming to you, both on screen and on the stage.
Next Up!
Still from Kyle Yearwood’s Baltimore Galaxy Project
We’re just getting started! Keep an eye out for what’s coming next.
Join us on Friday, September 20 and Saturday, September 21 for Openings – a celebration of groundbreaking films by Baltimore filmmakers and legends of the cinema as well as a full unveiling of our vision for filmmaker support in the years ahead.
We’ve got an exciting partnership on tap with Club Car and Maryland Pride for October. And you won’t want to miss the sheer terror we’ve got in store for Halloween this year.
So, here’s to a summer well-spent, and to all the amazing things still to come. Thank you for being part of the Parkway family. We’ll see you soon!
With gratitude,
Your SNF Parkway Team