Announcing New MdFF 2026 Spring Dates to Better Support Students and Film Community
We will return to our traditional spring slot in 2026, with new dates set for April 8-12, to better serve filmmakers, students, and the broader Baltimore film community.
After experimenting with a fall festival in 2025, MdFF will revert to spring to be more accessible to filmmakers and community stakeholders, and conducive to their production timelines. In addition, the new dates align with the academic calendar, offering increased opportunities for student engagement.
“While fall initially seemed like a good fit, early spring provides more room for schools and students to participate, especially before final exams and graduation. It is crucial that students can be involved in our festival, whether through our student programming, the Student Film Summit, middle school screenings, or our ticket programs. Moving to early April allows us to better work with schools throughout the year and ensures we don’t lose students at the end of their academic year. The future of community festivals like ours depends on aligning with students’ schedules.”
– MdFF director KJ Mohr
Additionally, we felt that positioning the festival within the spring festival circuit alongside Sundance, SXSW and True/False would place it within a robust ecosystem of festivals that champion independent voices and creative risk-taking. It will also create a balanced cultural landscape within Baltimore, offering breathing space between the city’s many fall film events, such as Sweaty Eyeballs, Baltimore International Black Film Festival, New/Next, and Be More Film Festival.
We will continue to celebrate Maryland Film Festival Day every May 2, highlighting the state’s thriving film ecosystem and serving as a launchpad for the year ahead.
“The shift restores MdFF’s natural rhythm within the global independent film circuit, enabling us to better support Maryland creatives, amplify underrepresented voices, and connect diverse audiences with bold new work. It also reaffirms MdFF’s role as a platform for discovery and collaboration across Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic. We are the Maryland Film Festival and our mission is to champion and encourage the growth of all film activity across the region, including immersive media, multi-platform storytelling, and other festivals.”
– Nancy Proctor, Executive Director of the SNF Parkway and Maryland Film Festival