Reels will roll when thousands of movie buffs pack Baltimore’s Station North Arts & Entertainment District for the 18th annual Maryland Film Festival, May 4 through May 8, 2016.

Festival organizers spend the entire year curating a selection of works from a couple thousand screening submissions and suggestions across the country and the world. The result: 120 feature-length and short films of all genres that demonstrate the possibilities of cinema. Each North American feature-length screening will be hosted by the filmmaker.

As always, the festival will present a vintage silent film with a live musical accompaniment performed and composed by the renowned Alloy Orchestra. This year’s selection is the recently restored print of ​L’inhumaine (1924) — a groundbreaking and controversial French science fiction film with some of the most avant-garde European artists of the time.

Also, as per tradition, attendees will enjoy a selection chosen and hosted by legendary filmmaker and Baltimore native John Waters.

The Maryland Film Festival is unique among film festivals in that it forgoes competition and categories. It is a celebration– exploring and elevating the passions of filmmakers, with an emphasis on connecting filmmakers and audiences.

Through intimate panel discussions and filmmakers hosting screenings, the Maryland Film Festival offers the opportunity to learn and be inspired by the world of cinema. In past years, the festival has hosted screenings by famed directors including Barry Levinson, Kathryn Bigelow, Melvin Van Peebles, Jonathan Demme, Alex Gibney, Matthew Porterfield and Lena Dunham. Selections for the 2016 Festival will be announced in April.

A Tent Village, located in the Ynot Lot (Charles St. at North Ave.), will feature free panel discussions, festival box office, happy hours and food vendors.

Individual screening tickets are $12-$15, or visitors can attend three screenings for $30. Tickets go on sale in April and can be purchased online, by phone or on-site at the festival box office. All-access passes to the Maryland Film Festival are on sale now for $375 and can be purchased by calling 410-752-8083.

Venues:
Baltimore Museum of Art
Lab School of Baltimore
MICA Brown Center
MICA Lazarus Studio Center
MICA Gateway Building
Single Carrot Theater
The Walters Art Museum
The Windup Space
The Ynot Lot

Festival Hours:
Wednesday, May 4 (opening night): 7 – 11 p.m.
Thursday, May 5: 4 – 11 p.m.
Friday, May 6 – Sunday, May 8: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.