We’re willing to admit that we know little about the film community in Baltimore. We are, in fact, perpetual students and at times dangerously curious. So when the Maryland Film Festival came to town we did what we always do when we’re unsure of where to begin. We dove in headfirst and hoped to make friends.

What we found during our excursion into the world of film was a thriving scene full of innovative ideas and enthusiasm. People from all over the world descended upon Station North and Mount Vernon to share their thoughts and experience as it pertains to the art of filmmaking. Like most industries, this one is changing at a blistering pace. It’s hard to predict exactly where it’s going. This degree of change could be unsettling to many, but we find this shift exhilarating.

Also of note this week, Baltimore’s own Beach House played the 2640 Space before launching their world tour, and Heather Joi’s opening night at Dougherty’s Pub.

This isn’t Murphy’s Law reminding you that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong or Finagle’s law retorting that whatever can go wrong will go wrong, and at the worst possible time, in the worst possible way, or Tucker’s Law (which we can’t even begin to repeat here), people. This is What Weekly.

The Big Picture

We certainly understand that there’s more to the Maryland Film Festival than John Waters, but we couldn’t very well continue on our quest to document Baltimore’s cultural bazaar without at least attempting to capture one of its most recognizable icons, could we?

In the big picture above, the gracious John Waters agrees to a picture inside the historic Charles Theatre. Though it looks like What Weekly and Mr. Waters are participating in a clever product placement campaign, I can assure you that Jujyfruit is in no way affiliated with What Weekly.

A humungous thanks goes out to John Waters who has been a tenacious force in the film industry and who has represented Baltimore as the wondrous, yet dichotomous, part freak show- part elegant highbrow, artistic and intellectual smorgasbord that it is. We are lucky to have such a personality help define this city.

John Waters and actor John Rothman.

Each year John Waters picks a film to present at the Maryland Film Festival based on his own tastes. This year he chose United 93. Initially, we were ambivalent about the film though curious as to his choice. After the film, we decided: We are never boarding a plane again.

United 93 is the story of 9/11, centralized around the one plane that didn’t hit its target on September 11. John Waters said something to the effect of, if you had a fear of flying before, this movie will give you a nervous breakdown. He was not mistaken. It takes courage to watch this film, and although it initially seemed like an odd choice for John Waters, it eventually made perfect sense.

Movie trailer or nervous breakdown? You decide.

Matt Porterfield’s film, Putty Hill, was on the mind of many a film festival goer this weekend. This fictitious film plays like a documentary following the events surrounding a young man’s death in the suburbs of Baltimore. The film creates a near seamless realism that has the ability to enlist the viewer into the ranks of those who inhabit the long forgotten outposts of an otherwise crumbling American Dream.

Matt is pictured here with festival coordinator Kate Ewald.

Watch this. Why?

“…if there’s an independent cinema, this movie is it, and if there’s
a new director, here he is.” – Richard Brody, The New Yorker

Opening night of the festival produced an amazing selection of short films. Sol Friedman’s film Junko’s Shamisen was among our favorites. The film uses a unique blend of disparate modes of animation and live action to spin the tale of a young girl who seeks revenge for her grandfather’s murder. Sol Friedman ripped the guts out of Kubuki theatre, Japanese folklore, comic books and anime and created a synergetic masterpiece. This is an impressive showing from a talented young filmmaker. We have no doubt this short will take Friedman places. Hello Hollywood. Here’s Sol with Lee Fireman and Andy Schuleman.

You can watch the trailer here, but we strongly recommend watching the entire film. Best 10 minutes and $2.50 you never wasted.

Clay Liford, Kelly Sears and Daniel Martinico.

Kelly Sears’ film ‘Voice on the Line’ embodies the kind of creativity that’s needed to expand the typical limits of film. This narrative combines animation and samples of old film to play out what could be described as the rationalization of a paranoid delusion advocated by a third party.

Me video. You watch.

LoopLoop, by Patrick Bergeron, is another entry into the festival that doesn’t easily fit into a category. The film itself portrays the perspective of a train passenger, but moves forwards and back through time to discover hidden details that may have only registered subliminally. It’s déjà vu in motion. The film reveals Patrick’s innovative approach to filmmaking and explores our relationship to time and memory. Here is Patrick with opening night host and programmer for the Maryland Film Festival, Scott Braid.

This is your brain on film.

Angie Elliot, Jen Talbert with filmmaker and longtime champion of cinema in Baltimore Skizz Cyzyk. Cyzyk is a linchpin in the Maryland Film universe and we hope to spend more time with him to figure out how he gets such good word of mouth.

Director of the Maryland Film Festival Jed Dietz with SXSW Film Festival Producer Janet Pierson at opening night at MICA’s Brown Center. Like we told them: The two most important people in the room.

Greg Kilduff, John Niblett and filmmaker David Warfield. We talked with these guys for so long, that we have no idea what to say now. Except, keep an eye out for a very inventive collaboration involving What Weekly and one or more of these gentlemen.

Nick Becker, Joseph Breeding and Marissa Breeding.

This is one of those situations that could be completely misconstrued if you allowed your imagination to run away with itself. Have we caught an escaped convict in an orange jumpsuit hiding in the bushes somewhere near the Brown Center; did we by chance catch a maniac stalking an innocent couple with the intent of kidnapping them and forcing them to watch reruns of the Sex in The City until they both agree that Carrie cheating on Aiden is the reason for all of the pain and suffering in the world or… is it possible that this scenario isn’t sinister at all?

We had to include a photo of the hottest spot during the festival. Here it is, in all its glory: the famed Charles Theatre.

Fin

On the edge of the Maryland Film Festival you’ll find another taking place at the Metro Gallery, home of Videopolis. This is where ran into Stewart Mostofsky owner of Ehse Records and musician Shana Palmer.

Tell us a story if you wish, but some images would prefer to exist without a narrative. Here you’ll find films that follow traditional formats as well as highly unorthodox explorations of the moving image. Videopolis is a free, not-for-profit event that at times seems to be focused more on the act of creating than the resulting creations.

The screenings are sometimes complimented by musical performances such as the one captured here by Violet Hour.

Josh Novel wins this week’s prestigious and highly coveted “Hey, You’re One of the Nicest People In Baltimore and I Guess That’s Why They Let You Tend Bar Here But I’m Not Sure If You’re Pulling My Leg Or If Your Last Name Really Is Novel Though I’ll Take Your Word For It Because You Seem Pretty Cool” award. Keep up the good work.

Sarah Williams and Guy Werner are the curators of Videopolis (though Sarah tends to give most of the credit to Guy who himself is a filmmaker). With that being said, we would like to point out that Sarah is a clever and sweet mover and shaker, particularly in the Station North district. We know why she’s peeking over the edge of the wall….do you?

Self explanatory at Sofi’s Crepes.

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