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As usual for Eric Hatch, there was no glossing over any entries in this year’s New/Next Film Festival. Between January and August, the Baltimore cinephile watched every eligible feature and short film — more than 1,000 of them.
“All the way to the finish, I will add, which is not the norm for a festival,” said Hatch, the indie film festival’s sole programmer.
His meticulous attention to detail is a hallmark of New/Next, which returns to the Charles Theatre from Thursday to Sunday.
Hatch founded New/Next in 2023 with producer Sam Sessa to fill the void left by a then-on-hiatus Maryland Film Festival, which Hatch had previously programmed for more than a decade.
But now, entering its fourth year, New/Next has quickly emerged as its own must-see celebration of independent cinema — a platform for rising filmmakers that’s making Hollywood pay closer attention to Baltimore.
“If anybody asked me, ‘What festival should I look at?’ to see what’s going on in the low-budget American indie film scene,” veteran director Joe Swanberg said, “New/Next would just immediately be my answer.”
The 2026 edition is bigger than ever, with more than 160 screenings of independent features and short films. Presented by Baltimore Public Media, the Station North festival expects to welcome more than 300 filmmakers from around the region and country, alongside cinema enthusiasts.
Hatch’s discerning taste sets New/Next apart, Swanberg said. He added that Hatch, who also co-owns the home video lending library Beyond Video in Remington, has “a knack for discovering new talent before they break.”
“He’s one of the most significant American programmers within the time of my career,” said the director of “The Sun Never Sets.”
From new works by Baltimore filmmakers to international Oscar submissions, New/Next aims to offer something for nearly every movie fan, Hatch said.
The festival concludes Sunday night with the Maryland premiere of “The Projectionist,” a crime thriller directed by Alexandre Rockwell and co-produced by Quentin Tarantino, followed by an after-party across the street at Metro Baltimore with DJ Mills.
With so many options and passes still available, we asked Hatch for some not-to-miss highlights at New/Next 2026. All films below will be shown on Screen 1. Find the full schedule here.
‘Eternity One’
- 7 p.m. Thursday; 2:55 p.m. Sunday
Opening night is reserved for a single film: “Eternity One,” the second feature from Baltimore-based director Marnie Ellen Hertzler.
The documentary, which was filmed over multiple years and runs under 90 minutes, is a stirring portrait of a disappearing Chesapeake Bay community.
It follows Mary Ella, Hatch said, “a child on Tangier Island who’s becoming aware of climate change and the fact that changing coastlines might make their hometown cease to exist in the future.”
An added bonus for music fans: The film features an original score by the beloved Baltimore dream pop band Beach House.
After the screening, head to Metro Baltimore for the after-party and a DJ set by Ami Dang.
‘Riptides’
- 6:30 p.m. Friday
Hatch still can’t believe New/Next landed the world premiere of this dark comedy, which stars Steve Little, the veteran character actor best known for his turn as human punching bag Stevie Janowski on HBO’s “Eastbound & Down.”
Written and directed by Alex Karpovsky (yes, that’s Ray from HBO’s “Girls,” who will be in attendance), “Riptides” tells the story of burnout Airbnb manager Toby and his, uh, invention: “a new boogie board that’s easier on the genitals when you jump into a wave,” Hatch said.
“Riptides” satirizes modern self-help culture, à la the Emmy-winning television series “The White Lotus,” and the result is a tragicomedy crowd-pleaser that “feels like a real potential hit,” Hatch said.
‘Little Doors’
- 9:45 p.m. Friday
Only one film this year, as far as Hatch can tell, spins a tale about a lonely woman who discovers a tiny wooden door on the side of her body and must decide whether to open it.
Made in Baltimore, “Little Doors” stars Megan Koester and Anthony Oberbeck, the movie’s writer and director. Hatch called it a “dark fantasy film” about a person who spins into crisis, which should appeal to fans of the late David Lynch and his off-kilter, surreal storytelling.
“If you’re a fan of ‘Eraserhead,’ that’s the one for you,” Hatch said.
‘Big Break’
- 7:45 p.m. Saturday
Think festival movies are too artsy, esoteric or just plain weird?
Hatch said “Little Doors” and the new horror-comedy “Big Break” — satisfying and inventive genre films — will change your mind.
In “Big Break,” from director Ian Faria and the New York comedy troupe Simple Town, a struggling comedy group is confronted by professional jealousy, failed dreams and … a serial killer on the loose.
If you have friends who think festivals are “just a stuffy time at the movies, I would point them toward ‘Big Break,’” Hatch said.
