New/Next Film Festival Seeks Submissions, Returns Oct. 1-4 at Charles Theatre

The New/Next Film Festival, presented by Baltimore Public Media, opened submissions and announced it will return to the Charles Theatre Oct. 1-4, 2026. Organizers are accepting entries through FilmFreeway and have launched a home-viewing archive that lists past festival films and where Baltimore viewers can watch them.

Since its debut in 2023, New/Next has grown into a regional showcase for emerging filmmakers. The festival’s 2025 edition screened more than 100 short films and 30 features, including several world and U.S. premieres. The scale-up signals increased opportunity for local storytellers to reach audiences and for community members to see diverse perspectives on a big-screen venue that has anchored Baltimore filmgoing for decades.

The open call and the home-viewing archive have practical equity implications for Baltimore residents. By using FilmFreeway, the festival streamlines submissions for filmmakers who lack institutional backing or industry contacts. The home-viewing archive helps residents who face transportation, work, caregiving, or mobility barriers access festival programming from home, expanding cultural participation beyond those who can attend in person.

Public health and social policy stakeholders can also view the festival as a platform. Local health departments, clinics, and community groups often turn to documentary and narrative film to spark conversations about housing, mental health, substance use, and access to care. New/Next’s track record of premieres and curated shorts offers community partners a chance to spotlight public health issues and promote dialogue in settings that reach beyond clinical encounters.

The economic and neighborhood impacts are tangible. Weekday and weekend screenings at the Charles Theatre draw foot traffic to surrounding businesses and create shift-work and part-time opportunities for local staff, volunteer coordinators, and independent exhibitors. For Baltimore artists, the festival’s visibility can open doors to regional funding, distribution, and festival networks that have historically been concentrated outside the city.

Filmmakers should submit via FilmFreeway to be considered for the Oct. 1-4 lineup. Audience members who cannot travel to the Charles Theatre can consult the festival’s home-viewing archive to find where selected films are available to stream or rent. Baltimore Public Media’s stewardship of New/Next underscores a public media commitment to elevating local voices and improving cultural access.

For Baltimore readers, the return of New/Next means another opportunity to see new work on a neighborhood screen, support local creators, and use film as a bridge to conversations about health, equity, and shared civic life. Watch the festival site and the home-viewing archive for submission deadlines and programming announcements as the October dates approach.