The Maryland Film Festival will receive a $20,000 award from the National Endowment for the Arts to support the annual film festival and related programming. “We are honored to accept this award to use in bringing together emerging filmmakers and the daring work that they create with our curious audiences,” Maryland Film Festival Director KJ Mohr said in a statement. “The support that we have received from the National Endowment for the Arts is fundamentally important for our communities, not only for the artists and attendees whom we serve, but as a symbol of support for the ongoing dialogue around moving image that MdFF fosters.”The Maryland Film Festival will return for its 26th year on Nov. 5 – 9, a shift to autumn from its traditional springtime schedule. It will feature student films, short films, the CineTech showcase, and more.The National Endowment for the Arts will award more than $31.8 million in grants to 1,127 projects nationwide for fiscal year 2025.“The NEA is proud to continue our nearly 60 years of supporting the efforts of organizations and artists that help to shape our country’s vibrant arts sector and communities of all types across our nation,” NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson said in a statement. “It is inspiring to see the wide range of creative projects taking place, including the Maryland Film Festival and its year-round programming.”The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Parkway Theatre, home to the Maryland Film Festival, last year announced a new vision for the art house cinema.In addition to films, the Parkway plans to expand its programming to feature live performances, education, new media, and gaming.“The updated strategy focuses on creating dynamic events, fostering local talent throughresources and workshops, and partnering with community organizations to amplify access andEngagement,” according to a news release from the Maryland Film Festival. “This renewed vision ensures the Parkway remains a vital cultural hub, enriching Baltimore’s arts and storytelling landscape for years to come.”The Parkway’s new vision came after the theater temporarily closed as the nonprofit was losing money and was forced to reevaluate its operations.Since reorganizing and reopening, the theatre has hosted programming such as swing dancing; screening of the movie “Moneyball” accompanied by a Q&A with Baltimore Orioles Assistant General Manager Sig Mejdal and veteran sportswriter Dan Connolly; and a weekend of festive films and activities for the winter holiday season; among others.