What You Should See at the Maryland Film Festival 2019

April 25, 2019 Amanda Krotki

"Mike Wallace is Here" takes a look at the 50-year career of the "60 Minutes" anchor. May 10 at 11:45 a.m., May 11 at 7:15 p.m. (Handout photo)

Whether you’re looking for an interesting or controversial documentary on a topic new to you, you only have the attention span for shorts programs or you want to be the first of your crew to see all the hottest features from the film festival circuit, the Maryland Film Festival, May 8-12 in Station North, never disappoints.

The only challenge is that there are so many films and only four days to try to catch them all.

That’s where we come in. We’ve selected a handful of features, docs and even shorts that might appeal to you.

Options include dark comedies; a moving film set in 1989 Ethiopia; movies starring Jesse Eisenberg, Selma Blair, Jeff Goldbum and several of our other favorites; and even a documentary about news anchor Mike Wallace.

“Before You Know It” stars Hannah Pearl Utt, Jen Tullock, Judith Light, Mandy Patinkin, Mike Colter and Alec Baldwin. Sisters Rachel and Jackie discover a long-kept family secret that turns their lives into a soap opera. Screens May 12 at 4:15 p.m. (Handout photo)
“Fig Tree” is an Ethiopian film about a Jewish girl’s coming of age during the civil war in Addis Ababa in 1989. Screens May 10 at 1:45 p.m. and May 12 at 11:45 a.m. (Handout photo)
Balti-Shorts — For the first time, the Festival is including a Baltimore-themed shorts program. There are 3 docs and 2 narratives. The program includes “Gun Show” about a controversial art exhibit that was on view at UMBC in 2017 and “Finding Phoebe” (pictured) about a 17-year-old girl trying to find her way in West Baltimore. May 9 at 4 p.m. May 11 at 4:30 p.m. (Handout photo)
“Frances Ferguson” — In this dry black comedy, narrated by Nick Offerman, a substitute teacher has an affair with a student. David Krumholtz is among the cast members. Screens May 9 at 7:30 p.m. and May 10 at 4:45 p.m. (Handout photo)
“Mike Wallace is Here” takes a look at the 50-year career of the “60 Minutes” anchor. May 10 at 11:45 a.m., May 11 at 7:15 p.m. (Handout photo)
“Mom and Dad,” this year’s John Waters pick, is a horror-comedy starring Nicolas Cage and Selma Blair. Screens May 10 at 7 p.m. (Handout photo)
“Other Music” — This documentary looks at the influential N.Y. indie record store. Features Vampire Weekend, Animal Collective, Interpol and others. May 10, 6:30 p.m. May 12, 2:15 p.m. (Handout photo)
“The Art of Self-Defense” — Set in the world of karate, Jesse Eisenberg stars as a man who wants to learn to defend himself. May 11, 7:30 p.m. (Handout photo)
“The Mountain” — Set in the 1950s, Jeff Goldblum stars as a well-known physician at the end of his career on a tour to promote a lobotomy procedure. May 10, 4 p.m. May 11, 4:45 p.m. (Handout photo)
“Well Groomed” — This documentary follows four dog groomers through a year on the competition circuit. Dan Deacon composed the score. May 11 and 12, 2:15 p.m. (Handout photo)