Sabrina Greco’s LOCKJAW, Paula González-Nasser’s THE SCOUT, and Tsai Ming-Liang’s ABIDING NOWHERE Among Titles Revealed
New/Next Film Festival, presented by Baltimore Public Media and taking place October 2-5, 2025 in Baltimore’s historic 5-screen Charles Theatre, announced ten more feature films for its 2025 lineup, offering a diverse mix of exciting work from emerging voices in conversation with new films from established masters.
“The quality and range of work filmmakers shared with us this year was nothing short of astounding,” says New/Next co-founder and director of programming Eric Allen Hatch. “This year’s lineup once again proves that, despite the uncertain state of the marketplace, the art of truly independent cinema continues to not only endure, but thrive.”
The features announced today for New/Next 2025 are:
ABIDING NOWHERE (Tsai Ming-liang) The latest in Tsai Ming-liang’s experimental Walker series takes place in Washington, D.C. Two lonely souls on separate journeys, sometimes crossing paths but never once meeting. Nothing happens between them. There is no story. Their walking journeys are like a meditative prayer of heart and soul.
ALICE-HEART (Mike Macera) Set in black-and-white Philadelphia, an aimless college senior navigates shallow artists, genuine friendships, and homework. Narrative feature.
CHARACTERS DISAPPEARING (Connor Sen Warnick) The paths of Mei, Chris and Leonard intersect within a melancholic vision of the Asian American Movement. This is a Chinatown rarely seen, where bursts of unexplained violence and spectral figures co-exist with the promise, and fragility, of multi-ethnic solidarities. Narrative feature.
LOCKJAW (Sabrina Greco) Six weeks after a drunk driving accident, a young woman with her jaw wired shut seeks a fun night out on the town. Narrative feature.
NIGHT STAGE (Marcio Reolon, Filipe Matzembacher) An actor and a politician start a secret affair and together discover their fetish for having sex in public places. The closer they get to their dream of fame, the more they feel the urge to put themselves at risk. Narrative Feature.
REVERIES: THE MIND PRISON (Graham Mason) Two mysterious drifters find themselves trapped in an endless desert landscape, and go on a kaleidoscopic journey to free themselves from THE MIND PRISON. Narrative feature.
THE SCOUT (Paula González-Nasser) Over the course of one day, a location scout connects with a handful of New York City residents as she struggles to lock down shooting locations for a TV show. Narrative feature.
SEEDS (Brittany Shyne) A look into the lives of Black generational farmers, unveiling the challenges of maintaining legacy and the value of land ownership. Documentary feature.
SERIOUS PEOPLE (Pasqual Gutierrez, Ben Mullinkosson) Successful music-video director Pasqual Gutierrez is faced with a dilemma on the due date of his first born child: a job offer for his biggest video yet. Frustrated with his poor work/life balance, Gutierrez casts a doppelgänger to take over his work duties in his director duo Cliqua as he prepares to take an extended paternity leave. Narrative Feature.
TO USE A MOUNTAIN (Casey Carter) Six rural American communities are marked as candidates for an unthinkable fate: their land, a burial ground for 77,000 tons of nuclear waste. Against the impassive logic of government analysis and archives, a people’s history of resistance and stewardship emerges through a visceral journey across the landscapes, ecologies, and personal histories of the candidate sites. Documentary feature.
Today’s title announcements come following the recent reveal of New/Next 2025’s Opening Night film, Albert Birney’s OBEX. Sales are now live for New/Next Film Festival all-access passes, as well as individual tickets to New/Next’s Opening Night screening of OBEX with Albert Birney the evening of Thursday, October 2. The opening night screening at The Charles Theatre will be followed by New/Next’s Opening Night Party with DJ Amy Reid at Metro Gallery.
New/Next Film Festival’s lineup announcements will continue over the next 10 days, with individual ticket sales for all titles to follow. All-access passes and tickets for N/N’s opening night screening of OBEX are available now. For updates, please visit newnextfilmfest.com | Twitter and Instagram: @NewNextFilmFest | BlueSky: @newnextfilmfest.bsky.social
Support for the 2025 New/Next Film Festival comes from the Maryland State Arts Council, Deutsch Foundation, William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, Leidy Foundation, Baltimore Community Foundation, Whiting-Turner and Modera Wealth.
