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The Historic Maryland Theatre rolled out the red carpet Friday night for the seventh annual Maryland International Film Festival-Hagerstown in downtown Hagerstown.
The festival, which continues through Sunday, will showcase more than 106 films from 13 countries. Films will be shown in various venues throughout downtown Hagerstown.
"This is a great event," Tom Riford, president of the film festival, said during a VIP reception at The Grand Piano Ballroom in downtown Hagerstown. "This is very important for filmmakers to be able to have their films shown."
Paul Frey, president and chief executive officer of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, said the festival is a great showcase not only for Washington County, but downtown Hagerstown.
"Anything related to tourism and tourists visiting and spending money in Hagerstown and visiting Washington County is excellent," Frey said. "It's excellent. It really helps to make Washington County and Hagerstown shine."
The chamber will show several films starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at 1 S. Potomac St. in downtown Hagerstown.
"Tomorrow should be exciting," Frey said Friday.
Washington County Commissioner Jeffrey A. Cline came out to support Smithsburg native Shelly Strong.
Strong received the Nora Roberts Award Friday night as part of the opening festival. She is the head of physical production for Amblin Partners.
"To see someone who grew up in Washington County and is a native of Smithsburg, come back to Washington County is (exciting)," Cline said. "It's why I'm here. It's possible for anyone in Washington County to have their dreams come true."
Each year, the festival honors one person who supports film in Maryland, or who is from Maryland and succeeded in film or TV.
Erik Kristopher Myers, also a native of Hagerstown, showcased his documentary, "Butterfly Kisses," on Friday night.
"This is incredibly exciting," Myers said during the VIP reception. "It's great to be able to show my film. ...It's a personal and professional pride (to show my film) to a crowd this size and doing it in my hometown."
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