Maryland Public Television CEO Larry D. Unger To Be Awarded the Nora Roberts Foundation Award at March 20th Opening Night of the Maryland International Film Festival-Hagerstown

HAGERSTOWN, Md., March 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Maryland International Film Festival-Hagerstown has announced that Maryland Public Television (MPT) President & CEO Larry D. Unger will be awarded the Nora Roberts Foundation Award at the opening night of the 13th film festival, being held on March 20^th in Hagerstown. The opening night will be held at the Historic Maryland Theatre, on South Potomac Street in Hagerstown.

Film Festival Board of Directors President Nicole Houser said, "Maryland Public Television's Larry Unger is one of the most engaging and professional television leaders in the nation. For the past 27 years, Larry has helped MPT win scores of regional Emmy Awards and is a great supporter of the arts, of television, and of filmmaking. He is a life-long resident of Maryland and has brought pride to our state. Larry is only the 5^th CEO in MPT's more than 55-year history. This prestigious award is given in recognition of either success in the film and television industry, or in creating opportunities for achievements for the film and arts communities in Maryland. The award especially recognizes Maryland ties."

Unger announced in December that he would be retiring on June 30 of this year. During his decades with the statewide public TV network, he oversaw technological advances, including the organization's conversion from analog to digital broadcasting, the introduction of three additional channels, and the network's response last decade to TV channel repacking and spectrum auction developments. Other accomplishments include his oversight of MPT's $9 million Irene and Edward H. Kaplan Production Studio expansion project, the four-year MPT Salutes Vietnam Veterans initiative, the network's first multiyear fundraising campaign that brought $12.5 million into MPT Foundation coffers, and the recent launches of the Center for Maryland History Films and the Maryland Center for Media Literacy & Education.

Tom Riford, who is cofounder, and a board member of the festival, also serves as a board member on the Maryland Film Industry Coalition. Riford served as Assistant Secretary of Maryland's Department of Commerce, and he said, "Many times I had the honor to present legislative requests, immediately after Larry's budget presentations at State Senate or House committees. I know for a fact that Larry is held in the highest regard in the halls of the Maryland legislature and in our nation's capital. He is the most respected television industry executive in Maryland. This award recognizes excellence, and Maryland connections. How appropriate that one of the leading broadcasting CEOs in the nation, who lives and works in Maryland, is accepting this award."

Just last month, Unger was awarded America's Public Television Stations' (APTS) 2025 Pillar of Public Service Award for his work in education, public safety and community connections, in service to the people of Maryland. Interestingly, several Maryland International Film Festival-Hagerstown documentaries and other festival selected films have been screened on MPT.

Maryland Public Television is a statewide, public-supported TV network and Public Broadcasting Service member offering entertaining, educational, and inspiring content delivered by traditional broadcasting and streaming on TVs, computers, and mobile devices. MPT creates and distributes local, regional, and national content and is a frequent winner of regional Emmy awards. As a state agency, it operates under the auspices of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission.

On Thursday March 20^th, 2025, the Red-Carpet opening night begins with a special VIP reception at 5:30pm at the Maryland Theatre in Hagerstown, followed by the opening night celebrations, awards, and the introduction of a world-premiere "sneak peek" IMAX film. The Nora Roberts Foundation Award is one of three awards presented on opening night. The Mendez Award and the City of Hagerstown Fidelity Award will also be given. Filmmaker awards will be presented at the After Party at Veva on Potomac (the former Bulls and Bears), on Saturday March 22^nd, for Best Feature, Best Short, Best Animation, Best Student, Best Documentary, Best Local Film, and Best Foreign Film.

Past Nora Roberts Foundation Award Winners include:

2024 – Jack Gerbes for his work leading the Maryland Film Office for several decades. Jack Gerbes helped guide the Maryland Film Office into the hardest working film office in the nation. As director, Jack Gerbes helped attract scores of films and television series to Maryland. Jack Gerbes was also recognized as a true supporter of the arts, of television, and of filmmaking. 

2023 – William H. Macy for his work in film and television, and for coming from Cumberland, Maryland. The well-known, award-winning actor has been in many films including Fargo, Wild Hogs, Sahara, Shameless, and scores of other movie and television projects. He is one of the hardest working actors in Hollywood and gives back to the community.

2022 - Mark Kraham for his work as the longest serving news director in the Maryland television industry. He has worked for WHAG/WDVM for over 40 years, and gives back to the community in numerous ways. He has been a huge supporter of television excellence, and continually mentors broadcast journalists.

2021 - Debbie Donaldson Dorsey for her work as the long-serving Director of the Baltimore Film Office. Dorsey has helped attract several film and television projects to Maryland, including "House of Cards," "The Wire," "We Own The City," and many more. Dorsey continues to proudly sell Maryland's architecture, culture and welcoming spirit to all filmmakers and promotes the importance of Maryland's Film Industry to the State of Maryland.

2019 - The Maryland Theatre Board of Directors for its ongoing efforts to plan and advocate for the Urban Improvement Project forward for Hagerstown and Washington County. The Maryland Theatre board was recognized for its commitment with the collaboration of a community-wide coalition of supporters. The multi-million-dollar renovation and expansion project of the Maryland Theatre joined with tremendous expansion of the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown, and more.

2018 - Shelly Strong, originally from Smithsburg. Strong is the previous VP of Production at DreamWorks Studios (now Amblin Partners) and has served as the Executive Vice President and Head of Production. Her credits include: "Tropic Thunder," "The Help," "I Love You, Man," "Girl on a Train," and the upcoming "The House with a Clock in its Walls." Strong is currently the only woman among heads of physical production at the major studios and is active in mentoring female filmmakers. She holds a position on the steering committee of the Women's Production Society, which is a group of female executives in physical production with the mission to promote the hiring of women in leadership roles in film and television production. Strong is also an advocate for the homeless.

2017 - Eduardo Sanchez, Director, and Maryland resident. In 1997 he started production on the most successful movie (budget to gross) ever, The Blair Witch Project (1999). It was a worldwide hit and has become one of the most spoofed films of all time. Sanchez directs films and television shows throughout the world.

2016 - Scott Gardenhour, feature film producer, and the co-founder and executive producer of the Emmy award-winning commercial production house, The Institute. Washington County-native. Gardenhour's credits include "Pearl Harbor" and "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi."

The 13th Maryland International Film Festival-Hagerstown received well over 250 submissions for this year's festival. The judges announced that more than 115 films were selected. While opening night is Thursday March 20^th and it is taking place at the Maryland Theatre, other venues on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday include the Washington County Free Library, The Grand Piano Ballroom, the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Black Box Theater, and the ACT Black Box Theatre.

For more information about the festival, and to purchase tickets see:  http://www.marylandiff.org. The non-profit Maryland International Film Festival-Hagerstown partners with several local organizations, businesses, and individuals. The major sponsors include: the City of Hagerstown, Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Washington County Arts Council, Nora Roberts Foundation, Ed Lough and Northwestern Insurance, University System of Maryland Hagerstown, Emmet and Mary Anne Burke, and Tom Riford.

SOURCE Maryland International Film Festival-Hagerstown