From Towson to the Big Screen: Jon Bregel's Unlikely Journey to Filming the Next Classic Holiday Movie in Baltimore

If you’re looking for Towson’s next big success story, you don’t have to look much further than across the street from the old Y. That’s where Jon Bregel grew up—long before he found himself behind the camera of what’s being hailed as the next great American Christmas classic, The Baltimorons.

A born-and-raised Towson local, Jon attended Towson High School, where his earliest experiences with filmmaking involved nothing more than a camcorder and a skateboard. He and his friends would spend hours filming skate videos, never imagining that those grainy homegrown clips were the first steps on a path toward professional cinematography.

“I didn’t think you could really make a living doing this,” Jon recalls. But as it turns out, his passion had a plan of its own.

A Nontraditional Path to Cinematic Success

Like many aspiring filmmakers, Jon set his sights on the big-name film schools. But when acceptance letters didn’t materialize, he made what turned out to be a life-defining decision: attending Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida. Unlike the traditional programs steeped in theory, Full Sail offered a hands-on, cutting-edge curriculum. “Some of the other film schools just seemed a little old-school,” Jon says. “I wanted to actually make things—not just study them.” That hunger for innovation paid off quickly. After graduating, Jon moved to New York City and took a huge gamble, renting a $200,000 Phantom Flex camera to film a short experimental piece called 8 Hours in Brooklyn. Shot entirely within an eight-hour window, the slow-motion portrait of the city’s street life exploded on the then-fledgling video platform Vimeo, racking up over 1.3 million views. “That short film really changed everything for me,” he says. It wasn’t long before Nike’s London-based ad agency called, inviting him to film a commercial project involving none other than Spike Lee.

From Taylor Swift to Holiday Movie Magic

Jon’s career quickly became a whirlwind of creative opportunities. He spent years touring with bands, documenting their lives on the road. When asked if there were any artists we might have heard of, Jon responds casually: “Well, there was Taylor Swift.”

His journey wasn’t always a straight line, and filmmaking wasn’t always at the center. But that’s part of what makes his latest success so special. After taking a step back from narrative film for a while, Jon found his way back through a project that hit incredibly close to home.

Enter The Baltimorons—the 2025 comedy film directed by Jay Duplass and co-written by Duplass and Baltimore native Michael Strassner. A heartfelt and hilarious look at life in Baltimore, the film tells the story of a man who suddenly needs emergency dental surgery on Christmas Eve, leading him on a chaotic journey through the city’s most iconic neighborhoods.

It’s a uniquely Baltimore story filled with recognizable locations, local quirks, and the kind of offbeat humor that resonates with anyone familiar with Charm City. Despite not being the typical “awards darling,” the film did something unexpected—it won the prestigious Audience Award at the 2025 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival.

“It’s not the kind of movie that traditionally wins,” Jon says. “But I think that’s exactly why people loved it. It’s authentic. It’s about real people, real places, and the weird, wonderful things that happen in this city.”

The film also marks Jay Duplass’ return to feature directing after more than a decade away, and Jon credits Duplass for creating an incredibly positive and collaborative environment on set. “Jay’s optimism and trust really made this project special,” Jon shares. “He gave me the freedom to capture Baltimore the way I saw it—as a place full of character and heart.”

“Being from Baltimore gave me a deep connection to the material, and Jay really encouraged our local crew to put our perspectives into the film,” Jon shares. “It was important to me that the city’s character and heart came through in every frame.”
And now, with distribution secured by IFC Films and Sapan Studio, with a planned nationwide theatrical release later in 2025, The Baltimorons is poised to become the must-watch holiday film of the year.

A New Chapter: Finding Purpose in Documentary Filmmaking

While the success of The Baltimorons is worth celebrating, Jon’s most meaningful project might be the one you haven’t seen yet. Over the past 18 months, he’s been immersed in a deeply personal documentary titled Selah, a film that explores grief, healing, and the quiet resilience required to live with profound loss.

Filmed at Selah Carefarm—the world’s first carefarm for traumatic grief—this documentary follows the journey of Erik, a father who is rebuilding his life after the unimaginable loss of his three young children. With a newborn daughter and a supportive partner by his side, Erik’s story is a raw, powerful testament to both sorrow and hope.

At the center of the Selah Carefarm is Dr. Joanne Cacciatore, who founded the facility after the death of her own daughter, Cheyenne. Unlike traditional grief counseling centers, Selah offers no easy answers or tidy resolutions. Instead, it’s a place where grief is honored and witnessed—where people are given the space to simply be with their sorrow. “

“This project has changed me in ways I’m still processing,” Jon says. “It’s the most meaningful work I’ve ever done.”

The trailer for Selah is now live, and Jon is currently raising funds to bring the project to completion. If the story resonates with you, he invites you to watch the trailer and consider supporting the film through its crowdfunding campaign.

Watch the Trailer for Selah and Learn More About the Project Here

A Story That Comes Full Circle

In many ways, Jon Bregel’s career mirrors the very narratives he helps bring to life—stories about perseverance, unexpected turns, and the beauty that can emerge from even the most difficult moments.

From filming skate videos on the streets of Towson to capturing the spirit of Baltimore in what’s now being called the next holiday classic, Jon’s journey is a reminder that sometimes, the most remarkable paths are the ones you never expected to take.

And through it all, he’s remained rooted right here in Towson—the place where it all began

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