Philadelphia Film Festival Explained

Location:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Founded:1991
Producers:Philadelphia Film Society
Awards:Lumiere Award

The Philadelphia Film Festival is a film festival founded by the Philadelphia Film Society held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] The annual festival is held at various theater venues throughout the Greater Philadelphia Area.

Overview

The annual festival lasts for two weeks in October. The festival also holds a three day "springfest" in June.[2]

Venues have included the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts,[3] the PFS Roxy Theater, the Prince Theater (now known as the Philadelphia Film Center), the Landmark Ritz Theatres, the PFS Bourse Theater, the PFS East Theater, and the PFS Drive-In at the Navy Yard.[4]

Screening categories hosted by the festival include Centerpieces, Spotlights, Special Events, Masters of Cinema, World View, Non/Fiction, After Hours, From the Vaults, Made in USA, Cinema de France, Green Screen (Environmental films), Visions of Iran, "Sights and Soundtrack" and short films. Its Filmadelphia category, previously known as "Festival of the Independents," promotes local filmmakers.[5] [6]

Notable members of the Festival Advisory Board include Aubrey Plaza and Adam McKay.

History

Until 2009, it was held during the first weeks of April; after which, the Film Festival shifted its dates from the spring to the fall in October. About 35,000 tickets sold in the 20th annual Film Festival to over 250 screenings.[7]

Notable films at the festival have included Silver Linings Playbook (set in Philadelphia), Border, Burning, Green Book, The Guilty, Happy as Lazzaro, Roma, Shoplifters,[8] Parasite, JoJo Rabbit, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Beanpole, Knives Out, Blue Velvet (1986), Magnolia (1999),[9] Nomadland, Ammonite, Black Bear, Minari, Sound of Metal,[10] Philly native Questlove's directorial debut Summer of Soul, The Sparks Brothers and Werewolves Within.[11]

In 2017, M. Night Shyamalan and David Plaza (father of Aubrey) joined the Philadelphia Film Society's board of directors.[12]

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the PFF screened most of their films virtually in October 2020.[13] Other films were shown via a drive-in format at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.[14]

In October 2021, the 30th Anniversary Film Festival screened such notable films as Belfast, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, King Richard, The French Dispatch, Encounter and Spencer.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 30th Philadelphia Film Festival. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210802131823/https://filmadelphia.org/festival/. 2021-08-02. 2021-10-09. Philadelphia Film Society. en-US.
  2. Web site: Cummings. Sinead. 2021-05-20. Philadelphia Film Festival SpringFest will be held in-person this June. 2021-10-09. PhillyVoice. english.
  3. Web site: Rea. Steven. 2012-10-18. A wonderful 'Silver Linings Playbook' to open Philadelphia Film Festival. 2021-10-09. Philadelphia Inquirer. en.
  4. Web site: Staff. 6abc Digital. 2021-10-07. 30th Philadelphia Film Festival Full line-up of movies. 2021-10-09. 6abc Philadelphia. en.
  5. McGill, Hannah. “Film Festivals: a View from the Inside.” Screen 52, no. 2 (June 20, 2011): 280 -285.
  6. News: December 21, 2008. Voting underway for online film fest.. Reading Eagle.
  7. “Philadelphia Film Society.” Philadelphia Film Society, February 10, 2012. http://filmadelphia.org/.
  8. Web site: 27th Philadelphia Film Festival Program. 2021-10-09. Philadelphia Film Society. en-US.
  9. Web site: 28th Philadelphia Film Festival Film Schedule. 2021-10-09. Philadelphia Film Society. en-US.
  10. Web site: 2020-10-06. PFS Reveals the 29th Philadelphia Film Festival Lineup!. 2021-10-09. Philadelphia Film Society. en-US.
  11. Web site: 2021-05-20. Philadelphia Film Festival SpringFest will be held in-person this June. 2021-10-09. PhillyVoice. english.
  12. Web site: Hilario. Kenneth. 2017-07-17. Adding M. Night Shyamalan to Phila. Film Society board adds 'legitimacy'. 2021-10-09. www.bizjournals.com.
  13. News: Dinkins. Bria. 2020-10-22. Watch 120+ Movie Screenings at Philadelphia Film Society's 29th Annual Film Festival. Philadelphia Magazine.
  14. Web site: Walton. Timothy. 2020-10-20. Philly Film Fest offers two new ways to watch its movies during pandemic. 2021-10-09. 6abc Philadelphia. en.