PFS Staff’s Top Films of 2018! By the PFS Staff As 2018 comes to an end, some of the staff at the Philadelphia Film Society share their favorite films of year… …but as you can see below, we all take on this task a little differently. *All lists are done in alphabetical order.* J. Andrew […]

Showcase Filmmaker Spotlight: Nelson Vicens By Travis Trew, Programming Associate Since graduating from Temple University, Minnesota-born and Pennsylvania-bred Nelson Vicens has carved out a career as cinematographer while creating his own work. Made after a two-year break from writing and directing, experimental short OPUS follows a painter struggling to complete a piece who’s tormented by […]

Showcase Filmmaker Spotlight: Connor Hough By Travis Trew, Programming Associate 28-year-old Telford, PA native Connor Hough has been seriously pursuing acting for the last two years, and decided to turn his own story into the semi-autobiographical Pennsylvania Guy Like Me. It’s the story of a young man struggling to get noticed as an actor while […]

Showcase Filmmaker Spotlight: Chung Wei Huang By Travis Trew, Programming Associate Taiwanese writer and director Chung Wei Huang started out studying business before making the somewhat late transition to filmmaking. Her thesis project at Temple University’s filmmaking program, Midnight Carnival is a drama inspired by Huang’s own experiences. The film follows Andrea, a Taiwanese student […]

Showcase Filmmaker Spotlight: Josh Perrin By Travis Trew, Programming Associate Tom’s River, New Jersey native Josh Perrin moved to Philly to attend The Art Institute of Philadelphia, where he honed his skills in animation, graphic design, and video. His short Smoking and You is a humorous PSA parody following a hapless loser whose cigarette addiction […]

Showcase Filmmaker Spotlight: August Aguilar By Travis Trew, Programming Associate Philadelphia-born, Tennessee-raised filmmaker August Aguilar spends most of his time in Knoxville, but comes to Philly often to visit his dad (and frequent collaborator) Frank Aguilar. Written by Frank and directed by August, Center City is an atmospheric, jazz-infused slice of Philly noir, following a […]

Showcase Filmmaker Spotlight: Michael Duff By Travis Trew, Programming Associate Michael Duff has worked for years as a respiratory therapist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and freelance photographer, but recently decided to pursue his lifelong love of film by enrolling in online film school through Arizona State University and pursuing a TV writing certificate from […]

Showcase Filmmaker Spotlight: Leslie Rivera By Travis Trew, Programming Associate Puerto Rico-born, West Chester-raised Leslie Rivera has been an active member of the Philly arts scene for years, touring for years with the Rennie Harris Puremovement dance company and founding the band El Malito and the 33rd Century. Made as Rivera began returning to personal […]

Showcase Filmmaker Spotlight: Eli LaBan By Travis Trew, Programming Associate Filmmaker Eli LaBan has worked primarily in documentaries, but ventured into the world of narrative film as Director of Photography and co-editor of The Art of Being Izzy. Made as a capstone project for the Media Studies and Production Major at Temple University, the film […]

Showcase Filmmaker Spotlight: Kristal Sotomayor By Travis Trew, Programming Associate A recent graduate of Bryn Mawr college, Kristal Sotomayor parlayed her interest in filmmaking into an internship with PBS’s POV series, and has received a fellowship with Scribe Video Center to produce a documentary about immigrant rights in Philadelphia. A very personal essay film incorporating […]