Founded in 1991, the Philadelphia Film Festival is one of the longest-running film festivals in the city. Presented annually by the nonprofit Philadelphia Film Society (PFS), the Festival is an outstanding showcase of cinematic excellence and imagination, featuring over 200 films with more than 50 filmmakers and industry guests at seven unique venues throughout the Greater Philadelphia Area.
As one of Philadelphia’s most important cultural events, the Festival is eagerly anticipated by its enthusiastic and devoted audiences, including students, film lovers, and arts supporters. Critically acclaimed by industry professionals, the Festival aims to promote domestic and international films that might not otherwise be seen in Philadelphia. The two-week event showcases thought-provoking narrative features, live action and animated shorts, locally-produced films, and theatrical documentaries. Industry panels, director Q&As, special event screenings, and networking opportunities enhance the Festival experience, providing Philadelphia audiences with unrivalled access to world-class films and the talent responsible for creating them.
SAVE THE DATE:
The 22nd annual Philadelphia Film Festival will be held from October 17-27, 2013.
Thank you to our patrons, sponsors, volunteers and members for making the 21st anniversary Philadelphia Film Festival our most successful yet. See below for a full overview of last year’s critically-acclaimed festival:
FESTIVAL DATES
October 18 – October 28, 2012
LOCATIONS
Old City: Ritz East (2 Screens), Ritz at the Bourse (1 Screen)
Center City: Prince Music Theater (1 screen), Gershman Y at UArts (1 screen)
University City: Rave University City 6 (1 screen), Zellerbach Theater at the Annenberg Center (1 screen)
PROGRAM & ATTENDANCE
Approximately 35,000 tickets sold to over 200 Screenings of 131 domestic
& international narrative, documentary and short films.
THEMATIC CATEGORIES
Opening/Closing Night Events
Centerpiece
From the Vaults
Spotlights
Masters of Cinema
World Narratives
New French Films
Spanish Language Cinema
American Independents
Greater Filmadelphia (local)
Documentary Showcase
Sight & Soundtrack
Sports in Motion
The Graveyard Shift
Opening Night: SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, directed by David O. Russell: From acclaimed director David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook is an intimate, heartfelt, engaging and often hilarious film about a former high school teacher who returns home, looking to rebuild his life after spending time in a mental institution.
Closing Night: FLIGHT, directed by Robert Zemeckis : Part powerful character study, part intense courtroom drama, Flight tells the story of a seasoned airline pilot who crash lands his plane after a mid-air catastrophe, miraculously saving nearly everybody on board, and the subsequent investigation into what may have caused the crash.
Centerpieces: CLOUD ATLAS, HYDE PARK ON HUDSON, NOT FADE AWAY, QUARTET, STAND UP GUYS
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
PUNCH DRUNK LOVE, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson: A special retrospective screening followed by an in-depth discussion with Film Critic and Philadelphia Inquirer Movie Columnist, Steven Rea.
SIGNS, directed by M. Night Shyamalan: A 10th Anniversary screening followed by an entertaining Q&A with Shyamalan, led by Steve Morrison of WMMR’s Preston & Steve Show.
“PFF On Us” Complimentary Ticketing Program to all films in the American Independents category, created to make the Festival accessible to all interested Philadelphians and provide a shared cultural experience throughout the community.
filmadelphiaEDUCATION Series, including BROOKLYN CASTLE featuring a panel discussion about the state of afterschool programs in the country with Director Katie Dellamaggiore, CALL ME KUCHU, THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE, LA CAMIONETA: THE JOURNEY OF ONE AMERICAN SCHOOL BUS, featuring a Q&A with Director Mark Kendall and THE ATOMIC STATES OF AMERICA featuring a Q&A with Directors Don Argott and Sheen M. Joyce;
Scream on the Green Outdoor Screening Series in honor of Halloween, featuring a 30th Anniversary screening of Steven Spielberg’s POLTERGEIST and a fascinating documentary about haunted houses, THE AMERICAN SCREAM.
Chipotle Sustainable Food Series presented, AMERICAN MEAT, a pro-farmer documentary on the national sustainable meat industry complete with concessions provided by Chipotle Mexican Grille to further their mission of serving “Food with Integrity.”
PANEL DISCUSSIONS
Shoot in Philadelphia Business Roundtable: "The Evolving Landscape of Film Finance," in conjunction with the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, the free panel which was open to the general public, featured local film industry professionals and was moderated by GPFO Executive Director, Sharon Pinkenson.
AWARDS
Tributes to luminaries in the industry and the Festival’s annual honors:
Best Feature Film (Narrative): EVERYBODY IN OUR FAMILY, directed by Radu Jude
Best Feature Film (Documentary): STEP UP TO THE PLATE, directed by Paul Lacoste
“Archie” Award for Best First Feature: THE WOMAN IN THE SEPTIC TANK, directed by Marlon Rivera
Pinkenson Award For Best Local Feature: FUTURE WEATHER, directed by Jenny Deller
Best Short Film: BELLY, directed by Julia Pott
Audience Award: THE HISTORY OF FUTURE FOLK, directed by John Mitchell, Jeremy Kipp Walker
SPECIAL GUESTS
Over 100 filmmakers, actors and entertainment industry guests, including:
Over 100 filmmakers, actors and entertainment industry guests, including:
Director David O. Russell, Author Matthew Quick,and Producers Donna Gigliotti and Bruce Cohen, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Directors Keir Politz & Damon Maulucci, DETONATOR
Producers Danny Bennett & Jennifer LeBeau, THE ZEN OF BENNETT
Director Andrew Shea, PORTRAIT OF WALLY
Director Jeremy Kipp Walker and Co-Director J. Anderson Mitchell, THE HISTORY OF FUTURE FOLK
Director Adele Romanski, LEAVE ME LIKE YOU FOUND ME
Director Shane Bissett, THIS TIME TOMORROW
Director Jonathan Lisecki, GAYBY
Director Robert Byington and Actor Keith Poulson,SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME
Director Antonio Campos, SIMON KILLER
Directors Jenny Deller and Kristi Fairweather, FUTURE WEATHER
Director Nikolaj Arcel & Screenwriter Rasmus Heisterberg, A ROYAL AFFAIR
Director Chinonye Chukwu, ALASKALAND
Director Matt Antell, FROM THE SHADOWS
Director Justine Medeiros, THE MISSING PIECE: THE TRUTH ABOUT THE MAN WHO STOLE THE MONA LISA
Directors Sara Lamm & Mary Wigmore, BIRTH STORY:INA MAY GASKIN AND THE FARM MIDWIVES
Director Katie Dellamaggiore, Chess Teachers Greg Shahde and Elizabeth Vicary, BROOKLYN CASTLE
Director Mark Kendall, LA CAMIONETA: THE JOURNEY OF ONE AMERICAN SCHOOL BUS
Directors Lori Silverbush and Kristi Jacobson, Actress Barbie Izquierdo,A PLACE AT THE TABLE
Director Michael Stephenson & Producer Rod Olson, THE AMERICAN SCREAM
Director Adam Leon, GIMME THE LOOT
Director Terence Nance, AN OVERSIMPLIFICATION OF HER BEAUTY
Directors Sheena Joyce & Don Argott, THE ATOMIC STATES OF AMERICA
Director Yaron Zilberman & Producer Tamar Sela, A LATE QUARTET
Directors Mark Covino & Jeff Howlett, A BAND CALLED DEATH
Writer/Director M. Night Shyamalan, SIGNS
Director Capella Fahoome Brogden, DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’: EVERYMAN’S JOURNEY
Directors Jason Tippet and Derek Water, ONLY THE YOUNG
Director Robert Zemeckis, FLIGHT
Sold Out Shows: ALASKALAND, CLOUD ATLAS, THE COMEDY, FLIGHT, GIMME THE LOOT, HOLY MOTORS, JOHN DIES AT THE END, THE SAPPHIRES, THE SHINING, SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME, THE THIEVES, WAITING FOR LIGHTENING, WRECK IT RALPH
Film Fest withdrawls? Join the Philadelphia Film Society and keep the movies coming!