From the Film Festival to Festive Films:
October – December at the Film Society
The 33rd Philadelphia Film Festival is right around the corner, but we’re still speed racing curated programming at a Mach 5 pace—setting the course with many nightmare-fueled Halloween hits, political narratives to get your gears turning, and auteur-driven films to send off 2024 with a bang.
Throughout October we present Fringe Life: Sean Baker, a director retrospective of seven films, including three on 35mm, leading up to the premier of Palme d’Or winner ANORA on 35mm at PFF33. Our year of monthly director series continues with He Got the Touch: Paul Thomas Anderson, showcasing the rest of his films (MAGNOLIA and THE MASTER to name a few) we didn’t screen in an already PTA-passionate year, from our And the Winner Is… Oscar series to Pros and Cons: Shaggy Dogs, the Los Angeles detectives bringing the summer to a close.
The spookiest month of the year is also filled to the top with full size candy bar classics in After Hours, treats like the 50th Anniversary TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE in 4K and THE DESCENT. Headlines! is a special limited series spanning October-November in time for the 2024 election, a repertory of narratives inspired by current events, issues, and historical individuals, such as Spike Lee’s MALCOLM X in 4K, THE CHINA SYNDROME, WINTER KILLS on 35mm, and THE TIME THAT REMAINS on 35mm.
The limited series for November is Passion Pit, a reevaluation of daring films from beloved filmmakers that defied common sense, survived production purgatory, and brought their unadulterated artistic visions to the screen. You may be able to guess some already, such as Herzog’s infamous FITZCARRALDO, but we’ve also pulled the Wachowski’s SPEED RACER and Scorsese’s SILENCE up from the depths.
As for our year-round series, previous quarters of Echoes of the Land have focused on films and filmmakers from Senegal and Mali, and this one will highlight Cameroon with THE TWO FACES OF A BAMILEKE WOMAN and CHEZ JOLIE COIFFURE. Special Screenings combine educational, special interest, or community-building films with partner events. We’re excited to present WITHOUT ARROWS with Indigenous Peoples’ Day Philadelphia and IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE with the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Lost in Animation doubles as a director series with a Satoshi Kon takeover featuring his four imaginative, provocative and surreal wonders, ending with TOYKO GODFATHERS screening for the holiday season. Other Christmas-gone-wrong favorites will also be showing with GO as part of Throwback Quizzo and HOME ALONE with a pajama pizza party hosted by the Young Friends Film Club. As always, the next (and final!) group to be revealed of the PFS Member 50 is sprinkled throughout several series, namely LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, and THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS in Film Essentials. December also holds Wrapped Up, an offering of some of the most classic titles in the PFS Member 50, such as ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND and PULP FICTION, wrapped up in a bow as a gift to our wonderful filmgoing community. Thank you!
More information and the full October – December Programming lineup below!
See the digital version of the seasonal booklet (printed version available in our venues) here.
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PFS MEMBER 50
After an unforgettable 2023 showcasing the greatest films of all time in our Sight and Sound 100 series, at the start of 2024 we asked PFS Members to chime in with their own picks for top five films not included in the countdown. To think we already made it to the end of the year screening PFS Members’ picks across our monthly programs and limited series! See full list here.
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SPECIAL SCREENINGS
Events with special guests and talent, community partners, one-night only screenings, 35mm features, and more! Series page here.
- THE BLACKENING BYOB
TIM BAKER | USA | 2022 | 97 MIN | R
THU. OCTOBER 31 | EAST (BYOB!) | ACTIVITIES 7:00 PM | MOVIE 8:00 PM
Grab your crew and pull up for a Halloween night you won’t forget! We’re screening THE BLACKENING—the hilarious and thrilling horror-comedy where street smarts and survival take center stage. Hosted by 6IX Agency in partnership with the
Philadelphia Film Society, this BYOB-friendly screening at PFS East Theater is the perfect kickoff to your Halloween weekend. Throw on your best costume (or come as you are) for a chance to win some dope prizes, and chill with us as we enjoy drinks,
laughs, and scares. Concessions will be available, and tickets are only $6. This event is all about bringing the community together, so don’t miss out! Presented with 6ix Agency. - KISS GRANDMA GOODBYE + HAIR PIECE: A FILM FOR NAPPYHEADED PEOPLE IN 4K
DEBRA ROBINSON, AYOKA CHENZIRA | USA | 1989, 1984 80 MIN | NR
SAT. NOVEMBER 16 | 4:30 PM | CENTER (G)
Debra Robinson’s touching coming-of-age portrait explores the multigenerational connection between a young girl and her grandma in a midwest town of the 1960s. The film will be preceded by Ayoka Chenzira’s short film. Presented with Be Reel Black Cinema Club for Oldies Goodies. - WITHOUT ARROWS
JONATHAN OLSHEFSKI, ELIZABETH DAY | USA | 2024 92 MIN | NR
SAT. NOVEMBER 23 | 1:00 PM | CENTER (M)
We are honored to welcome filmmakers Jonathan Olshefski and Delwin Fiddler Jr. for our screening of their brand new film WITHOUT ARROWS. WITHOUT ARROWS is an intimate documentary that captures thirteen years in the life of a Lakota family living on the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe reservation in South Dakota. Presented with Indigenous Peoples’ Day Philadelphia. - RRR
S. S. RAJAMOULI | INDIA | 2022 | 181 MIN + INTERMISSION NR | TELUGU W/ ENGLISH SUBTITLES
FRI. NOVEMBER 29 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (M)
We thought you had enough over the past couple of years, but we were wrong! After being inundated with requests from PFS Members and the Philadelphia filmgoing community we gave in and are excited to bring back RRR for one-night only on Friday, November 29th! Bring the in-laws and family who are in town, bring your high school pals returning from college to avoid acknowledging they’ve changed, bring your beautiful self, and let’s Naatu Naatu one more time this year. - IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
FRANK CAPRA | USA | 1946 | 130 MIN | PG
SAT. DECEMBER 21 | 4:00 PM | CENTER (M)
Join PFS and Ronald McDonald House Charities for our annual free screening of a heartwarming, timeless holiday classic about an angel who descends from heaven to show a despondent businessman the ways he has profoundly transformed the lives of those in his community.
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DIRECTOR SERIES
FRINGE LIFE: SEAN BAKER
For many newcomers to the world of Sean Baker, it was love at first sight seeing Sin-Dee through the lens of an iPhone, or the (un)happiest place on earth through the eyes of a six-year old named Moonee. Yet the fiercely independent filmmaker, and newly-minted Palme d’Or winner, has been crafting singular, transgressive character studies of life in the margins and disrupting the typical fare that glows across multiplex marquees for over twenty years now. And we’re all the better for it. Series page here.
- FOUR LETTER WORDS
SEAN BAKER | USA | 2000 | 82 MIN | NR
FRI. SEPTEMBER 27 | 4:00 PM & 6:30 PM | BOURSE
MON. SEPTEMBER 30 | 4:00 PM & 7:00 PM | BOURSE
As a summer party in 2000 turns hazy and the beer runs dry, Sean Baker, in his debut film, explores the inner workings of America’s most dangerous minds: the post-college suburban white male. - TAKE OUT
SEAN BAKER, SHIH-CHING TSOU | USA | 2004 | 88 MIN | NR
FRI. SEPTEMBER 27 | 8:30 PM | BOURSE
SAT. SEPTEMBER 28 | 1:00 PM | BOURSE
TUE. OCTOBER 1 | 4:00 PM & 7:00 PM | BOURSE
Sean Baker, with co-director Shih-Ching Tsou, creates an immersive, cinéma vérité experience that follows an undocumented Chinese delivery man, Ming Ding, as he traverses the chaotic streets of New York City biking for survival and delivery tips. - PRINCE OF BROADWAY
SEAN BAKER | USA | 2008 | 100 MIN | NR
SAT. SEPTEMBER 28 | 3:30 PM | BOURSE
SUN. SEPTEMBER 29 | 4:00 PM | BOURSE
WED. OCTOBER 2 | 4:00 PM & 7:00 PM | BOURSE
Amidst the hustle of the New York Flatiron district, Ghanaian immigrant, Lucky, successfully peddles knockoff brands. When Lucky’s child makes a surprise appearance in his life, he must balance work with taking care of his little Prince in Baker’s stirring slice of life portrait. - STARLET
SEAN BAKER | USA, UK | 2013 | 103 MIN | NR
SAT. SEPTEMBER 28 | 6:00 PM | BOURSE
SUN. SEPTEMBER 29 | 1:00 PM & 6:30 PM | BOURSE
THU. OCTOBER 3 | 4:00 PM & 7:00 PM | BOURSE
After finding a stash of money hidden in junk from an old woman’s yard sale, twentysomething Jade attempts to befriend the crotchety purveyor with surprising results in Baker’s sweet study of a very unique intergenerational friendship. - TANGERINE ON 35MM
SEAN BAKER | USA | 2015 | 88 MIN | R
SAT. OCTOBER 5 | 8:00 PM | CENTER (M)
Fresh out of a short prison stint on Christmas Eve, transgender sex worker Sin-dee hits the streets with her BFF, Alexandra, by her side to find Sin-dee’s allegedly cheating boyfriend Chester in this wild, groundbreaking yuletide odyssey. - THE FLORIDA PROJECT ON 35MM
SEAN BAKER | USA | 2017 | 111 MIN | R
SUN. OCTOBER 6 | 6:00 PM | CENTER (M)
It’s hard to upstage the great Willem Dafoe, but a bunch of pipsqueaks, led by the phenomenal Brooklyn Prince, living at a motel in Kissimmee, Florida do just that in Sean Baker’s poignant coming-of-age film about surviving in the shadows of the happiest place on earth. - RED ROCKET ON 35MM
SEAN BAKER | USA | 2021 | 130 MIN | R
THU. OCTOBER 10 | 7:30 PM | CENTER (M)
Retired porn star Mikey Davies (Simon Rex) unceremoniously returns to his hometown of rural Texas with little fanfare and proceeds to burn every single bridge from his past in Sean Baker’s outrageously dark comedy about a middle-aged has-been seeking validation and finding it in the eyes of a 17 year-old girl. - SEE SEAN BAKER’S PALME D’OR-WINNING ANORA ON 35MM AT THE PHILADELPHIA FILM FESTIVAL!
Anora, a young sex worker from Brooklyn, meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as the parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.
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DIRECTOR SERIES
HE GOT THE TOUCH: PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON
Simultaneously a contemporary film maverick with an ostentatious flair and a devotee to the cinematic formalism road paved before him, Paul Thomas Anderson is a craftsman of films that warrant multiple viewings for any cinephile. Over the course of nine singular films, PTA has introduced a world of larger-than-life characters on the brink of collapse, only to be saved by a twist of fate or destroyed by their own hubris. His cinematography alludes to a vast vault of old Hollywood greats, yet stops short of homage with his idiosyncrasies and applaud-worthy technique. After an exciting year of blood and vices, we are excited to present the remaining titles from Paul Thomas Anderson’s filmography. Series page here.
- HARD EIGHT
PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON | USA | 1996 | 101 MIN | R
SAT. NOVEMBER 2 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (M)
WED. NOVEMBER 6 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (G)
PTA hits the jackpot in his exhilarating debut centered around a high-rolling legend of the Las Vegas strip (Philip Baker Hall), his out-of-sorts protégé (John C. Reilly), and a cocktail waitress (Gwyneth Paltrow); all looking to make it big. - BOOGIE NIGHTS MAINSTAGE ON 35MM
PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON | USA | 1997 | 155 MIN | R
SAT. NOVEMBER 9 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (M)
SUN. NOVEMBER 10 | 3:00 PM | CENTER (M)
WED. NOVEMBER 13 | 7:30 PM | CENTER (G)
A sprawling epic about the heyday of adult entertainment and the legendary origin story of the larger than life Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg). It all comes crashing down when the drugs get too hard, the artistry leaves the industry, and Diggler releases his new song, “You Got the Touch.” - MAGNOLIA MAINSTAGE ON 35MM
PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON | USA | 1999 | 188 MIN | R
SAT. NOVEMBER 16 | 6:15 PM | CENTER (M)
SUN. NOVEMBER 17 | 3:00 PM | CENTER (M)
WED. NOVEMBER 20 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (G)
The fateful (or purely coincidental?) intertwining of nearly two dozen Los Angelinos’ lives searching for meaning in a spiteful world that unfolds over one chaotic day in PTA’s masterful tragi-comedy about dreams, despair, quiz shows, and a very special motivational speaker. - PUNCH DRUNK LOVE
PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON | USA | 2002 | 95 MIN | R
SAT. NOVEMBER 23 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (M)
SUN. NOVEMBER 24 | 3:00 PM | CENTER (M)
WED. NOVEMBER 27 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (G)
PTA and Adam Sandler collide in the auteur’s arguably most underrated spin on the romantic comedy. A lonely and neurotic bachelor Barry Egan (Sandler) catapults his seemingly mundane life into turmoil after he dials a phone-sex line in a desperate attempt to alleviate his loneliness. - THE MASTER
PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON | USA | 2012 | 138 MIN | R
SAT. NOVEMBER 30 | 6:00 PM | CENTER (M)
SUN. DECEMBER 1 | 3:00 PM | CENTER (M)
WED. DECEMBER 4 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (G)
PTA’s greatest achievement to date is an intimate character study and masterclass in acting about the complicated relationship between a temperamental veteran navigating PTSD and a charismatic leader in the aftermath of World War II. - PHANTOM THREAD IN 4K
PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON | USA | 2017 | 130 MIN | R
SAT. DECEMBER 14 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (M)
SUN. DECEMBER 15 | 3:00 PM | CENTER (G)
WED. DECEMBER 18 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (G)
Like a well-tailored austere dress out of Reynolds Woodcock’s own mind, PHANTOM THREAD is at first a seemingly pristine romantic period piece, but underneath its semblance of perfection is a rousing, nasty, and comedic play of power dynamics (and quite possibly PTA’s best!) - LICORICE PIZZA IN 4K
PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON | USA, CANADA | 2021
133 MIN | R
SAT. DECEMBER 21 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (M)
SUN. DECEMBER 22 | 6:00 PM | CENTER (G)
A burgeoning 15-year-old entrepreneur (Cooper Hoffman) goes into business with an erratic twentysomething (Alana Haim) as they schmooze their way through the San Fernando Valley of 1973 in this absolutely stunning hang out film with charm to spare.
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LOST IN ANIMATION / DIRECTOR SERIES: SATOSHI KON
Anime, and the manga that inspires it, has become a phenomenon across the globe that shows no signs of slowing down and, more importantly, running out of ideas. Join us for our newest recurring monthly series of new and old classics celebrating the wide range of power, emotion, and visual splendor that only anime can provide.
For the last quarter of the year we are honoring visionary director Satoshi Kon with a Lost in Animation takeover featuring his four imaginative, provocative and surreal wonders. Series page here.
- PERFECT BLUE
SATOSHI KON | JAPAN | 1997 | 81 MIN | NR
SUN. NOVEMBER 3 | 4:00 PM | CENTER (G)
FRI. NOVEMBER 8 | 7:30 PM | CENTER (M)
SAT. NOVEMBER 16 | 6:30 PM | CENTER (G)
SAT. NOVEMBER 23 | 7:30 PM | CENTER (G)
With his pitch-perfect surreal debut, Satoshi Kon explores the nefarious trappings and fallout of fame when a Japanese pop idol gives up her music career for acting and must face a world of stalkers—and even murder. - MILLENNIUM ACTRESS
SATOSHI KON, KÔ MATSUO | JAPAN | 2001 | 87 MIN | PG
SAT. DECEMBER 7 | 3:30 PM | CENTER (G)
SUN. DECEMBER 15 | 6:00 PM | CENTER (M)
FRI. DECEMBER 20 | 9:30 PM | CENTER (G)
SAT. DECEMBER 21 | 6:00 PM | CENTER (G)
An earnest request to interview a retired acting legend about their career is the catalyst for Satoshi Kon’s breathtaking, mesmerizing journey into the past where reality and life on the silver screen collide in unexpected ways. - TOKYO GODFATHERS
SATOSHI KON, SHÔGO FURUYA | JAPAN | 2003 | 92 MIN | PG
SAT. DECEMBER 7 | 1:00 PM | CENTER (G)
SUN. DECEMBER 15 | 3:30 PM | CENTER (M)
THU. DECEMBER 26 | 7:30 PM | CENTER (M)
SUN. DECEMBER 29 | 6:30 PM | CENTER (G)
An instant holiday classic, a slightly more-grounded Kon finds three very unique individuals homeless on the streets of Tokyo on Christmas Eve who discover a newborn baby amidst their rummaging and a newfound mission to return the baby home. - PAPRIKA
SATOSHI KON | JAPAN | 2006 | 90 MIN | R
SUN. NOVEMBER 3 | 6:30 PM | CENTER (G)
FRI. NOVEMBER 8 | 9:30 PM | CENTER (M)
SAT. NOVEMBER 23 | 9:30 PM | CENTER (G)
Arguably a source of inspiration for Christopher Nolan’s INCEPTION, PAPRIKA is a twisty surreal noir that delves into the subconscious when a psychologist enters the dream world via new tech and attempts to thwart a dream terrorist, causing irrefutable nightmares for the population.
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HEADLINES!
As the country approaches a defining moment in its history, we present a repertory of narratives inspired by current events, issues, and individuals that have been variables in the experiment known as the United States of America. From the absurd to the profound, these films will leave a lasting impression long after the votes are cast. Series page here.
- MALCOLM X IN 4K
SPIKE LEE | USA | 1992 | 152 MIN | R
SAT. OCTOBER 5 | 1:00 PM | CENTER (M)
SUN. OCTOBER 6 | 3:30 PM | CENTER (G)
SAT. OCTOBER 12 | 3:30 PM | CENTER (G)
Academy Award winner Denzel Washington delivers a performance of the century in Spike Lee’s iconic biopic tracing the electrifying rise of street hustler turned revolutionary leader, Malcolm X. - THE PARALLAX VIEW
ALAN J. PAKULA | USA | 1974 | 102 MIN | R
SAT. OCTOBER 5 | 1:30 PM | CENTER (G)
FRI. OCTOBER 11 | 9:45 PM | CENTER (G)
SAT. OCTOBER 12 | 6:00 PM | CENTER (M)
After witnessing a political assassination, a TV journalist (Warren Beatty) delves into a world of paranoia and intrigue that leads him to believe that the massive titular corporation may be behind some of the biggest political decisions in the world. Who would have thought? - THE CHINA SYNDROME
JAMES BRIDGES | USA | 1979 | 122 MIN | PG
SAT. OCTOBER 5 | 4:15 PM | CENTER (G)
WED. OCTOBER 9 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (M)
FRI. OCTOBER 11 | 7:15 PM | CENTER (G)
A simple on-site TV news report at the local power plant becomes a document of potential total nuclear meltdown. Not only is THE CHINA SYNDROME bursting with phenomenal performances by Jack Lemmon and Jane Fonda, but an extremely tense foray into the paranoia of the 1970s USA and the shocking truth being withheld from its citizens. - THE TIME THAT REMAINS ON 35MM
ELIA SULEIMAN | FRANCE, BELGIUM | 2009 | 109 MIN | NR
SAT. OCTOBER 5 | 5:00 PM | CENTER (M)
SAT. OCTOBER 12 | 3:00 PM | CENTER (M)
World-renowned Palestinian filmmaker Elia Suleiman crafts a witty and droll, yet immensely powerful, semi-biographical ode to his father’s own experience from the creation of Israel in 1948 to present day. - THE LIVES OF OTHERS
FLORIAN HENCKEL VON DONNERSMARCK | GERMANY | 2006 | 137 MIN | R
SUN. OCTOBER 6 | 3:00 PM | CENTER (M)
WED. OCTOBER 16 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (G)
A moral crisis arises within an agent of the East Germany secret police who becomes increasingly fixated on the lives of the artists he has been surveilling in this riveting portrayal of a police state where arts and culture must succumb to law and order. - WINTER KILLS ON 35MM
WILLIAM RICHERT | USA | 1979 | 97 MIN | R
FRI. NOVEMBER 1 | 9:30 PM | CENTER (M)
WED. NOVEMBER 6 | 7:30 PM | CENTER (M)
A sniper rifle hidden atop Philly’s City Hall is just the start to this bizarro, down-the-rabbit-hole journey. Jeff Bridges’ Nick Kegan uncovers the truth behind the assassination of his brother, the US President, two decades prior in this hilarious and insane rediscovered 70s satire. - BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS IN 4K
ALAN RUDOLPH | USA | 1999 | 110 MIN | R
SAT. NOVEMBER 2 | 1:00 PM | CENTER (M)
SUN. NOVEMBER 3 | 6:00 PM | CENTER (M)
SUN. NOVEMBER 17 | 6:30 PM | CENTER (G)
Misunderstood upon its release, Alan Rudolph’s go-for-broke adaptation of the Kurt Vonnegut classic is a cacophony of visuals and gags abound about the state of the US, centered on the fateful meeting of a used car salesman (Bruce Willis) and sci-fi writer (Albert Finney).
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PASSION PIT
Inspired by the audacity and admiration for Francis Ford Coppola’s drive to bring his dreams to fruition with MEGALOPOLIS and by PFS favorites like Richard Kelly’s SOUTHLAND TALES. “Passion Pit” offers a reevaluation of daring films from beloved filmmakers that defied common sense, survived production purgatory, and brought their unadulterated artistic visions to the screen. Series page here.
- ISHTAR
ELAINE MAY | USA | 1987 | 107 MIN | PG-13
FRI. NOVEMBER 1 | 7:30 PM | CENTER (G)
THU. NOVEMBER 7 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (G)
SUN. NOVEMBER 17 | 6:45 PM | CENTER (M)
SAT. NOVEMBER 23 | 4:30 PM | CENTER (M)
The unceremoniously received last film by one of the greatest comedians and filmmakers ever, Elaine May. ISHTAR is is a total comedic gem that overflows with chemistry between Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman playing two failed songwriters who stumble their way into an international crisis in Morocco. - ANNETTE IN 4K
LEOS CARAX | FRANCE | 2021 | 141 MIN | R
SAT. NOVEMBER 2 | 2:00 PM | CENTER (G)
SUN. NOVEMBER 3 | 3:00 PM | CENTER (M)
SUN. NOVEMBER 10 | 6:00 PM | CENTER (G)
Nearly a decade after Leos Carax reinvented cinema with HOLY MOTORS, he redefines the movie musical with the long-gestating rock opera penned by the brother duo of Sparks about a shock comedian, an opera singer, and a magical little child. - FITZCARRALDO
WERNER HERZOG | WEST GERMANY, PERU | 1982
158 MIN | PG
SAT. NOVEMBER 2 | 3:30 PM | CENTER (M)
WED. NOVEMBER 13 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (M)
SAT. NOVEMBER 30 | 6:30 PM | CENTER (G)
The legendary epic, known for its quixotic, troubled production as much as for what was eventually committed to celluloid. FITZCARRALDO chronicles madman Klaus Kinski as a rubber baron in Peru and his unrelenting determination to relocate a gigantic steamship over the Andes mountains with little regard for safety or sanity. - UNDER THE CHERRY MOON
PRINCE | USA | 1986 | 100 MIN | PG-13
SAT. NOVEMBER 2 | 5:00 PM | CENTER (G)
THU. NOVEMBER 14 | 7:30 PM | CENTER (M)
The iconic Prince stars in (and eventually directed) this sexy black and white soiree on the French Riviera about a smooth-talking con artist who, along with his brother, plots to swindle a soon-to-be wealthy heiress—but romance gets in the way. - THE FOUNTAIN
DARREN ARONOFSKY | USA, CANADA | 2006 | 97 MIN | R
SAT. NOVEMBER 2 | 7:15 PM | CENTER (G)
SAT. NOVEMBER 16 | 10:00 PM | CENTER (M)
How does one explore the depths of love, spirituality, and the fragility of life on camera? Darren Aronofsky gives it his best shot in this millennia-spanning, visual splendor about one man’s determination to defy fate and save his dying wife. - SPEED RACER
LANA WACHOWSKI, LILLY WACHOWSKI | USA | 2008
135 MIN | PG
SAT. NOVEMBER 2 | 9:30 PM | CENTER (G)
FRI. NOVEMBER 15 | 9:30 PM | CENTER (M)
SAT. NOVEMBER 16 | 1:30 PM | CENTER (G)
The Wachowskis reinvented what cinema could be in this dazzling and ambitious manga adaptation about the titular racer who clings to lofty aspirations while navigating corrupt forces within the racing league to cement his family’s legacy. - THE FALL IN 4K
TARSEM SINGH | USA, SOUTH AFRICA, INDIA | 2006
117 MIN | R
SUN. NOVEMBER 10 | 6:15 PM | CENTER (M)
WED. NOVEMBER 20 | 7:30 PM | CENTER (M)
FRI. NOVEMBER 22 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (M)
After being unavailable for years, Tarsem Singh’s unbelievably imaginative and beautiful fantasy is finally restored in 4K. An injured 1915 stuntman (Lee Pace) recounts a fantastical adventure to a young girl about swashbuckling heroes on a path of vengeance. - A.I. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
STEVEN SPIELBERG | USA, UK | 2001 | 146 MIN | PG-13
FRI. NOVEMBER 15 | 6:30 PM | CENTER (M)
SUN. NOVEMBER 24 | 5:30 PM | CENTER (M)
FRI. NOVEMBER 29 | 7:30 PM | CENTER (G)
At the dawn of the millennia, Spielberg released this equally confounding and revolutionary epic that began in earnest 30 years prior by the great Stanley Kubrick, only to be met with a puzzled reception. Twenty years later, experience the never more timely journey of a young android with the unique ability to love. - SILENCE IN 4K
MARTIN SCORSESE | USA | 2016 | 161 MIN | R
SAT. NOVEMBER 16 | 1:00 PM | CENTER (M)
SUN. NOVEMBER 17 | 3:30 PM | CENTER (G)
Developed over 25 years, Scorsese finally brings to life the historical saga of two Jesuit priests’ faith being tested to the limit as they embark on a perilous journey searching for their missing mentor in a Japan that is hostile to their religion.
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WRAPPED UP
After a year of revealing the PFS Members 50 list, made from our members’ top films outside of Sight and Sound 100, we are excited to offer the remaining classic titles, wrapped up in a bow as a gift to our wonderful filmgoing community. Thank you! Series page here.
- ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
MICHEL GONDRY | USA | 2004 | 108 MIN | R
SUN. DECEMBER 1 | 6:00 PM | CENTER (M)
WED. DECEMBER 11 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (M)
FRI. DECEMBER 20 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (G)
One of the greatest films of the century about a lovelorn man (Jim Carrey) and a directionless woman (Kate Winslet) seeking to permanently erase their past relationship from memory. - EX MACHINA
ALEX GARLAND | UK, USA | 2015 | 108 MIN | R
WED. DECEMBER 4 | 7:30 PM | CENTER (M)
FRI. DECEMBER 6 | 9:15 PM | CENTER (G)
SAT. DECEMBER 7 | 9:15 PM | CENTER (G)
SAT. DECEMBER 14 | 9:45 PM | CENTER (G)
Alex Garland’s directorial debut may be overflowing with themes of what it means to be human, but at its core is a love triangle between a human, a robot, and the robot’s creator in this perfectly executed and timely sci-fi masterpiece. - PULP FICTION IN 4K
QUENTIN TARANTINO | USA | 1994 | 154 MIN | R
SAT. DECEMBER 7 | 6:00 PM | CENTER (G)
THU. DECEMBER 12 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (M)
SAT. DECEMBER 14 | 6:45 PM | CENTER (G)
Two chatty hitmen, a boxer, a crime boss, his coked-up wife, and a dozen other characters from the mind of Quentin Tarantino collide in the filmmaker’s endlessly-quotable, homage-laden soufflé served ingeniously out of order over the course of four days in LA. - STAR WARS IN 4K
GEORGE LUCAS | USA | 1977 | 121 MIN | PG
FRI. DECEMBER 20 | 8:00 PM | CENTER (M)
SAT. DECEMBER 21 | 1:30 PM | CENTER (M)
SUN. DECEMBER 22 | 3:00 PM | CENTER (M)
Many words and internet rants have been written about one of the most influential and successful films ever created, but beyond the chatter and groundbreaking special effects is an unforgettable tale of good vs. evil between a farmer boy, a princess, a smuggler, and some droids up against a vast empire in a galaxy far, far away.
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FILM ESSENTIALS
Cinema’s greatest treasures as they were meant to be seen: on the biggest screen in Center City! Series page here.
- THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS IN 4K
JONATHAN DEMME | USA | 1991 | 118 MIN | R
FRI. OCTOBER 4 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (M)
SAT. OCTOBER 5 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (G)
THU. OCTOBER 10 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (G)
SUN. OCTOBER 13 | 5:30 PM | CENTER (M)
A FBI rookie must keep pace with the cunning cannibal Hannibal Lecter to stop a sadistic serial killer before he claims his next victim in this haunting danse macabre from the great Jonathan Demme. - PURPLE RAIN IN 4K
ALBERT MAGNOLI | USA | 1984 | 111 MIN | R
FRI. OCTOBER 4 | 8:00 PM | CENTER (G)
WED. OCTOBER 9 | 7:30 PM | CENTER (G)
SUN. OCTOBER 13 | 3:00 PM | CENTER (M)
WED. OCTOBER 16 | 7:30 PM | CENTER (M)
Let’s go crazy one more time for Prince’s The Kid, a gifted, upand- coming musician who navigates love, personal demons, and fierce competition as he strives to leave a lasting mark on the Minneapolis music scene and world forever. - THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS
WES ANDERSON | USA | 2001 | 110 MIN | R
FRI. NOVEMBER 1 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (M)
SUN. NOVEMBER 10 | 3:30 PM | CENTER (G)
WED. NOVEMBER 27 | 7:30 PM | CENTER (M)
Wes Anderson’s unforgettable direction and ensemble finds three siblings, once-promising child prodigies whose potential has since tragically faded, suddenly reunited and reckoning with their ailing patriarch and each other. - LE SAMOURAÏ IN 4K
JEAN-PIERRE MELVILLE | FRANCE, ITALY | 1967 | 101 MIN | NR
THU. NOVEMBER 7 | 7:30 PM | CENTER (M)
SAT. NOVEMBER 9 | 4:30 PM | CENTER (M)
SAT. NOVEMBER 16 | 4:00 PM | CENTER (M)
Master of French Cinema Jean-Pierre Melville teams up once again with a never-cooler Alain Delon in this influential, stylish neo-noir about a nearly silent, extremely cool hitman navigating the fallout of a job gone wrong. Did we mention he looks really cool? - ALL ABOUT EVE IN 4K
JOSEPH L. MANKIEWICZ | USA | 1950 | 138 MIN | NR
THU. DECEMBER 5 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (M)
FRI. DECEMBER 6 | 6:30 PM | CENTER (G)
SUN. DECEMBER 15 | 5:45 PM | CENTER (G)
THU. DECEMBER 19 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (M)
One of the greatest rivalries in cinema history is an uproarious battle of wits between a rising starlet (Anne Baxter) who schemes her way into the world of a revered Broadway icon (Betty Davis), unraveling a whirlwind tale of ambition, deception, and the ruthless pursuit of fame. - LAWRENCE OF ARABIA IN 4K
DAVID LEAN | UK | 1962 | 218 MIN | PG
SAT. DECEMBER 14 | 2:00 PM | CENTER (M)
SAT. DECEMBER 28 | 4:00 PM | CENTER (M)
SUN. DECEMBER 29 | 3:00 PM | CENTER (M)
The cinematic experience of a lifetime from David Lean chronicles the titular British Lieutenant’s experiences in WWI across the declining Ottoman Empire and his struggle with his allegiance to his country and comrades in our PFS Member 50 #1 pick.
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AFTER HOURS
Bringing together the odd, eerie, thrilling, and downright weird, this is the home of cult classics. Series page here.
- THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE IN 4K
TOBE HOOPER | USA | 1974 | 83 MIN | R
FRI. OCTOBER 4 | 9:30 PM | CENTER (M)
SAT. OCTOBER 12 | 8:00 PM | CENTER (G)
WED. OCTOBER 30 | 8:00 PM | CENTER (G)
THU. OCTOBER 31 | 7:30 PM | CENTER (M)
Released 50 years ago, the most terrifying and infamous cinematic road trip once again takes a horrifying turn when a group of friends is thrust into a rural nightmare, hunted by a chainsaw-wielding killer and his disturbed family. - TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME
DAVID LYNCH | FRANCE, USA | 1992 | 134 MIN | R
FRI. OCTOBER 11 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (M)
WED. OCTOBER 30 | 7:30 PM | CENTER (M)
Whether you binged the series right before indulging in this surreal, dreamy and violent masterpiece or not, the whiplash is real. Lynch’s work is a terrifying and hauntingly beautiful noir about the evil that lies within man and a glimmer of hope in the guise of a high school girl named Laura Palmer. - ERASERHEAD
DAVID LYNCH | USA | 1977 | 89 MIN | NR
FRI. OCTOBER 11 | 10:15 PM | CENTER (M)
SAT. OCTOBER 12 | 8:30 PM | CENTER (M)
THU. OCTOBER 31 | 8:00 PM | CENTER (G)
We have Philly to thank for influencing the nightmarish landscape (and soundscape) of David Lynch’s incomparable meditation on fatherhood as a hair-raising Jack Nance is left to care for his very cute child as the world around them threatens to swallow them whole. - THE MONSTER SQUAD
FRED DEKKER | USA | 1987 | 82 MIN | PG-13
WED. OCTOBER 30 | 7:30 PM | EAST
THU. OCTOBER 31 | 7:30 PM | EAST (BYOB!)
Chock-full of mischief and spooky effects, this goofy, imaginative horror comedy from screenwriter Shane Black about a group of monster-obsessed kids that must save their town from Count Dracula and his gang has deservedly amassed a cult following, Wolf Dork and all. - THE DESCENT
NEIL MARSHALL | UK | 2005 | 100 MIN | R
WED. OCTOBER 30 | 8:00 PM | EAST
Arguably one of the most horrific films in history to experience in cinemas, especially if tight spaces are not your thing, Neil Marshall’s THE DESCENT is a literal nightmare plunge into the abyss when a group of women go spelunking only to discover an unknown evil waiting at the bottom. - THE BLACKENING BYOB
TIM BAKER | USA | 2022 | 97 MIN | R
THU. OCTOBER 31 | EAST (BYOB!) | ACTIVITIES 7:00 PM | MOVIE 8:00 PM
Grab your crew and pull up for a Halloween night you won’t forget! We’re screening THE BLACKENING—the hilarious and thrilling horror-comedy where street smarts and survival take center stage. Hosted by 6IX Agency in partnership with the Philadelphia Film Society, this BYOB-friendly screening at PFS East Theater is the perfect kickoff to your Halloween weekend. Throw on your best costume (or come as you are) for a chance to win some dope prizes, and chill with us as we enjoy drinks, laughs, and scares. Concessions will be available, and tickets are only $6. This event is all about bringing the community together, so don’t miss out! Presented with 6ix Agency. - MUTE WITNESS IN 4K
ANTHONY WALLER | UK | 1995 | 95 MIN | R
FRI. NOVEMBER 1 | 10:00 PM | CENTER (G)
FRI. NOVEMBER 8 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (G)
SAT. NOVEMBER 9 | 10:00 PM | CENTER (M)
FRI. NOVEMBER 22 | 9:45 PM | CENTER (G)
Filmed in Russia right after the fall of the Soviet Union, this brand new 4K restoration is a treasure for De Palma freaks. A mute special effects artist working on an American slasher in Moscow soon discovers that a very different type of film is being made. - MAHAKAAL
TULSI RAMSAY, SHYAM RAMSAY | INDIA | 1994 | 132 MIN | NR
SAT. NOVEMBER 2 | 9:15 PM | CENTER (M)
FRI. NOVEMBER 8 | 9:00 PM | CENTER (G)
FRI. NOVEMBER 15 | 7:15 PM | CENTER (G)
SAT. NOVEMBER 30 | 9:00 PM | CENTER (M)
Never before released in US cinemas until now, this blatant A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET rip off is an outrageous Bollywood-meets-Argento nightmare filled with razor-claw wielding monsters, glorious colors, and, of course, musical numbers! - BLOOD RAGE
JOHN GRISSMER | USA | 1987 | 82 MIN | R
FRI. NOVEMBER 15 | 10:00 PM | CENTER (G)
FRI. NOVEMBER 22 | 9:30 PM | CENTER (M)
SAT. NOVEMBER 30 | 9:45 PM | CENTER (G)
Let’s get this out of the way: it’s not cranberry sauce. One of the few 80s holiday slashers that lay claim to Turkey Day is an outright feast of sleaze and horny diners with a massive helping of an evil twin who has escaped an asylum to wreak havoc on a Florida community. - KISS KISS BANG BANG
SHANE BLACK | USA | 2005 | 103 MIN | R
WED. DECEMBER 11 | 7:30 PM | CENTER (G)
SAT. DECEMBER 14 | 4:30 PM | CENTER (G)
FRI. DECEMBER 27 | 9:45 PM | CENTER (G)
SUN. DECEMBER 29 | 4:00 PM | CENTER (G)
It wouldn’t be the holiday season without an alternative yuletide gift from Shane Black about a burglar (Robert Downey Jr.) unknowingly fumbling his way through a film audition that lands him at a Hollywood party face to face with the greatest detective in La La Land, Val Kilmer. - ALIEN IN 4K
RIDLEY SCOTT | UK, USA | 1979 | 117 MIN | R
FRI. DECEMBER 13 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (M)
FRI. DECEMBER 27 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (M)
SAT. DECEMBER 28 | 5:30 PM | CENTER (G)
Often imitated, but never outdone, Ridley Scott’s ALIEN may be a slasher in space on script, but the artistry, acting, production and direction are firing on all cylinders to create a thrilling and horrific, existential encounter between a woman and an unknown stowaway for the ages. - ALIENS IN 4K
JAMES CAMERON | UK, USA | 1986 | 137 MIN | R
FRI. DECEMBER 13 | 9:30 PM | CENTER (M)
FRI. DECEMBER 27 | 9:30 PM | CENTER (M)
SAT. DECEMBER 28 | 8:00 PM | CENTER (G)
WWJCD? What would James Cameron do if he was given the reins to helm a sequel to one of the greatest films of all time? He would not only cement Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley as the greatest sci-fi action hero ever, but introduce a team of unforgettable jarheads equipped to combat a multiplying aggro species in thrilling out-of-this-world set pieces. ALIEN/ALIENS DOUBLE FEATURE BUNDLE AVAILABLE: $20 GA / $15 PFS MEMBERS - THE THING IN 4K
JOHN CARPENTER | USA, CANADA | 1982 | 109 MIN | R
SAT. DECEMBER 14 | 9:45 PM | CENTER (M)
SAT. DECEMBER 21 | 9:45 PM | CENTER (M)
FRI. DECEMBER 27 | 7:15 PM | CENTER (G)
John Carpenter ignites the horror genre with no flares to spare in his chilly hellscape of isolation at the end of the world when a research expedition in Antarctica encounters an alien species that begins to mimic the team one by one, inciting paranoia and terror around every corner.
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THROWBACK QUIZZO & MOVIE
Put your movie and pop culture knowledge to the test with this pairing of trivia and nostalgic films. Series page here.
- PUMP UP THE VOLUME
ALLAN MOYLE | USA, CANADA | 1990 | 102 MIN | R
THU. NOVEMBER 14 | QUIZZO 7:00 PM | MOVIE 7:30 PM | CENTER (G)
SAT. NOVEMBER 16 | 8:45 PM | CENTER (G)
SAT. NOVEMBER 23 | 9:15 PM | CENTER (M)
SUN. NOVEMBER 24 | 6:00 PM | CENTER (G)
Everybody knows Christian Slater was the coolest in 1990, but little do they know that this galvanizing banger about a timid, high school wallflower moonlighting as a teenage revolutionary-cum-therapist pirate radio DJ is one of the greatest forgotten gems of the 90s. - GO
DOUG LIMAN | USA | 1999 | 102 MIN | R
THU. DECEMBER 12 | QUIZZO 7:30 PM | MOVIE 8:00 PM | CENTER (G)
FRI. DECEMBER 13 | 9:30 PM | CENTER (G)
SAT. DECEMBER 21 | 8:00 PM | CENTER (G)
Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, you deserve to spend 98 minutes with this kinetic Rashomon-inspired script with a 90s-tastic who’s who cast set on Christmas Eve about a store clerk trying to sell some E only for things to go horribly wrong x3.
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ECHOES OF THE LAND: CHRONICLES OF WEST AFRICA
Engrossing narratives that reflect West Africa’s cultural wealth, exploring its socio-political intricacies and interpersonal dynamics while embracing the region’s linguistic diversity with profound artistic depth and unyielding authenticity. Series page here.
- THE TWO FACES OF A BAMILEKE WOMAN
ROSINE MFETGO MBAKAM | CAMEROON, BELGIUM | 2018 | 76 MIN | NR
SAT. NOVEMBER 23 | 5:00 PM | CENTER (G)
SUN. NOVEMBER 24 | 3:30 PM | CENTER (G)
A filmmaker returns to her native Cameroonian village to reunite with her mother, who serves as a reflection of the complexities of identity and culture. - CHEZ JOLIE COIFFURE
ROSINE MFETGO MBAKAM | CAMEROON, BELGIUM | 2018
70 MIN | NR
SAT. DECEMBER 21 | 3:30 PM | CENTER (G)
SUN. DECEMBER 22 | 3:30 PM | CENTER (G)
Within the walls of a bustling salon, a spirited Cameroonian hairdresser creates a sanctuary where the struggles, aspirations, and resilience of the West African immigrant community are free to roam.
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PFS YOUNG FRIENDS FILM CLUB
Do you like scary (or other) movies? Join the Young Friends of the Philadelphia Film Society an hour before each Film Club Screening for a mixer! Make cinema into a community, enjoy surprise activities, and meet other film lovers. Everyone’s invited, but consider joining the Young Friends to receive special perks like free drinks and snacks, discounts on special event tickets, and access to specialty screenings! Stay tuned to the Young Friends newsletter (subscribe by becoming a member) and @pfsyoungfriends for details. Series page here.
- EYES OF LAURA MARS
IRVIN KIRSHNER | USA | 1978 | 104 MIN | R
THU. NOVEMBER 21 | CENTER (G)
MIXER 6:00 PM /// MOVIE 7:00 PM
EYES OF LAURA MARS is a supernatural neo-noir thriller inspired by Italy’s giallo films, overflowing with enviable 1978 glam fashion, about a NYC fashion photographer (Faye Dunaway) who discovers her ability to witness grisly murders from the killer’s perspective. Presented with YOWIE. - HOME ALONE
CHRIS COLUMBUS | USA | 1990 | 103 MIN | PG
THU. DECEMBER 19 | MIXER 6:30 PM | MOVIE 7:30 PM | CENTER (G)
SAT. DECEMBER 21 | 1:00 PM | CENTER (G)
THU. DECEMBER 26 | 7:00 PM | CENTER (G)
SAT. DECEMBER 28 | 3:00 PM | CENTER (G)
There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of tradition and cheese pizza at PFS! Come out for our annual holiday gathering of the PFS Young Friends only on December 19th. Bust out your best PJs or ugly sweaters and sink your teeth into some free pizza while watching a scheming tyke stops two grown adults from ruining Christmas.
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