FULL LINEUP FOR THE 33RD PHILADELPHIA
FILM FESTIVAL, PRESENTED BY THE
PHILADELPHIA FILM SOCIETY

The Philadelphia Film Society (PFS) is proud to announce the full lineup for the 33rd Philadelphia Film Festival (PFF), spanning from October 17 through October 27, 2024. This year’s Festival will offer in-person screenings at all PFS venues (Film Society Center, Film Society Bourse, and Film Society East).

The program for the 33rd edition encompasses an array of extraordinary films. The festival will open on Thursday, October 17 with Tim Fehlbaum’s SEPTEMBER 5, starring Peter Sarsgaard, Ben Chaplin, Leonie Benesch and John Magaro. SEPTEMBER 5 unveils the decisive moment that forever changed media coverage and continues to impact live news today. The Closing Night film will play on the final Friday of the festival, October 25, with the Philadelphia premiere of Steve McQueen’s BLITZ starring 4-time Academy Award® nominee Saoirse Ronan, which follows the stories of a group of Londoners during the events of the British capital bombing in World War II.

The Philadelphia Film Festival has selected eight extraordinary titles to be highlighted as Centerpieces this year. Titles include the Philadelphia premiere of Sean Baker’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner ANORA, a romantic drama chronicling the journey of a young sex worker who gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch, presented in 35MM; THE BRUTALIST, starring Academy Award® Winner Adrien Brody as a visionary architect on a journey to flee post-war Europe into modern America, presented in 35MM; CONCLAVE, a political thriller based on the 2016 novel by Robert Harris about the secrets uncovered while participating in the selection of finding a new Pope; A REAL PAIN, where stars Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin unite as cousins for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother; UNSTOPPABLE, which centers around the life of wrestler Anthony Robles, written by La La Land’s John Hindman; NICKEL BOYS, based on Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Colson Whitehead, follows two young African American men navigate the harrowing trials of reform school in Florida; THE ORDER, an exhilarating crime thriller about an FBI agent uncovering bank robberies and car heists in the Pacific Northwest; and THE LAST SHOWGIRL, the story of a seasoned performer planning for her future when her show abruptly closed after a 30-year run lead by Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Dave Bautista.

The line-up includes World Premieres of two Filmadelphia titles: NO ONE DIED: THE WING BOWL STORY and THE PHILLY SOUND…HEARD ‘ROUND THE WORLD. The Filmadelphia category and Filmadelphia Shorts Program emphasize the Philadelphia Film Society’s ongoing commitment to film in Greater Philadelphia, featuring brilliant films from the region’s most captivating filmmakers.

Screenings for the 33rd Philadelphia Film Festival will take place at the below venues:

• Film Society Center (1412 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102)
• Film Society Bourse (400 Ranstead Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106)
• Film Society East (125 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106)

Tickets will go on-sale for Philadelphia Film Society members on Friday, October 4 and to the general public beginning on Monday, October 7. Tickets may be purchased in-person at the Box Office at the Philadelphia Film Center. During the Festival tickets will be available for purchase in-person at the Box Offices at the newly rebranded Film Society Center, Film Society Bourse, or Film Society East.

Join this year’s panel of programmers at the Programmers Panel as they announce and discuss the films prior to their screening at the Film Festival! This event also offers festival-goers and members first access to Festival tickets, planning their Festival schedule, picking up their badges, purchasing merchandise, and interacting with the film curators. Taking place on Tuesday, October 8 at the Film Society Center. Panel discussion starting 7:00 PM followed by a free screening of PIECE BY PIECE at 8:00 PM. Tickets here.

See the digital Festival Guide with film screening schedule here!

The Opening Night Party will take place after the Opening Night Film SEPTEMBER 5 on Thursday, October 17 at VINYL. The Closing Night Party will take place after the Closing Night Film on Friday, October 25. Tickets for these events will be on sale with film tickets.

33RD PHILADELPHIA FILM FESTIVAL FULL LINEUP

Opening Night Film

• September 5, Director Tim Fehlbaum. 2024, Germany.

Closing Night Film

• Blitz, Director Steve McQueen. 2024, United Kingdom.

Centerpieces 

• Anora, Director Sean Baker. 2024, USA.
• The Brutalist, Director Brady Corbet. 2024, USA, United Kingdom.
• Conclave, Director Edward Berger. 2024, USA, United Kingdom.
• The Last Showgirl, Director Gia Coppola. 2024, USA.
• Maria, Director Pablo Larrain. 2024, Italy, Germany, Belgium.
• Nickel Boys, Director RaMell Ross. 2024, USA.
• The Order, Director Justin Kurzel. 2024, USA, Canada.
• A Real Pain, Director Jesse Eisenberg. 2024, USA, Poland.
• Unstoppable, Director William Goldenberg. 2024, USA.

Masters of Cinema

• Bird, Director Andrea Arnold. 2024, United Kingdom, USA, France, Germany.
• Hard Truths, Director Mike Leigh. 2024, United Kingdom, Spain.
• I’m Still Here, Director Walter Salles. 2024, Brazil, France.
• It’s Not Me, Director Leos Carax. 2024, France.
• The Room Next Door, Director Pedro Almodovar. 2024, Spain.
• Rumours, Director Guy Maddin, Director Evan Johnson, Director Galen Johnson. 2024, Canada.
• The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Director Mohammad Rasoulof. 2024, Iran, France, Germany.
• Silent Trilogy, Director Juho Kuosmanen. 2024, Finland.
• A Traveler’s Needs, Director Hong Sang-Soo. 2024, South Korea.
• An Unfinished Film, Director Lou Ye. 2024, Singapore, Germany.

Spotlights

• Daniela Forever, Director Nacho Vigalondo. 2024, Spain, Belgium.
• The End, Director Joshua Oppenheimer. 2024, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, UK, Sweden.
• La Cocina, Director Alonso Ruizpalacios. 2024, Mexico, USA.
• Memoir of a Snail, Director Adam Elliot. 2024, Australia.
• The Second Act, Director Quentin Dupieux. 2024, France.
• Small Things Like These, Director Tim Mielants. 2024, Ireland, Belgium.
• Transplant, Director Jason Park. 2024, USA.

World View 

• Alpha, Director Jan-Willem van Ewijk. 2024, Netherlands, Slovenia, Switzerland.
• Armand, Director Halfdan Ullmann Tondel. 2024, Norway, Netherlands, Germany.
• Baby, Director Marcelo Caetano. 2024, Brazil, France, Netherlands.
• Black Dog, Director Hu Guan. 2024, China.
• Bound in Heaven, Director Huo Xin. 2024, China.
• The Count of Monte Cristo, Director Halfdan Ullmann Tondel. 2024, Norway, Netherlands, Germany.
• Dying, Director Matthias Glasner. 2024, Germany.
• Flow, Director Gints Zilbalodis. 2024, Latvia, France, Belgium.
• Freedom Way, Director Afolabi Olalekan. 2024, Nigeria.
• The Girl with the Needle, Director Magnus von Horn. 2024, Denmark, Poland, Sweden.
• The Kingdom, Director Julien Colonna. 2024, France.
• The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos, Director The Agbajowo Collective. 2024, Nigeria, Germany, South Africa, USA.
• My Favourite Cake, Director Maryam Moghaddam, Director Behtash Sanaeeha. 2024, Iran, France, Sweden, Germany.
• The New Year That Never Came, Director Bogdan Muresanu. 2024, Romania, Serbia.
• On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, Director Rungano Nyoni. 2024, Zambia, UK, Ireland.
• Peacock, Director Bernhard Wenger. 2024, Austria, Germany.
• The Quiet Ones, Director Frederik Louis Hviid. 2024, Denmark.
• Scorched Earth, Director Thomas Arslan. 2024, Germany.
• Vermiglio, Director Maura Delpero. 2024, Italy, France, Belgium.
• We Were Dangerous, Director Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu. 2024, New Zealand.
• Who By Fire, Director Philippe Lesage. 2024, Canada, France.

Focus on India 

• All We Imagine As Light, Director Payal Kapadia. 2024, India, France, Netherlands, Luxembourg.
• Girls Will Be Girls, Director Shuchi Talati. 2024, India, France, USA, Norway.
• Santosh, Director Sandhya Suri. 2024, United Kingdom, Germany, India, France.
• Sister Midnight, Director Karan Kandhari. 2024, United Kingdom, India, Sweden.
• Superboys of Malegaon, Director Reema Kagti. 2024, India.

Made in USA

• Ben and Suzanne, A Reunion in 4 Parts, Director Shaun Seneviratne. 2024, USA, Sri Lanka.
• The Black Sea, Director Derrick B. Harden, Director Crystal Moselle. 2024, USA, Bulgaria.
• Desert Road, Director Shannon Triplett. 2024, USA.
• Eephus, Director Carson Lund. 2024, USA.
• The Knife, Director Nnamdi Asomugha. 2024, USA.
• Sew Torn, Director Freddy MacDonald. 2024, USA, Switzerland.
• Vulcanizadora, Director Joel Potrykus. 2024, USA.

Non/Fiction

• Apocalypse in the Tropics, Director Petra Costa. 2024, Brazil, USA, Denmark.
• Grand Theft Hamlet, Director Sam Crane, Director Pinny Grylls. 2024, United Kingdom.
• Mistress Dispeller, Director Elizabeth Lo. 2024, China, USA.
• Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other, Director Manon Ouimet, Director Jacob Perlmutter. 2024, United Kingdom, Denmark, USA.
• Suburban Fury, Director Robinson Devor. 2024, USA.

Sight & Soundtrack

• Better Man, Director Michael Gracey. 2024, Australia.
• Devo, Director Chris Smith. 2024, USA, United Kingdom.
• Diane Warren: Relentless, Director Bess Kargman. 2024, USA.
• Luther: Never Too Much, Director Dawn Porter. 2024, USA.
• Omar and Cedric: If This Ever Gets Weird, Director Nicolas Jack Davies. 2024, Germany.
• Pavements, Director Alex Ross Perry. 2024, USA.

Filmadelphia

• Audrey’s Children, Director Ami Canaan Mann. 2024, USA.
• Citizen George, Director Glenn A. Holsten. 2024, USA.
• Dreaming of You, Director Jack McCafferty. 2024, USA.
• No One Died: The Wing Bowl Story, Director Pat Taggart. 2024, USA.
• The Philly Sound… Heard ‘Round the World, Director Bill Nicoletti. 2024, USA, United Kingdom.

After Hours

• Birdeater, Director Jack Clark, Director Jim Weir. 2023, Australia.
• Cloud, Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa. 2024, Japan.
• Dead Talents Society, Director John Hsu. 2024, Taiwan.
• Escape from the 21st Century, Director Yang Li. 2024, China.
• Night Call, Director Michiel Blanchart. 2024, France, Belgium.
• The Rule of Jenny Pen, Director James Ashcroft. 2024, New Zealand.

From the Vaults

• All the President’s Men, Director Alan J. Pakula. 1976, USA. 35mm.
• A Matter of Life and Death, Director Michael Powell, Director Emeric Pressburger. 1946, United Kingdom. 4K Restoration.
• Paris, Texas, Director Wim Wenders. 1984, France. 4K Restoration.
• Streets of Fire, Director Walter Hill. 1984, USA. 35mm.
• Wake in Fright, Director Ted Kotcheff. 1971, Australia. 4K Restoration.

Community Screenings 

• Antidote, Director James Jones. 2024, United Kingdom.
• Dahomey, Director Mati Diop. 2024, France, Senegal, Benin.
• Ernest Cole: Lost and Found, Director Raoul Peck. 2024, USA, France.
• Every Little Thing, Director Sally Aitken. 2024, Australia.
• Lions of Mesopotamia, Director Lucian Read. 2024, Iraq, USA.
• The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, Director Benjamin Ree. 2024, Norway.

State of the Union 

• The Last Republican, Director Steve Pink. 2024, USA.
• Men of War, Director Billy Corben, Director Jen Gatien.  2024, USA.
• No Other Land, Director Basel Adra, Director Hamdan Ballal, Director Yuval Abraham, Director Rachel Szor. 2024, Palestine, Norway.
• Separated, Director Errol Morris. 2024, USA, Mexico.
• The White House Effect, Director Bonni Cohen, Director Jon Shenk, Director Pedro Kos. 2024, USA.
• Zurawski v Texas, Director Maisie Crow, Director Abbie Perrault. 2024, USA.

Shorts

• Achag Aganca, Director Artur Gevorgyan. 2024, USA.
• Ah-Ma Burns, Director Max Kane. 2024, USA.
• Bad for a Moment, Director Daniel Soares. 2024, Portugal.
• Beautiful Men, Director Nicolas Keppens. 2023, Belgium, France, Netherlands.
• Ben in Bloom, Director Natalie Jasmine Harris. 2024, USA.
• Bob’s Funeral, Director Jack Dunphy. 2024, USA.
• Bug Diner, Director Phoebe Jane Hart. 2024, USA.
• Chicken Bones, Director Abby Waters. 2024, USA.
• A Crab in the Pool, Director Jean-Sébastien Hamel, Director Alexandra Myotte. 2023, Canada.
• Dash, Age 92, Snowboarder, Director Cheryl Hess. 2024, USA.
• Dream Creep, Director Carlos A.F. Lopez. 2024, USA.
• Gas Station Sushi, Director Chad Corhan. 2024, USA.
• Horse Portrait, Director Witold Giersz. 2023, Poland.
• If I Die in America, Director Ward Kamel. 2023, USA, Puerto Rico.
• It Shouldn’t Rain Tomorrow, Director Maria Trigo Teixeira. 2024, Portugal, Germany.
• Joe Beam’s Dream, Director Mikal K Odom. 2024, USA.
• Leonie, Skeet & the Piglets, Director Jip Heijenga. 2023, Belgium.
• Make Me a Pizza, Director Talia Shea Levin. 2024, USA.
• Martyr’s Guidebook, Director Maks Rzontkowski. 2024, Poland.
• Meat Puppet, Director Eros V. 2024, Untied Kingdom.
• Mr. Static, Director Mike Williamson. 2024, USA.
• The Puzzle Palace, Director Jenny Schweitzer Bell, Director Brian Bell. 2024, USA.
• The Rainbow Bridge, Director Dimitri Simakis. 2024, USA.
• Remnants of Nova, Director James Barker. 2024, USA.
• The Scariest Skeleton, Directors Mali Elfman and Pete Scalzitti IV. 2024, USA.
• Tea, Director Blake Rice. 2024, USA.
• Tennis, Oranges, Director Sean Pecknold. 2024, USA.
• Tips Up!, Director Leah Claire Borrie. 2024, USA.
• Trapped, Director Sam Cutler-Kreutz, Director David Cutler-Kreutz. 2024, USA.
• Underdogs, Director Maria Vattimo. 2024, USA.
• Wander to Wonder, Director Nina Gantz. 2023, Netherlands.

All additional information on the 33rd Philadelphia Film Festival can be found here.