The 33rd Annual Philadelphia Film Festival rolls out the red carpet this week, with a full slate of screenings and programming to hit the city from Oct. 17 to 27.
This year’s Festival will offer in-person screenings at all PFS venues (the Film Society Center, Film Society Bourse, and Film Society East), with opening night’s showcase being ‘September 5’. The film, which stars Peter Sarsgaard and Joe Magaro, follows the events surrounding the 1972 Munich Olympic hostage crisis from the perspective of the ABC Sports crew. After the screening, an after-party at Vinyl with an open bar, hors d’oeuvres, and more will be in full swing from 10 p.m. to midnight.
A full list of showings around the city is online, but some highlighted features span a Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin-led story (‘A Real Pain’), a few selections brought back from the vault (like 1976’s ‘All The President’s Men’), a documentary on the life of Philly-based Quaker activist George Lakey (‘Citizen George’), Pedro Almodóvar’s first English-language feature (‘The Room Next Door’) and Mohammad Rasoulof’s “daring social thriller” (‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig’.)
Some screenings have a local focus (‘Audrey’s Children’, ‘Dreaming of You’, ‘No One Died: The Wing Bowl Story’, and more), while some are picks from around the globe. The Festival also features a Focus on India section, an After Hours portion that covers everything “downright weird”, a series of shorts, community screenings, and other categories that delve into some of the best set to hit the screen this year.
Some showings will feature Q&A’s with directors, others will have community participation. The Philadelphia Film Festival also hosts a few Centerpieces every year, with 2024 featuring a new Ralph Fiennes-led thriller ‘Conclave’, the Donald Trump biographical drama ‘The Apprentice’, and a new RaMell Ross feature ‘Nickel Boys.’
Closing night (Oct. 27) will feature Steve McQueen’s WWII set feature, ‘Blitz.’ The film, which stars Saoirse Ronan and Harris Dickinson, follows a nine-year-old boy named George who must navigate the tumultuous times while being evacuated to the countryside to avoid war-time bombings. A Closing Night party featuring music, an open bar, lite bites, and more will then take place at Attico Rooftop from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.
The 2024 Philadelphia Film Festival will also feature a few different events. The first, a singles mixer with PFS Young Friends, will take place at the Film Festival Lounge (Sansom Walkway next to the East) from 5 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 23. The second, a PFS Young Friends Dance Party, will be in full swing on Oct. 24, at 9 p.m. at Khyber Pass Pub.
As their official site states, the Film Festival offers four badge levels – Weekend, All Access, VIP, and Student – that allow you to enjoy no-ticket entry, priority admission to screenings, and exclusive perks at the Festival Lounge ($75-$500.) Members get an additional 10% off Weekend and All Access Badges as well. Stand-alone tickets (prices vary) are also available online, as is a digital guidebook to the full experience.
To find out more information on the 33rd Annual Philadelphia Film Festival, visit filmadelphia.org
