Many moviegoers (including us at Philadelphia Film Society) await in great anticipation for the release of ‘Superman’ and ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ this July to scratch that annual blockbuster itch. It’s always a blast to see the summer release from spectacle maestros like Spielberg or Nolan on the big screen every summer.
But what about the “small” films?
At the Film Society, we celebrate the intimate, nuanced and transgressive independent films from around the world just as much as the big budget studio tentpole. This July, we have a number of selections that will keep you cool as the dog days of summer settle in.
Ari Aster
Even after only three features to his name, Ari Aster instantly became a household name in horror with his debut feature ‘Hereditary.’ Yet his following two films as well as the soon to be released ‘Eddington’, Aster has already sculpted an unpredictable oeuvre brimming with individuals taken to the edge (and then some) as they confront what it means to be human. In celebration of his neo-western meets COVID satire, we are playing his aforementioned debut, along with ‘Midsommar’ and ‘Beau is Afraid.’
Art House Theater Day
An art house theater or film is a term that gained traction during the mid-20th century with the onslaught of international films reaching US shores. These films, and many US independent titles, were created outside the dominating studio system and often married narrative with more expressive, personal, and experimental filmmaking. Theaters that specialized in art house cinema began to spring up all over the country. The tradition continues today and in celebration of Art House Theater Day, PFS presents a brand-new restoration of Marina de Van’s debut ‘In My Skin’. Not for the faint of heart, this film’s exploration of a woman’s burgeoning fascination with her own body as she confronts reality is a truly one-of-a-kind experience.
‘The Innerview’ with Lightbox Film Center
One of our favorite film organizations in the city is the Lightbox Film Center. Recently relocated after the closing of UArts to the Bok Building in South Philly, Lightbox continues their reign as a bastion for unique and deep cut film exhibition. Not only do they screen films, but they are active in the film restoration community as well. On Wednesday, July 16, PFS is excited to present with Lightbox the brand new restoration of Richard Beymar’s ‘The Innerview’. Most recognized for his starring roles in ‘West Side Story’ and ‘Twin Peaks’, Beymar’s psychedelic experimental foray from 1975 is an enigmatic reflection of a time lost in a haze.
Converting Art to Dollars
Every month, PFS offers community screenings curated by our team with organization and individual partners from all over the city. Working with the teams behind the United We Heal Festival and From the Table, we are excited to present a selection of short films by local filmmakers followed by discussions and panels surrounding the ever evolving relationship between the arts and business. These are BYOB and 21+ events.
‘Sabbath Queen’
On July 19 and 20, PFS will host the Philly Premiere of the Tribeca Film Festival selection ‘Sabbath Queen’ with special guest, director Sandi DuBowski in attendance for a post-screening Q&A. Twenty-one years in the making, the stirring documentary follows Amichai Lau-Lavie’s journey from radical drag queen to influential Rabbi of a God-optional, artist-driven New York synagogue.
For more information, showtimes or to purchase tickets, visit filmadelphia.org
Trey Shields is Director of Year-Round Programming and Senior Festival Programmer at the Philadelphia Film Society.
