The 34th Annual Philadelphia Film Festival rolls out the red carpet this week, with a full slate of screenings and programming set to hit the city from Oct. 16 to 26.
This year’s Festival will offer in-person screenings at all PFS venues (the Film Society Center, Film Society Bourse, and Film Society East) and while at the Center, audiences might notice some changes: The FSC recently underwent a $4 million renovation and just reopened to the public with an updated design and look.
A great way to check out the refurbishment is through the Festival’s opening night film (set for Thursday, Oct. 16.) The screening, ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’, is the latest from two-time Academy Award nominee Rian Johnson in his Daniel Craig-led detective series.
This fresh Benoit Blanc story also stars Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, and is said to be “his most dangerous yet.” 2025’s Film Festival will also feature eight Centerpiece films through its 10-day period, including the Emma Stone-led comedy/sci-fi ‘Bugonia’, Guillermo del Toro’s highly anticipated adaptation of ‘Frankenstein’, Bradley Cooper’s new comedy-drama ‘Is This Thing On?’ and Chloé Zhao’s heartfelt feature inspired by works of Shakespeare, ‘Hamnet.’
“We are thrilled to unveil this year’s extraordinary lineup for the 34th Philadelphia Film Festival, while also welcoming audiences back into our beautifully reimagined Philadelphia Film Society Center,” says J. Andrew Greenblatt, CEO & Executive Director of the Philadelphia Film Society.
“With the completion of our state-of-the-art renovations, moviegoers will experience the very best in cinema, both visually and acoustically, in a space that’s more welcoming and accessible than ever before. Alongside our dynamic programming at the Film Society Bourse and Film Society East, this year’s Festival promises to be a true celebration of film and community. We can’t wait to showcase world-class films and immersive events, all in the heart of Philadelphia’s vibrant cultural scene.”
Some screenings have a local focus, while others are picks from around the globe. The Festival also features a Focus on Germany section, a Cinema de France portion, an After Hours slot that covers everything “downright weird”, a Masters in Cinema bracket, 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 Festival is also a hub for special event screenings, including the finale of HBO’s limited series ‘Task’ (which showcases Delaware County) starring Mark Ruffalo and Tom Pelphrey, and Amazon Prime’s highly anticipated three-part docuseries ‘Allen Iv3rson.’
Additionally, audiences can keep an eye out for works in the Filmadelphia and the Filmadelphia Shorts Program categories. These works are meant to highlight some of the region’s most innovative filmmakers with a lineup that includes the World Premieres of two titles: ‘Dead Giveaway’ and ‘What the Hell Happened?’
This year’s closing night film (Oct. 26) is set to be ‘Sentimental Value,’ starring Renate Reinsve, Elle Fanning and Stellan Skarsgård, which follows sisters Nora and Agnes who reunite with their eccentric father, Gustav, a famous director who disappeared years before.
“This year’s lineup is a perfect reflection of what makes the Philadelphia Film Festival such a singular experience: a bold mix of highly anticipated premieres, daring international discoveries, and innovative works from some of the world’s most exciting filmmakers,” adds Michael Lerman, Artistic Director & Senior Director of Programming for the Philadelphia Film Society.
“I really feel like this year is something truly special. As we’ve watched our audiences grow and their tastes change, we’ve pushed the boundaries of what kinds of films we’re allowing ourselves to show and now it truly is a survey of the best of the year.”
As their official site states, the Film Festival offers three badge levels – Weekend ($250), All Access ($500), and Student ($75) – that allow you to enjoy no-ticket entry, priority admission to screenings, and exclusive perks at the Festival Lounge. Members get an additional 10% off Weekend and All Access Badges, while stand-alone tickets (prices vary) are also available online (as is a digital guidebook to the full experience.)
Tickets can be purchased online at filmadelphia.org/festival or in-person at the Box Office at the Philadelphia Film Center. During the Festival, tickets will additionally be available for purchase in-person at the Box Offices at the Film Society Center, Film Society Bourse, or Film Society East as well.
