What To Know About The 2023 Philadelphia Film Festival
The Philadelphia Film Festival returns for the 32nd year beginning Thursday, October 19, 2023! I’ve been to almost all of them. I love film festivals because you’re seeing films that are made independently which means no big movie company is behind it. It’s a chance for new filmmakers to showcase their art and possibly gain major distribution.
After each film screening, the audience hands in a ballot of how they rate it – Excellent, good, poor. These rankings help a film company decide whether to purchase the film rights and distribute it in theaters worldwide. Some of these films end up winning Oscars. Others get a deal with a streaming company, while some films may never be seen again.
The PFF gives awards each year, too, to help boost a film’s rankings. Those awards are based on the way the audience votes on their paper ballots.
The Philadelphia Film Festival (PFF) runs from October 19-29. During the ten days, films can be seen during the day and evening at three movie theaters in Center City – Philadelphia Film Center at 1412 Chestnut Street, PFS Bourse Theater, 400 Ranstead Street, and PFS East, 125 S 2nd St.
You don’t have to buy a ticket for the entire festival. You can buy a ticket for one film and call it quits. For some of the films, you don’t need a ticket at all. Those films are in the “PFS on Us” category.
A highlight for me is seeing the director or stars of a film come on stage afterward to answer questions or be interviewed. It doesn’t happen after every film but it is announced beforehand when these appearances will happen.
John Legend is one star who will appear this year after his film makes its world debut on Friday, October 20 at the Philadelphia Film Center at 6:00 pm. He is the Executive Producer of Stand Up & Shout: Songs from a Philly High School.
Legend, who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania has a film company called Get Lifted Film Co. He’ll be interviewed by Alex Holley of Channel 29’s Good Day Philadelphia along with the director, Amy Schatz, and co-executive Producer Mike Jackson.
This film focuses on Hill-Freedman World Academy (HFWA), a Philadelphia public high school. They have a music program that encourages students to channel their thoughts, feelings, and dreams into an album of electrifying original songs.
Nicholas Cage stars in a Centerpiece film called Dream Scenario. It will be shown at the Philadelphia Film Center right after the John Legend film, at 8:00 pm. I’m planning to see both of these films. Also, wondering if Nicholas Cage might appear after his. Maybe if nothing else, to revisit the city where he made the film National Treasure!
One last note of interest for Philadelphia rock fans. Art Dealers is a film that showcases the Philadelphia rock ‘n roll band Low Cut Connie. Captured live in their prime as they mount a three-show run in New York City around the release of their newest album called Art Dealers, the documentary delves into the years of heartbreak, success, and laughs that contributed to the humble Adam Weiner and his band’s evolution into the brazen, sweaty, beer-soaked revelry that is a Low Cut Connie show. Art Dealers starts at 9:45 pm at the Philadelphia Film Center on Friday, October 27. It runs 79 minutes and will be followed by a Q+A and a live performance.
For all information about ticket sales, schedule of films, etc, go here.