This yearʼs Philadelphia Film Festival is held now through April 20 in Old, Center, and University Cities and features almost 275 films from 40 countries. The venues include Ritz East, Ritz Bourse, Prince Music Theater, The International House and The Bridge. Film themes range from student shorts to American independents. The festival offers up classics like “A Clockwork Orange” and “House of D,” which stars David Duchovny, Tea Leoni, and Robin Williams. More than 100 filmmakers and actors, including Duchovny, who will make his directorial debut, will also attend this festival and interact with the audience.
There are films that Philadelphia natives should enjoy, such as “Rittenhouse Square,” “Our Naked City,” Scribe Video Centerʼs “Precious Places Community Oral History Project,” and “The Philadelphia Project,” all of which feature aspects of Philadelphia. Sundance Film Festival winners “Like Murderball” and “Me and You and Everyone We Know” will also be shown during the two weeks of film festival fun. Documentaries explore French misdemeanor hearings in “The 10th District Court…” and illegal Iranian immigrants in “Story Undone.”
In addition to the films themselves, other programs are included, like the “48 Hour Film Project” at International House, where 30 teams competed to create a 7-minute film in 48 hours or less. The teams were given four components to work with: a character, a prop, a line of dialogue, and a genre. The work was shot over April 8-10. Shows this evening are at 7:15 and 9:30.
“Night of 100 Films” is another special program where moviegoers can see 100 films — that is, 100 filmmakers showcase their work in 30 seconds each. For those who love movie trailers and stop all activity when a preview airs on television, this is a must-see.
Film reviews will be available for movies at the rest of the festival and attendees can see how other films fared at the Mid-Festival Report at 5:30 at The Bourse Voices and Visions Bookstore. If music is a passion or simply an interest, “For the Love of Music!” is a discussion that should be attended at the same bookstore April 16 at 1 p.m.
For movie buffs who care to show off their cinematic knowledge, the Film Societyʼs Quizzo Nights offer three rounds of movie trivia at The Bridge on April 18 at 8 p.m.
Closing night festivities last from 7 p.m. until 1 a.m. on April 20 with the screening of “Music from the Inside Out” to kick it off at the Prince Music Theater. The closing night party will begin at 9:30 at Solmssen Court at the University of the Arts complete with music, food, and mingling.
For ticket prices and additional information about the festival and its parties, events, transportation and festival survival guide, check out the Web site at www.phillyfest.com or call 267-765-9700.