Attending the 2023 Philadelphia Film Festival? What you need to know about tickets, the lineup, and more.
The festival opens with the TIFF-winning 'American Fiction' and has a 60+ film lineup that includes Bradley Cooper's 'Maestro.'
Cinephiles rejoice, the Philadelphia Film Festival is back for its 32nd year.
The Philadelphia Film Society gathers film lovers and talented filmmakers every October for 10 days of cinematic fun. This year, there will be more than 60 films spanning a variety of genres, and they’ll screen at the Philadelphia Film Center, PFS Bourse Theater, and PFS East from Oct. 19 to 29.
“[The festival is] not only a vibrant platform for showcasing a wide diversity of global and local cinema but also acts as a convergence for film enthusiasts to share, learn, and indulge in the magic of storytelling,” said J. Andrew Greenblatt, PFS’ CEO and executive director, in a statement. “We believe that every film has the power to affect and inspire.”
What’s the film lineup?
The opening night film, American Fiction, follows a frustrated Black author in the world of U.S. publishing. The directorial debut by acclaimed screenwriter Cord Jefferson (Succession, Master of None, among others) won the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival’s People’s Choice award and stars Jeffrey Wright, Issa Rae, Tracee Ellis Ross, and others.
The festival lineup includes the world premiere of Stand Up & Shout: Songs from a Philly High School. The HBO documentary directed by Emmy winner Amy Schatz features Hill-Freedman World Academy (HFWA), a Mount Airy public high school where students produce and release albums with original songs.
Bradley Cooper’s widely anticipated film about American conductor Leonard Bernstein, Maestro; director Alexander Payne’s New England prep school comedy The Holdovers; and five-time Tony winner George C. Wolfen’s Rustin, a film on prominent civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, are a handful of the festival’s centerpiece screenings.
Other films include the North American premiere of Takeshi Kitano’s Kubi, the U.S. premiere of Nanni Moretti’s A Brighter Tomorrow, and the 76th Cannes Film Festival award-winning Fallen Leaves directed by Aki Kaurismäki and Perfect Days directed by Wim Wenders.
The section Filmadelphia, which showcases “the most dynamic and talented voices from the Greater Philadelphia area” will feature films by filmmakers Kyra Knox, Walé Oyéjidé, Jac Cron, Danny Gevirtz, and Kit Zauhar.
The closing night film on Oct. 27 will be Saltburn, a tale of privilege and desire from Academy Award-winning filmmaker Emerald Fennell, starring Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi.SLY, the documentary on Sylvester Stallone, will be the last screening of the festival on Sunday, Oct. 29.
Check out the complete lineup at www.filmadelphia.org/festival
How to get tickets
Tickets will go on sale Monday, Oct. 9 at 5 p.m. for PFS members and Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. to the general public. Purchase in-person at the box office at the Philadelphia Film Center. Head to the box office at all venues for tickets during the festival.
Regular screenings are $17 and $12 for PFS members; weekday matinees (before 5 p.m.) are $12 and $7 for members. Senior and student evening and weekend tickets are $15. There will also be select screenings presented under a “PFS on Us” category (to be announced in the coming weeks) that will be free of charge and do not require a badge.
Where will the festival take place
Philadelphia Film Center
📍1412 Chestnut St.
PFS Bourse
📍400 Ranstead St.
PFS East
📍125 S 2nd St.
Philadelphia Film Festival schedule
📆 Oct. 19 to Oct. 29, 🕒 filmadelphia.org