Attending the 2024 Philadelphia Film Festival? What you need to know about tickets, the lineup, and more

Cinephiles rejoice, the Philadelphia Film Festival is back for its 33rd year.

The Philadelphia Film Society gathers film lovers and talented filmmakers every October for 11 days of cinematic fun. This year, there will be more than 100 films spanning a variety of genres, and they’ll screen at the Film Society Center, Film Society Bourse, and Film Society East from Oct. 17 to 27.

“We’re so excited to be bringing such a dynamic and diverse slate of new films from around the world to Philly audiences this fall,” saidJ. Andrew Greenblatt, PFS’ CEO and executive director, in a statement.

The opening night film, September 5, is a historical thriller behind the scenes of a TV news team scrambling to cover an unfolding hostage situation at the 1972 Munich Olympics. It’s directed by Tim Fehlbaum and stars Peter Sarsgaard, Ben Chaplin, Leonie Benesch and John Magaro.

The festival lineup includes the Philly premiere of Sean Baker’s Anora, the romantic drama about a sex worker who marries the son of an oligarch that won the Cannes Palme d’Or award.

John Hindman’s (La La Land) screenplay centered on the life of wrestler Anthony Robles, Unstoppable; actors Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin uniting as cousins for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother in A Real Pain; and Nickel Boys, a film based on Pulitzer Prize-winning Colson Whitehead’s novel about two young African American men navigating a Florida reform school, are a handful of the festival’s centerpiece screenings.

Other films include The Brutalist starring Adrien Brody (The Pianist), The Last Showgirl starring Pamela Anderson (Baywatch) and Jamie Lee Curtis (Freaky Friday, Everything Everywhere All at Once), Conclave starring Stanley Tucci (Devil Wears Prada), Maria starring Angelina Jolie (Maleficent, Salt), and The Order starring Jude Law (Cold Mountain, The Holiday) and Nicholas Hoult (Warm Bodies, The Great).

No One Died: The Wing Bowl Story by Pat Taggart and The Philly Sound ... Heard ‘Round the World’ by Bill Nicoletti will have their world premieres in the Filmadelphia category, which showcases dynamic films from the greater Philly area. Other titles include filmmakers Ami Canaan Mann’s Audrey’s Children, Glenn A. Holsten’s Citizen George, and Jack McCafferty’s Dreaming of You.

The closing night film on the final Friday of the festival Oct. 25 will be the Philadelphia premiere of Steve McQueen’s Blitz starring Saoirse Ronan. The film follows a group of Londoners during the events of the British capital bombing in World War II.

Check out the complete lineup at www.filmadelphia.org

Tickets are on sale starting Monday, Oct. 7 for 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 are also badges ranging from $75 to $500.

Under a “PFS on Us” category, screenings from local filmmakers each month during the Philly Film Showcase will be free of charge and do not require a badge.

📍 1412 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102

📍400 Ranstead St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106

📍125 S. 2nd St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19106

📆 Oct. 17 to Oct. 27, 🕒 filmadelphia.org