02 Apr List of Film Festivals in Philadelphia
BY KRISTAL SOTOMAYOR
Philadelphia is home to a number of acclaimed film festivals celebrating local cultures, communities, and stories. The local festivals kick off annually with the student film festivals at Temple University and the Tri-College Consortium (Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College, and Swarthmore College) as the school semester ends. Then, Philadelphia stays in full swing with festival season through the summer and into fall and winter. This list provides basic information about the yearly Philly film festivals in the area so you can mark your calendars and prepare for the best that the film scene has to offer.
Inclusion in this list does not signify cinéSPEAK’s endorsement of an event or organization’s mission or political affiliations.
May:
Diamond Screen Film and Media Arts Festival
Temple’s Department of Film and Media Arts (FMA) hosts The Diamond Screen Film and Media Arts Festival, featuring the work from undergraduate and graduate school students over two days of programming. The festival showcases films of all genres, including documentaries, experimental, and narrative films. Temple University’s Department of Film and Media Arts hosts several film festivals across the academic year including the DiamondQ (LGBTQ+) Film Festival, BIPOC Film Festival and Women’s Film Festival.
The Tri-Co Film Festival showcases the exemplary films produced by students studying at the Tri-College Consortium (Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College, and Swarthmore College). The student festival takes place at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute and awards prizes for creativity and craft of films from different genres. Read more about the student festivals Diamond Screen Film and Media Arts Festival and Tri-Co Film Festival in our cinéSPEAK Journal article Celebrating the Process with Philadelphia Student Film Festivals.
June:
The annual cinéSPEAK Under the Stars festival proudly features award-winning independent films from around the world in Clark Park in West Philadelphia. Screening four different films on four consecutive Fridays, the event includes local DJs, food trucks, and entertainment for the whole family.
Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival (PHLAFF)
PHLAFF is the city’s premiere festival showcasing Latine arts and films through in-person and virtual programming, artist panels, and musical performances. The festival includes a Youth Salon showing films by youth filmmakers under 22 years of age. Learn more about last year’s film festival in the cinéSPEAK Journal article The 12th Annual Philadelphia Latino Film Festival is a Six-Week Ambitious Adventure in the City.
Hot Bits Film Festival is a queer porn film festival that is curated and led by a volunteer-run collective of queer BIPOC artists. The festival runs a program in Baltimore and Philadelphia and includes musical and theatrical performances.
The Big Picture Film Festival showcases films produced through Big Picture Alliance’s youth filmmaking program. Learn more about the festival in the cinéSPEAK Journal article Third Annual Big Picture Film Fest: Bloom Where You’re Planted.
August:
BlackStar Film Festival “creates the spaces and resources needed to uplift the work of Black, Brown and Indigenous artists working outside of the confines of genre.” The annual festival presents film screenings, panel conversations, a live tape recording of The Daily Jawn Podcast, and a small artisan market. Learn more about the festival’s work in the cinéSPEAK Journal article 12th Annual BlackStar Film Festival Reflects the Power of Accessibility and Community.
September:
Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival (PUFF)
PUFF is an “alternative film festival” aimed at bringing “undiscovered films” to the city. The festival provides an annual Legacy Award presented to filmmakers or industry members contributing to the “world of weird independent cinema.”
The Women’s Film Festival supports women and nonbinary filmmakers through film screenings and roundtable discussions. The film curation features films with “a strong female role in the category of director, writer, producer, editor, director of photography, or lead actress.”
October:
The Philadelphia Film Festival, managed by the Philadelphia Film Society, “gathers more than 25,000 dedicated film lovers and scores of talented filmmakers for ten exceptional days of cinematic splendor.”
FirstGlance Film Festival Philadelphia
FirstGlance runs festivals in Philadelphia and Los Angeles showcasing independent films. The festival has over 20 categories and a Closing Night Awards Presentation.
November:
Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival (PAAFF)
PAAFF “aims to serve as a platform to showcase and celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander diaspora storytellers and their works.” It is the third-largest Asian American film festival in the country. The festival offers a program of film screenings, panels and performances. Learn more about the work of PAAFF in the cinéSPEAK Journal article Philadelphia Organization Spotlight: Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival.
Philadelphia Jewish Film + Media (PJFM) Fall Fest
PJFM “creates connection and community through Jewish cinema and digital storytelling.” The annual Fall Fest features a selection of films screened across the city.
The Manayunk-based Off Page Film Festival platforms talented artists and accepts short films and trailers. The festival also accepts scripts for TV pilots and feature films and provides workshops for artists.
*Featured Image: Image from cinéSPEAK Under the Stars 2023. Courtesy of cinéSPEAK.
Kristal Sotomayor is a bilingual Latinx freelance journalist, documentary filmmaker, and festival programmer based in Philadelphia. They serve as the Editor-In-Chief of the cinéSPEAK Journal and Programmer for SFFILM and Frameline.
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