28 May Philadelphia Monthly Cinema Arts Round-Up: June 2024
BY SOPHIA ABRAHAM-RAVESON
Please refer to the official websites for events to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information about ticketing, reservations, delays, re-scheduling, cancellations, and other guest policies for venues, including relevant COVID-19 requirements. Inclusion in the Philadelphia Monthly Cinema Arts Round-Up does not signify cinéSPEAK’s endorsement of an event or organization’s mission or political affiliations.
Now that it’s June, we can look forward to the official start of summer, Pride Month and Juneteenth celebrations, and more incredible film programming in Philadelphia. Continuing from last month, cinéSPEAK Under the Stars has two more screenings in Clark Park, and the Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival has additional programming throughout the month. We are also celebrating cinéSPEAK Journal Editor-in-Chief Kristal Sotomayor for screening her short documentary Expanding Sanctuary at Scribe Video Center.
Additional highlights from this month include Scribe Video Center’s Precious Places premiere of short documentaries about community histories in Philadelphia, a free screening of One Hand Don’t Clap hosted by the Caribbean Community in Philadelphia in honor of National Caribbean American Heritage Month, and the 2024 Big Picture Film Fest. Don’t miss these amazing opportunities to see Philadelphia-made independent films, free outdoor film screenings, and special celebrations of art and culture in our city.
Keep reading for a more complete list of film events happening in Philly this month.
Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at 5 PM
The Curfew Lookbook
In partnership with Collaborative Cataloging Japan and Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia, Twelve Gates Arts will be presenting a discussion about the making process of Shehrezad Maher’s film, The Curfew, a narrative short script that won the Islamic Scholarship Fund’s National Film Grant and the Davey Foundation film grant. Maher will share her experiences in making narrative films and have a conversation about the storyboard, lookbook, mood board, short clips, stills, and behind-the-scenes photos as well as a screening of excerpts and segments from her previous films.
Cost: Free
Twelve Gates Arts — 106 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19106
Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 7 PM
2023 Precious Places Community History Project Premiere
Since 2003, Scribe Video Center’s Precious Places Community History Project has facilitated the production of 118 short documentaries about the public spaces, buildings, and parks in the Greater Philadelphia Area that reveal the untold story of our region. Attend this premiere of seven new films from the project, including documentaries on ACES Veterans Museum in Germantown, FDR Park in South Philadelphia, Lest We Forget Slavery Museum in Germantown, Philly Peace Parks in North and West Philadelphia, Rudolphy/Mercy Douglass Home for the Blind in West Powelton, UC Townhomes in West Philadelphia, and the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Jenkintown.
Cost: Free
Lightbox Film Center — 401 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Friday, June 7, 2024 at 7 PM
cinéSPEAK Under the Stars 2024: Belle
You won’t want to miss this special screening of a beautiful Academy Award-nominated animated film. Belle, a fantastical, heartfelt story of growing up in the age of social media, is a stunningly animated adaptation of a tale as old as time. Cosplay is encouraged at this fun all-ages event. This screening is outdoors–make sure to bring your own chair or blanket. DJs are at 7 PM and the film starts at 9 PM.
Cost: Free
The Bowl at Clark Park — 4300 Chester Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 7 PM
The Be Reel Micheaux Screening Series Presents: The Five Heartbeats
After forming in the early 60s, R&B quintet The Five Heartbeats worked their way to the top of the charts, only to find their success threatened by infighting, racism, addiction, and music industry nonsense. Drawing inspiration from the experiences of The Temptations, The Dells, Sam Cooke, and more, this classic musical drama from Robert Townsend and Keenan Ivory Wayans is packed with outstanding performances and an absolutely legendary soundtrack. Stick around after the movie for a talkback with Vincent Williams and Len Webb of The Micheaux Mission and Stephanye Watts of the Be Reel Black Cinema Club, and to vote on the next film in the series.
Cost: $13.50 for adults, $11 for seniors (65+), $9 for children (under 18), and $11 for students with ID
Bryn Mawr Film Institute — 824 W. Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Friday, June 14, 2024 at 7 PM
cinéSPEAK Under the Stars 2024: OKTHANKSBYE
Attend Under the Stars 2024 closing night, with films celebrating the stories of young people with disabilities. OKTHANKSBYE / Okedoeibedankt is a Dutch narrative film about two classmates at a boarding school for the deaf, shy Jamie and bold Imane, who set off on an unexpected road trip to Paris. The preceding short documentary Makayla’s Voice: A Letter To The World follows Makayla, a Black teenage girl with a form of autism that has rendered her essentially nonverbal, as she gains the tools to communicate through letter board therapy. Bring your own chair or blanket to this outdoor screening. DJs are at 7 PM and the films start at 9 PM.
Cost: Free
The Bowl at Clark Park — 4300 Chester Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Sunday, June 16, 2024 at 3:30 PM
One Hand Don’t Clap
Join the Caribbean Community in Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Film Society in celebrating National Caribbean American Heritage Month with a screening of One Hand Don’t Clap–a chronicle of Calypso music pioneers Lord Kitchener and Calypso Rose.
Cost: Free
PFS East Theater — 125 S 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Friday, June 21, 2024 at 5 PM
Big Picture Film Fest
This annual festival will premiere over a dozen new films produced by young filmmakers (ages 12-24) through Big Picture Alliance (BPA) programs across Philadelphia. This event is created by and for Philly youth as a platform to uplift marginalized voices and build community, and includes screenings, workshops, performances, and panel discussions. In honor of BPA’s 30th anniversary, this year’s event explores the theme of “Homecoming”: bringing together alumni, young creatives, industry professionals, and community leaders. The event includes workshops at 5 PM, a mixer at 6 PM, and film screening at 7 PM.
Cost: Free
Parkway Central Free Library — 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Friday, June 28, 2024 at 7 PM
Producers’ Forum: A Tribute to Pearl Bowser
This Producers’ Forum is a tribute to Pearl Bowser (1931 – 2023), heralded as the Godmother of Black Independent Cinema. Although a life-long New Yorker, Bowser traveled the globe screening and promoting films from the African Diaspora. Films screening at this event include Namibia: Independence Now! (1985), a moving film shot inside refugee settlements in Zambia and Angola, and Why I Do It – A Conversation with Pearl Bowser (2024) directed by Louis Massiah of Scribe Video Center.
Cost: $7.50 General Admission, $5 Students/Seniors, $4 Scribe Members
Scribe Video Center — 3908 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Other Events:
Sunday, June 2, 2024 at 4 PM
Below the Belt: A Social Justice Documentary
Cost: $0-$25
The Fallser Club — 3721 Midvale Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19129
Friday, June 7, 2024 at 6 PM
First Friday: Philadelphia Latino Arts & Film Festival
Cost: $35
The Barnes — 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130
Friday, June 7, 2024 at 7 PM
Be Reel Black Cinema Club Presents: A Band Called Death
Cost: $10-$14
PFS East Theater — 125 S 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Friday, June 14, 2024 at 7 PM
Storyville: Expanding Sanctuary
Cost: $5 (Suggested Donation)
Scribe Video Center — 3908 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Saturday, June 15, 2024 at 1 PM
Local Philly Funders Panel: Scribe, Leeway and IPMF
Cost: Free
Scribe Video Center — 3908 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 7 PM
Cost: $13.50 for adults, $11 for seniors (65+), $9 for children (under 18), and $11 for students with ID
Bryn Mawr Film Institute — 824 W. Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Friday, June 21, 2024 at 7 PM
Cinema in the Cemetery: Midsommar
Cost: $2.50-$20
Laurel Hill East — 3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19132
Saturday, June 29, 2024 at 4 PM
Cost: Free
Esperanza Parking Lot (4th & Bristol) — 4261 North 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140
Now through Saturday, August 3, 2024
Dream House: Inside Music + Video
Cost: Free
Asian Arts Initiative — 1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
*Featured Image: Image from Big Picture Film Fest 2023. Courtesy of Big Picture Alliance.
Would you like your event to be featured in a future round-up? Please fill out the Philadelphia Monthly Cinema Arts Round-Up form at least one month prior to the event. Note: events shared less than a month ahead of time may not be able to make our publishing schedule. The cinéSPEAK Journal maintains sole discretion over the publishing of any information provided via the form. Questions: journal@cinespeak.org
Sophia Abraham-Raveson is the Managing Editor for the cinéSPEAK Journal. She has previously worked for several Philadelphia-based film festivals, including BlackStar and Tri-Co Film Festival.
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