The Philadelphia Film Festival returns for its 32nd year with an extensive program including several well-known films and many cinematic references to the city itself, including a short cameo by Rocky.
From October 19 to 29, the festival will screen more than 60 films. The Philadelphia Film Center on Broad and Chestnut Streets, and the PFS Bourse and PFS East theaters in Old Town.
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One of the most anticipated screenings is Bradley Cooper’s biopic “Maestro” about the legendary composer Leonard Bernstein. Before Bernstein became world famous for writing “West Side Story” and conducting large orchestras, he studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia in the early 1940s. To create realistic replicas of Bernstein’s hammers and other musical instruments, Cooper and the film’s creative team consulted with a master from Ambler Mark Horowitz, whose father did many of Bernstein’s originals.
Other festival highlights include director Alexander Payne’s The Leftovers, George C. Wolfe’s Rustin and Tom Zimny’s Sly, a documentary about “Rocky” star Sylvester Stallone.
The festival will also feature the world premiere of “Stand Up & Shout: Songs From A Philly High School,” an HBO documentary co-produced by John Legend about the music high school Hill-Freedman World Academy in Mount Airy. The film will premiere on October 20, followed by a special Q&A with Legend and directors Amy Schatz and Mike Jackson.
The festival’s programming also includes showcasing the work of Philadelphia filmmakers, such as Bad Things Happen in Philadelphia, a documentary sponsored by Allen Iverson about the problem of gun violence in Philadelphia. Directed by up-and-coming filmmaker Kira Knox in collaboration with Grammy-nominated producer Mark Mims, the documentary explores Philadelphia’s gun violence epidemic through the eyes of three teenagers and highlights the efforts Shoot basketballs, not peoplea non-profit organization dedicated to supporting youth and preventing violent crime through basketball.
The so-called “Filmadafi” segment of local filmmakers’ programming also includes “Chestnut” directed by Jacques Crone, “I Think I’m Sick” directed by Danny Gerwitz and “This Closeness” directed by Keith Zauchar.
The full lineup can be found on the PFS website.
Tickets go on sale Monday, October 9th to PFS members. The general public will be able to purchase them starting Tuesday, October 10th. Regular film screenings are $17 for the public and $12 for PFS members. Weekday matinees are $5 cheaper.