Philadelphia Film Society
Producers of the
Philadelphia Film Festival
Oct 16- 26, 2025

Rian Johnson #PFF34 WAKE UP DEAD MAN Q&A

The 34th Annual Philadelphia Film Festival got underway with Rian Johnson’s (Netflix) Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (click for #MiniMovieReview). Philly was happy to welcome back this writer/director who graced us with his presence for each of the 3 movies now. The Q&A (moderated by PFS Artistic Director Michael Lerman) doesn’t have any deliberate spoilers, but if you are good at guessing whodunnits then I suggest you come back to this after you’ve seen the movie.

This year I decided to do my #MiniMovieReview (s) for each of my screenings as little videos. I’m not into fancy ring lighting and my face is regrettably at its fullest right now. But it’s more fun to give my initial thoughts and reactions about each film right after, rather then wait and write one later, and less time consuming.

CLICK IMAGE FOR VIDEOS 

Also posted to: BlueSky | Twitter (X) | Threads | Letterboxd.

See below for our (Philadelphia Film Critic Circle’s)
FILM SCRIBES PODCAST… 

Lucy Liu #PFF34 ROSEMEAD Q&A

#PFF34 presented Lucy Liu with the 2025 Artistic Achievement Award and screened her film ROSEMEAD – a film about a terminally ill Chinese-American immigrant mother, Irene (Lucy Liu), who discovers her teenage son, Joe, is becoming obsessed with violence and school shootings. As her own health deteriorates, she is forced to make increasingly desperate and morally complex decisions to protect him and others, inspired by the true story of the Hang family. The movie explores themes of mental illness, cultural stigma, motherhood under pressure, and the limits of parental agency. Q&A is moderated by the Artistic Director of Philadelphia Film Society, Michael Lerman. Also in attendance was the writer of “Rosemead” Marilyn Fu.

Screenwriter Pat Cunnane ETERNITY Q&A

A24’s ETERNITY (rom/com) screened as one of the Centerpiece films. The screenwriter Pat Cunnane was in attendance. Any spoilers have been edited from the conversation. “Eternity,” directed by David Freyne, features an afterlife where every soul is given one week to decide where they want to spend eternity. The protagonist, Joan (Elizabeth Olsen), faces a heart-wrenching choice between her first love Luke (Callum Turner), who died young and has been waiting for her arrival, and the man she has built her life with, Larry (Miles Teller).

Audience Award Winners for PFF34:

Jury Competition Winners for PFF34:

Narrative Feature 

Best Narrative Feature – A POET, Dir. Simón Mesa Soto  

Honorable Mention for Best Narrative Feature – WOMAN AND CHILD, Dir. Saeed Roustayi 

Documentary Feature 

Best Documentary Feature – NATCHEZ, Dir. Suzannah Herbert 

Short Film 

Best Short Film – VULTURES, Dir. Dian Weys 

Honorable Mention for Best Short Film – WINTER IN MARCH, Dir. Natalia Mirzoyan 

Honorable Mention for Best Short Film – AS IF SWALLOWED BY EARTH, Dir. Natalia León 

Filmadelphia 

Best Local Feature Film – ALICE-HEART, Dir. Mike Macera 

Honorable Mention for Best Local Feature – WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?, Dir.  Matt Wilkins, Dir. Eliza Fox 

Best Local Short Film – ALL THINGS CORRODE, Dir.  Sidney Kreitzer 

Honorable Mention for Most Philly Film – THEY PUT US IN THE WOODS, Dir.  Cristin Stephens 

Honorable Mention for Best Chemistry – Ruby Modine & Mikaela Hoover, DEAD GIVEAWAY, Dir. Ian Kimble  

Honorable Mention for Best Local Short Film – GEORGIE, Dir. Jennie Butler 

Documentary Jury 

• Ann Marie Baldonado, Producer, Interview Contributor, Fresh Air NPR 

• Cheryl Hess, Filmmaker and Director of Photography 

• Michael Tuckman, Founder of mTuckman media, Inc 

Filmadelphia Jury 

• Stephanye Watts, BeReelBlack Cinema Club, Founder 

• Julia Fisher Farbman, Writer/Producer

• Zoe Worth, Writer/Producer, Co-Founder of production company Bandwagon (THELMA) 

Narrative Jury 

• Jake Robinson, Sound Recordist 

• Travis Trew, Former Director of Festival Programming, Philadelphia Film Society 

• Ariella Mastroianni, Actor, Writer, and Producer

Shorts Jury 

• Adriana Ducassi, Filmmaker and Actor

• Clarke Wolfe, Award-winning actress and filmmaker 

• Kit Steinkellner, Film and Television Writer, Television Showrunner

ORIGINAL POST – Leading up to the Festival

CHECK OUT FILMS ON MY SCHEDULE 

Click image for Fest Full Schedule & More!

PFS MAINSTAGE – PHILADELPHIA FILM CENTER REOPENS!

The state-of-the-art Philadelphia Film Center,  reopens as the heart of the Festival, after a transformative renovation.  With design by Stanev Potts Architects, the Philadelphia Film Center upgrades include a striking new main entrance and box office, an expanded and ADA-accessible lobby with upgraded concessions, and improved infrastructure throughout the building. These additions, made possible through the Moving Film Forward Capital Campaign, create an inviting, inclusive hub for film lovers, educators, and the wider Philadelphia community. In conjunction with previously completed renovations converting the former black box space into the Albert M. Greenfield Student and Community Screening Room and adding a lobby café bar, the $4 million undertaking reflects PFS’s commitment to elevating the movie-going experience and supporting the city’s dynamic film culture. “We are thrilled to unveil this year’s extraordinary lineup for the 34th Philadelphia Film Festival, while also welcoming audiences back into our beautifully reimagined Philadelphia Film Center,” said J. Andrew Greenblatt, CEO & Executive Director of the Philadelphia Film Society. “With the completion of our state-of-the-art renovations, moviegoers will experience the very best in cinema, both visually and acoustically, in a space that’s more welcoming and accessible than ever before. Alongside our dynamic programming at the Film Society Bourse and Film Society East, this year’s Festival promises to be a true celebration of film and community. We can’t wait to showcase world-class films and immersive events, all in the heart of Philadelphia’s vibrant cultural scene.”