Now in its thirty-fourth year, the Philadelphia Film Festival continues to stand as one of the city’s most anticipated cultural events. Presented by the Philadelphia Film Society, the festival brings together filmmakers and audiences from around the world to celebrate the power of cinema as a tool for connection, reflection, and discovery.
The Philadelphia Film Society’s mission as a cultural nonprofit centers on creating opportunities for diverse communities to experience film through programs that inspire, educate, challenge, and entertain. Year-round, PFS fosters a vibrant film culture in Philadelphia that champions independent voices, nurtures local emerging talent, and encourages meaningful dialogue through the shared experience of watching movies together.
Each October, the festival becomes a platform for these stories, offering a lineup that spans international cinema and local premieres. Our team previews their most anticipated titles and reflects on the festival’s meaning to them.
Danny Jarabek
This is my fourth year attending the Philadelphia Film Festival since making Philly my home, and it’s something I’m proud to participate in while embracing PFS’s year-round mission of raising awareness of film as an artistic and educational pursuit. The Philadelphia Film Society does an incredible job bringing together films from around the world while championing independent voices and local talent. It’s one of the city’s most inspiring cultural events and a reminder of how markets outside of New York and Los Angeles can be thriving and active hubs for film reception. I’m grateful to see how the festival has grown over the years into the major city-wide event it has become.
It Ends, directed by Alex Ullom
Alex Ullom’s feature debut has been on the festival circuit since SXSW back in March 2025, but it’s remained one of my most anticipated titles throughout the year. The idea of four friends trapped in a never-ending drive heading into the abyss of adulthood feels both eerie and oddly relatable. I’m drawn to how the film seemingly blends fantasy, horror, and thriller to mix psychological tension with emotional honesty. It looks like a story about friendship, fear, and what happens when you’re forced to face the things you’ve been running from. I’m excited to see how first-time filmmaker Alex Ullom handles that balance and how this small, quiet thriller can turn something simple into something deeply human.
The Tale of Silyan, directed by Tamara Kotevska
I was immediately drawn to The Tale of Silyan when I saw it on this year’s festival circuit. The film follows Nikola, a farmer in North Macedonia whose family has left home to find work abroad while he stays behind trying to hold on to his land. When he finds a wounded stork at a landfill and decides to care for it, that small act becomes a way of confronting loss, loneliness, and his changing world. Directed by Tamara Kotevska, who previously made Honeyland (2019), the film blends real life and folklore to explore how people stay connected to place and purpose even when everything around them is shifting.
PFF is a great destination for exploring more documentary filmmaking in their Nonfiction section, and The Tale of Silyan appears intimate and rooted in real people, but still rich with symbolism and emotion. I’m excited to see how Kotevska brings her eye for human connection and environmental storytelling to this new project.
Amritpal Rai
This marks my third year attending the Philadelphia Film Festival, but my second as accredited press for The Rolling Tape. It’s an incredible opportunity for struggling journalists, like myself, who may not have the funds to mount trips to international festivals. The fact that a city so close to home can create a wide selection of highly anticipated awards contenders from celebrated filmmakers to international directors breaking through to the states, and even first-timers, is nothing short of an accomplishment. The Philadelphia Film Society has yet again done an excellent job curating a program of such diverse, varied films that have had cinephiles salivating to see them in a theater.
It is especially exciting to step into The Philadelphia Film Society’s newly renovated theater on Chestnut Street. It speaks to not only an investment in making the cinematic experience special and important, but also the long-term goals of the Film Society’s commitment to theatrical exhibition.
Frankenstein, directed by Guillermo del Toro
It seems like the perfect fit: Guillermo del Toro tackling Mary Shelly’s classic tale of man playing god until he’s met with his creation. This has been a long-gestating passion project that del Toro has wanted to make for decades. Many of our favorite directors have projects that, sadly, never see the light of day. Yet, this big-budget adaptation, starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi with the full backing and creative freedom afforded to del Toro, has been one of our most anticipated films of the year. And after it placed as the runner-up for the TIFF’s People’s Choice award, my excitement has only increased.
You can read my colleague’s review here.
Resurrection, directed by Bi Gan
From its Cannes debut, Bi Gan’s science fiction epic has been one of my most anticipated films of the year. The notions of “big swings” from auteur directors have a special place in my heart. There’s a level of boldness mixed with overconfidence that can sometimes produce the most interesting, perplexing art. Added to that, the score is composed by M83, and the plot description and reviews describe it as encompassing a future where people have lost the capacity of dreaming and visualizing Chinese history, told through the five human senses, plus the mind. All I can do is give myself over and let Gan’s images wash over me.
Jake Fittipaldi
As someone who grew up in and around Philadelphia, my love for movies has always been rooted in this city. Philly has shaped how I see art and stories; it’s where I went to school, where I started writing about film, and where I learned that storytelling can be both deeply personal and proudly local. This year marks my first as accredited press for the Philadelphia Film Festival and my second year attending, and I couldn’t be more excited to be part of a film community that’s only getting stronger. I genuinely believe in Philadelphia’s power to become a true “film town”. One where productions, creators, and critics can all thrive.
Task “A Still Small Voice” – Season 1 Finale
Created by Brad Ingelsby; directed by Jeremiah Zagar
As a fan of both great television and great hometown stories, I’m especially looking forward to the screening of Task’s season finale. The series, created by Delco native Brad Ingelsby, has been a powerful reflection of the region I grew up in—its grit, its heart, and its complicated beauty. The finale will be followed by a Q&A with Ingelsby, director Jeremiah Zagar, executive producer Mark Roybal, and cast members Tom Pelphrey, Emilia Jones, and Fabien Frankel. It’s sure to be a highlight for anyone who loves seeing Philly on screen!
Alice-Heart, directed by Mike Macera
One of the films I’m most excited for this year is Alice-Heart, a locally made feature that feels especially close to home. I attended film school with some of the filmmakers and actors involved, which makes it incredibly exciting to see their work premiere here. Mike Macera’s black-and-white Slamdance award-winner follows a young woman in Philadelphia as her world “unravels” around her.
Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao
I missed Hamnet during TIFF50 but have only heard incredible things. Zhao’s return promises the kind of sweeping emotional intimacy that made Nomadland and The Rider so memorable. It’s one of my most anticipated screenings of the festival and a likely awards season contender.
You can read my colleague’s review from TIFF here.
Bryan Sudfield
This will be my second year attending the Philadelphia Film Festival, and my favorite thing about the festival has to be its incredible variety in its lineup. The beautiful thing about a film festival like this is that it spotlights everything from major awards contenders to underseen independent cinema, but there’s a special case with this festival. There is a section dedicated to stories, based in Philly or helmed by Philly filmmakers. It’s admirable to see a city go all out for its festival by welcoming storytellers from their stomping grounds. I am very excited to see what’s in store for my second outing at this festival and am especially excited to see the continued increase in film culture in The City of Brotherly Love.
Left-Handed Girl, directed by Shih-Ching Tsou
One of my regrets during my time at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival was being unable to see Shih-Ching Tsou’s solo directorial debut, Left-Handed Girl, which was a favorite that debuted earlier this year at Cannes. Not only am I a fan of Tsou’s previous directorial outing, Take Out (2004), but I am a fan of that film’s co-director, Sean Baker. And right now is a perfect time to be a fan of Baker, following his tremendous level of awards success with Anora (2024). He co-wrote and edited Left-Handed Girl, and to see that they have a continuing partnership after nearly 20 years, it excites me to see what this project has in store.
Silent Friend, directed by Ildikó Enyedi
Similar to Left-Handed Girl, one of the titles I was saddened to miss at TIFF was Silent Friend, by Ildikó Enyedi. What drew me most to this film wasn’t just that Tony Leung and Léa Seydoux are in it, but the choice to shoot each story on different formats—16mm, 35mm, and digital. As a major advocate for shooting on film stock and an even bigger advocate for shooting multiple for one project, I cannot wait to see what Enyedi and his team crafted. There’s very little I know about the premise, and those are always the best films to go into—the less you know, the better.
If you want to know a little more, check out my colleague’s review of the film from TIFF here.
Preview Courtesy of The Rolling Tape Team
Feature Image Credit to The Philadelphia Film Society