The 27th annual Philadelphia Film Festival
Movie lovers, get your popcorn ready.
The Philadelphia Film Society's 27th annual Philadelphia Film Festival is a movie marathon with more than 100 films over 11 days.
"Ninety-eight percent of the festival are films that have never been seen before in Philadelphia and cannot be seen through any other means," says Andrew Greenblatt, CEO and Director of the Philadelphia Film Society.
There are foreign films, Oscar contenders and breakthrough local productions.
"The lineup is really, really strong this year," Greenblatt promises.
The movies will show at the Ritz East, Ritz Five and the Prince Theater, home to Philadelphia's largest movie screen.
"Most films screen twice," Greenblatt says, "so over the course of 11 days we'll probably do 200-250 screenings."
Among the highlights? Roma, a highly anticipated Spanish film.
"This black and white film from Alfonso Cuaron, and it's 70s, set in Mexico City, and it's pretty autobiographical about his life," Greenblatt says.
The film, Front Runner, is the centerpiece of the festival.
"It tells the story of Gary Hart," who was, Greenblatt reminds us, "the very charismatic senator who ran for president, lost and then ran again."
The Favourite will make its Philadelphia premiere, starring Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone.
"It's both funny and significantly serious at the same time," Greenblatt says. "It deals with 18th Century royalty and taboo issues at the time."
Widows, starring Viola Davis, will also make its Philadelphia debut.
"It's a series of widows whose husbands are killed on a heist and they're forced to continue the heist," Greenblatt says.
The film was directed by Steve McQueen who scored three Oscars in 2014 for Twelve Years a Slave.
The festival also offers free film screenings as part of the Philadelphia Film Society's PFF On Us program.
"Anyone in the community can just claim tickets to and go," Greenblatt says.
The Philadelphia Film Society's 27th annual Philadelphia Film Festival
October 18-28
Film Festival | Love The Arts in Philadelphia
* You can buy individual tickets or all-access badges
