It’s officially been over a decade since I started attending the Philadelphia Film Festival in a press capacity. Thirteen years, to be exact. And the festival has gone through a host of changes over the years, finally arriving at what this year feels like its most fully realized form. As a local festival, it’s been hard not to compare it to other national fests I’ve attended, but over the last two years, something rather surprising has happened. The festival has always programmed a familiar crop of festival favorites and future awards contenders, but there were two big changes this year worth noting: 1. The day-to-day operations hummed like a finely tuned machine, and 2. The crowds actually started showing up, too.
As someone who finds joy in things being organized, clearly labeled, and laid out in a way that scratches that very specific brain itch, showing up for my first film and finding clearly marked lines was a welcome surprise. (Albeit sometimes in a font a bit smaller than I would have liked.) Badge holders, ticket holders, and society members all had their designated spots. There were even plenty of volunteers around to help those who couldn’t be bothered to read the signs, of which there are always many. Combined with this year’s scanning and ticketing process, which involved reusable tickets handed out after scanning and collected again upon entering the theater, the whole thing felt seamless. It meant I could focus on the other thing I noticed rather early on: the community that has sprung up around this festival over the last few years.
There was not only the usual line chatter, but a general excitement about the festival itself that was palpable among attendees, many of whom were sporting the fest’s Superyaki merch. (Great tie-in, BTW. I bought another hat this year!) I knew I was in for something different when I was riding the train into the city from the burbs and someone correctly guessed which film I was on my way to see (The Assassin(s)) and struck up a conversation. That interaction seemed to set the tone for the rest of the festival, which felt a little warmer than in years past. Any doubts that this was a one-off occurrence quickly disappeared every time I stood in line, sat down for a film, or wandered into the well-stocked festival lounge to stock up on caffeine courtesy of La Colombe and macaroni and cheese curls courtesy of Herr’s.
Every space was humming with convivial cinematic chatter.
As someone who often takes the road less traveled when it comes to festival fare, I’ve grown accustomed to encountering an empty theater or two during my festival stint. Honestly, that was never the case this year. Turkish religious thriller in the early afternoon on a weekday? Crowd! Weird Romanian melodrama at 8:30 p.m.? Packed! Israeli documentary on a weekday? Sold out! 70mm repertory screening on a Saturday afternoon? Packed! Every theater seemed to be teeming with friendly, excited faces, both young and old. This was even remarked upon by a few programmers during their introductions, and as someone who has seen their fair share of empty theaters at past festivals, there’s something genuinely wonderful about watching a good film with an engaged audience.
While the fest wasn’t entirely uneventful (a projector did go down at the Bourse), that didn’t become the defining narrative of the festival. Instead, I think this was the year the community really solidified. First-timers were welcomed by those who had been attending for years, alongside people like myself, who were equally surprised by the good vibes throughout. I feel like this festival hasn’t just found its stride; it’s found a cinephile community to support not only the festival itself but also the Film Society’s ongoing programming, which now includes regular repertory screenings in both 35mm and 70mm.
I didn’t start out the festival planning to write this piece, but given how I’ve often harbored a bit of jealousy toward the film communities in other cities, I felt compelled to do so. The Philadelphia Film Festival deserves its due this year. It couldn’t have been easy, and it’s certainly not the result of any one person’s efforts. It’s the product of a community hungry for that same connection, and I couldn’t be happier to see crowded screenings and great programming go hand in hand.
Thank you, Philadelphia Film Society.
We’ve come a long way, baby.
