This year, the Philadelphia Film Society is celebrating not one, but two major milestones — the 35th anniversary of the Philadelphia Film Festival and 25 years as an organization.

And rather than marking the occasion with another year of screenings, the Society turned October into a citywide commemoration of cinema. Through ‘Reel October: The Philadelphia Film Festival at 35‘, the festivities began with a two-week series of 35mm screenings, bringing classic and influential films back to the big screen in their original celluloid format.

That helped unfurl the creative red carpet for the Festival itself, which is set to run Oct. 15 to 25. With premieres from around the world, filmmaker Q&As, special guests, community events, and partnerships with local restaurants, this year’s celebration is about more than watching movies—it’s about reconnecting audiences with the theatrical experience at venues around the city.

For Andy Greenblatt, CEO and Executive Director of the Philadelphia Film Society, and Michael Lerman, Artistic Director and Senior Director of Programming for the Philadelphia Film Festival, the anniversary also offers an opportunity to reflect on how far the organization has come while looking ahead to what’s next.

“We’re showing our first publicly announced 70-millimeter screening—we did a surprise one before as part of that ‘Reel October’ series. But having the only 70-millimeter projector in Philadelphia proper is really exciting,” says Greenblatt.

What makes this even more unique is that Philly is now among a select few cities in the whole country where audiences can even experience a 70mm film on the big screen. But while the Society is finding new ways to celebrate the theatrical experience, the heart of the festival remains the films themselves.

The Festival’s 35th edition will kick off Oct. 15 with Noah Segan’s ‘The Only Living Pickpocket in New York’ and close Oct. 25 with Jesse Eisenberg’s ‘The Debut’, with both directors expected to attend. The lineup also features new selections from filmmakers like James Gray (‘Paper Tiger’), Ava DuVernay (’14th’), Jordan Firstman (‘Club Kid’) and Brad Bird (‘Ray Gunn’), spanning international cinema, independent films, documentaries, animation and repertory screenings.

“We want to look at what the trends are and where the best cinema is coming from. Whether that’s the very high profile films that are going to be talked about for the next six months in the awards competition or whether it’s something that may never be seen on screen again. Or something small that is really new or bold or addressing a key issue of the day or showing another culture,” notes Lerman.

“Like with the ‘Filmadelphia’ category: It’s films made by Philadelphians or set in Philadelphia. We’ve got four world premieres in that section, and it’s great because you get to see the city reflected in a variety of different ways. This year we’re also doing an animation section. We don’t do that every year, but we ended up with a lot of incredible animated films that we wanted to highlight.”

Events are also always a big part of the cinematic celebration. For its 35th year, the festival will also introduce ‘Fresh Air Live’, a first-time collaboration with WHYY’s acclaimed NPR interview program, featuring an in-person conversation between host Terry Gross and actor, writer and director Jesse Eisenberg on Oct. 25. Also joining this year’s lineup is filmmaker Tony Gilroy, who will attend a special screening of his Centerpiece selection, ‘Behemoth!’

What’s the best way to experience it all? The Festival offers several badge options to fit different schedules and levels of access, including VIP, All Access, First Half, Second Half, and student badges. VIP, All Access, and Half badges include priority admission to screenings, RSVP access to Centerpiece films, and exclusive perks at the Festival Lounge. Note, student badge access varies, but PFS members can also save $50 on an All Access Badge or $25 on either a First Half or Second Half Badge.

“If you decide you see 20, 30, 40 films, get an All Access badge and I’d say take the week off work—watch four or five movies a day, it’s fantastic,” finishes Greenblatt.

“But if you can only do one, two, three, read and figure out the ones you want to see. And if price is a barrier, we also have two sections in the Festival, ‘Community Screenings’ and ‘State of the Union,’ that are 100% free. You just have to go on the website and claim a ticket, and if there are no advance tickets left, you just show up and stand at the rush line and you still make it in… Because we want everybody to have the chance to experience the Philadelphia Film Festival.”

To learn more information about the 35th Annual Philadelphia Film Festival, visit filmadelphia.org

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Philadelphia Film Festival FAQs

When is the 2026 Philadelphia Film Festival?

The 35th annual Philadelphia Film Festival runs Oct. 15 to 25, featuring premieres, filmmaker Q&As, special guests, community events and screenings across the city.

What movies will be shown at the Philadelphia Film Festival?

The lineup spans international cinema, independent films, documentaries, animation and repertory screenings. Highlights include ‘The Only Living Pickpocket in New York,’ ‘The Debut,’ ‘Club Kid’ and ‘Ray Gunn,’ along with four world premieres in the Filmadelphia category.

How can I get tickets to the Philadelphia Film Festival?

Attendees can choose from several badge options, including VIP, All Access, First Half, Second Half and student badges. Individual film tickets are also available. Philadelphia Film Society members can receive discounts on select badges.

Are there free events at the Philadelphia Film Festival?

Yes. The festival offers free screenings through its Community Screenings and State of the Union sections. Attendees can claim tickets online, and those without advance tickets can try the rush line, subject to availability. 

 

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