Titles Announced For 34th Philadelphia Film Festival
From the Philadelphia Film Society
PRESS RELEASE - PHILADELPHIA, PA, October 1, 2025 – The Philadelphia Film Society (PFS) is proud to announce the full line-up for the 34th Philadelphia Film Festival (PFF), spanning October 16 through October 26, 2025. This year’s Festival will offer in-person screenings at all PFS venues, including the newly remodeled,
state-of-the-art Philadelphia Film Center, which reopens as the heart of theFestival after a transformative renovation. Audiences can also experience the excitement of the Festival at the Film Society Bourse and Film Society East, vibrant venues operated by PFS.
With design by Stanev Potts Architects, the Philadelphia Film Society 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 Society 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.”
The program for the 34th edition encompasses an array of extraordinary films. The festival will open on Thursday, October 16 with WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT
MYSTERY, directed written, and produced by two time Academy Award nominee Rian Johnson and starring Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack and Thomas Haden Church. In the newest installment of the “Knives Out” franchise, Benoit Blanc returns for his most dangerous case yet. The Closing Night film, SENTIMENTAL VALUE, a complex family drama with powerful performances from Renate Reinsve, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Stallan Skarsgård, will play on Sunday, October 26.
The Philadelphia Film Festival is proud to announce eight outstanding titles selected as this year’s Centerpieces. Titles include BUGONIA, featuring Emma Stone as the CEO of a powerful corporation, who is kidnapped by two conspiracy-driven young men convinced she’s an alien bent on Earth’s destruction; FRANKENSTEIN, Guillermo del Toro’s highly anticipated adaptation that showcases the acclaimed director at his most visionary; HAMNET, Academy Award Winner Chloé Zhao’s stirring drama inspired by William Shakespeare and his wife’s heart-wrenching struggle as they cope with the loss of their son; IS THIS THING ON?, directed by Bradley Cooper, a compelling comedy-drama about a man (Will Arnett) whose life in New York unravels as he faces divorce; ETERNITY stars Elizabeth Olsen as a woman forced to make an impossible choice between her lifelong partner (Miles Teller) and a lost love (Callum Turner); Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT, a riveting political thriller probing repression and morality; JAY KELLY, from Academy Award nominee Noah Baumbach stars, George Clooney and Adam Sandler as they embark on a poignant journey of self-discovery across Europe, confronting life’s most difficult choices; and RENTAL FAMILY, where Brendan Fraser portrays an American actor searching for meaning in Japan and forming unexpected connections through an unusual job.
“This year’s lineup is a perfect reflection of what makes the Philadelphia Film Festival such a singular experience: a bold mix of highly anticipated premieres, daring international discoveries, and innovative works from some of the world’s most exciting filmmakers,” said Michael Lerman, Artistic Director & Senior Director of Programming for the Philadelphia Film Society. “ I really feel like this year is something truly special. As we've watched our audiences grow and their tastes change, we've pushed the boundaries of what kinds of films we're allowing ourselves to show and now it truly is a survey of the best of the year”.
The Filmadelphia category and the Filmadelphia Shorts Program showcase the Philadelphia Film Society’s unwavering commitment to supporting and celebrating film in Greater Philadelphia, featuring exceptional works by some of the region’s most innovative filmmakers. This year’s lineup includes the World Premieres of two standout Filmadelphia titles: DEAD GIVEAWAY and WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?.
In contrast, the World View category spotlights cinematic voices from around the globe. Highlights include the Franco-Spanish SIRÂT, a gripping tale of a father and son’s search for a missing daughter across southern Morocco and the UK-based drama URCHIN, directed by Harris Dickenson, following a young man’s journey toward redemption as he struggles with addiction.
Additional categories include Masters of Cinema, State of the Union, Spotlights, Focus on Germany, Cinema de France, Made in USA, Non/Fiction, Sight & Soundtrack, After Hours, Special Events and From the Vaults. These sections feature a wide array of noteworthy titles, such as CHRISTY, NIRVANNA THE BAND SHOW THE MOVIE, ROSEMEAD, and THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE, among many others. The Philadelphia Film Society invites everyone to experience the magic of cinema on the big screen and explore their own interests within our dynamic programming. With such a diverse array of categories and films, there truly is something for everyone.
Screenings for the 34th Philadelphia Film Festival will take place exclusively at Philadelphia Film Society venues:
Film Society Center (1412 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102)
Film Society Bourse (400 Ranstead Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106)
Film Society East (125 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106)
Tickets will go on sale to PFS members on Friday, October 3, and to the general public on Monday, October 6. Tickets can be purchased online: https://filmadelphia.org/festival/pff34-badges/ or in-person at the Box Office at the Philadelphia Film Center. During the Festival tickets will be available for purchase in-person at the Box Offices at the Film Society Center, Film Society Bourse, or Film Society East.
34TH PHILADELPHIA FILM FESTIVAL FULL LINE-UP
All additional information on the 34th Philadelphia Film Festival can be found at www.filmadelphia.org/festival.
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ABOUT PHILADELPHIA FILM SOCIETY
The Philadelphia Film Society (PFS) is the region’s home for classic and contemporary film presentation, education, entertainment, and community building. A nonprofit, community-supported organization, PFS produces the acclaimed Philadelphia Film Festival, curates an extensive year-round film program celebrating the past and future of world cinema, and provides education and community outreach programs, all serving to raise awareness of film as an important art form and vital piece of Philadelphia’s arts and culture community.
Presented at the Film Society Center, Film Society Bourse, and Film Society East, the Film Society’s offerings include film series with a unique global and local perspective, Movies on the Block, PFS On Us, and PFS Teacher Residencies across Philadelphia schools.
ABOUT PHILADELPHIA FILM FESTIVAL
Every October, the Philadelphia Film Festival transforms the city into a global stage for cinematic storytelling, welcoming tens of thousands of film lovers, emerging talents, and celebrated filmmakers for an electrifying 11-day experience.
Curated by the Philadelphia Film Society’s expert programming team—who travel the world from Sundance to Cannes, Berlin to Toronto—the Festival delivers a handpicked lineup of the year’s most talked-about, award-winning, and visionary films. From bold debuts to international sensations, every screening is a chance to discover the next big thing in film.
But the Philadelphia Film Festival is more than just movies. It’s exclusive premieres, star-studded red carpets, insider Q&As, filmmaker meetups, and once-in-a-lifetime conversations that celebrate the art, power, and future of cinema.
As a world-class cultural event, the Film Festival shines a spotlight on Philadelphia as a vibrant destination for film—connecting new audiences to the magic of the movies and making film more accessible to all.
