Sure to please both the gritty American independent film enthusiast and Francophone cinemaphile alike, this year's Philly Film Fest—the 22nd annual—includes categories like Greater Filmadelphia (local picks) and Sight & Soundtrack (rockumentaries and music biopics). Presented below is the best of the hundred–plus field of films. Check it.
Editor's Top 10
1. "Nebraska" (Mon. Oct. 21st, 7 p.m., Prince Music Theater)
2. “12 Years a Slave” (Sat. Oct. 19th, 8:30 p.m., Perelman Theater)
3. “August: Osage County” (Sat. Oct. 19th, 5:30 p.m., Perelman Theater)
4. “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” (Wed. Oct. 23rd, 8:30 p.m., Prince Music Theater)
5. “Ilo Ilo” (Sat. Oct. 19th, 12:05 p.m., Ritz East B)
6. “Blue is the Warmest Color” (Sun. Oct. 20th, 2:20 p.m., Ritz East A)
7. “Like Father, Like Son” (Thurs. Oct. 24th, 4:30 p.m., Ritz East A)
8. “A Touch of Sin” (Sun. Oct. 20th, 6:50 p.m., Ritz Bourse)
9. “The Suspect” (Sat. Oct. 19th, 2:25 p.m., Rave)
10. “Young & Beautiful” (Mon. Oct. 21st, 2:30 p.m., Ritz East A)
Opening Film: “All is Lost” (Thurs. Oct 17th, 8 p.m., Perelman Theater) Closing Film: “Labor Day” (Fri. Oct 25th, 8 p.m., Prince Music Theater)
SPOTLIGHT: OPENING FILM J.C. Chandor’s second feature film, “All Is Lost” chronicles one man’s (Robert Redford) existential battle against the elements after his yacht is hopelessly stranded in the middle of the Indian Ocean with only a sextant and nautical maps to lead the way. Premiering Hors Competition at Cannes this past summer, Chandor’s film garnered widespread acclaim for Redford’s performance, which only involves a few seconds of dialogue. With striking parallels to Ernest Hemingway’s classic, “The Old Man and the Sea,” the opening film of the Philadelphia Film Festival is a must.
To get tickets and more information: http://filmadelphia.org/festival/ Box office: 1425 Locust Street (Mon.–Fri., Noon–6 p.m.; Sat. Noon–4 p.m.; Sun. CLOSED) Phone: (267) 908-4733
Festival dates: Oct. 17–27, 2013
