Date: April 3-15, 2008
Attendance: 66,300 (2006)
Location
Six venues in four neighborhoods:- Old City: Ritz East and Ritz Five
- Center City: Prince Music Theater
- University City: International House and The Bridge
- Suburbs: Bryn Mawr Film Institute
Programming
The 17th Philadelphia Film Festival continues to grow, featuring more full-length feature films and more special presentations than ever before.Screening 246 films (138 features and 108 shorts) over the two-week cinema extravaganza, the Philadelphia Film Society will present films from 49 countries, 11 World Premieres, 12 North American Premieres and 45 East Coast Premieres.
The programming continues to include experimental film, animation, classics, shorts and 40 feature-length documentaries in the thematic categories American Discoveries, World Focus, The Language of Comedy, Cinema of the Muslim Worlds, Spanish and Latin American Cinema Now, Animation Festival presented by UArts, Festival of Independents presented by DIVE, Documentary Tradition, and Danger After Dark presented by TLA Entertainment
This year's festival introduces the following categories:
- Film Noir – presenting the stylish Hollywood crime dramas of old to a younger audience of festival goers.
- Indian Cinema Today - programmed by Malti Sahai, the Artistic Director of the Indian Cinema Festival, and showcasing 4 films from 4 regions in India.
- Lights!Camera!Music! - extremely diverse, films range from a documentary on a Neil Diamond husband and wife cover band with Song Sung Blue, to footage of the 15th annual Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise in Deep Sea Blues.
Opening Night
Starting at the Prince Music Theater, the 17th Philadelphia Film Festival will kick off with one of the most talked about films at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, Young@Heart.Declared by the New York Times as a huge hit that “sends you out of the theater transformed”, Young@Heart tells the story of a chorus of 24 senior citizens that travel the world singing covers of everything from The Clash and Coldplay, to James Brown and Prince.
Based in Northampton, Massachusetts, the film follows the chorus as they dutifully prepare for a nearby concert.
Closing Night
Bookending the festival, the closing night film is Steven Sebring's Patti Smith: Dream of Life. Plunging the viewer into the philosophy and artistry of cult rocker, New Jersey-based Patti Smith, director Steven Sebring spent a quarter of his life framing Smith in his lens.The result: an engrossing portrait of a legendary singer, artist and poet that explores the themes of spirituality, history and self expression. Considered the "Godmother of Punk," Smith emerged in the 1970's galvanizing the music scene with her unique style of poetic rage, music and trademark swagger.
Narrated by Smith, we follow this multi talented and private artist over 11 years of international travel, through her spoken words, performances, lyrics, interviews, paintings and photographs.
Special guest Patti Smith will be attending Closing Night.
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