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 Photos from the Festival!
Our festival photographers are running around town turning every film screening, party and event into a photo opportunity for our festival attendees. Check here everyday for photos taken to date. Who knows, we may have caught you in all of your festival glory! The Award Goes to... (04.17.08)
The jury has decided and the audience ballots are in. Here are this year’s award winners: ARCHIE AWARD FOR BEST FIRST-TIME DIRECTOR:
Daniel Barnz for Phoebe in Wonderland
JURY AWARD WINNERS:
Best Feature Film: Nothing to Lose (director Peiter Kulijpers)
Best Documentary: Song Sung Blue (director Greg Kohs)
Best First Film: In A Dream (director Jeremiah Zagar)
Best Director: Rahmin Bahrani for Chop Shop
Best American Independent: Choose Connor (director Luke Eberl)
Best Animation Feature: Vexille (Fuihiko Sori)
Best Animation Short: Breakout (Armand Demuynck)
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS:
Best Documentary: Body of War (director Ellen Spairo and Phil Donahue)
Danger After Dark: Timecrimes (director Nacho Vigalondo)
Best Feature Film: Universal Signs (director Ann Calamia)
FESTIVAL OF INDEPENDENTS' AWARD WINNERS:
Best Feature Film: The New Year Parade (Tom Quinn)
Best Documentary: First Person (director Ben Herrold)
Best Narrative: Figure Study #7 (director Jena Serbu)
Best Animation: Hedgehug (director Dan Pinto)
Best Experimental: AYND (director Lindsay Kovnat)
DIVE Technical Achievement Award: In A Dream
Also presented was the SCION First Time Director Award to Ben Herold for First Person. Festival Favorites Announced! (04.10.08)
We are excited to announce this year's Festival Favorites. • Two Ladies - Monday, April 14, 4:30pm - Ritz 5
• In A Dream - Monday, April 14, 7:00pm - Ritz East Theater 1
• The Deal - Monday, April 14, 7:00pm - Ritz 5
• Kenny - Monday, April 14, 7:15pm - The Bridge
• Mongol - Monday, April 14, 9:15pm - Ritz 5
• Song Sung Blue - Monday, April 14, 9:30pm - Ritz East Theater 1
• Choose Connor - Monday, April 14, 9:30pm - The Bridge Second Festival Favorite Announced! (04.08.08)
We are excited to announce The Deal as a Festival Favorite. Was it William H. Macy’s charm or Jason Ritter’s absolute adorable factor that won the crowd over? We think it was probably the film itself that did the trick! Monday, April 14, 7:00pm - the Ritz 5 Venue Change (04.08.08)
The Latvian Society Event, Wednesday, April 9, 10:00pm – 1:00am, has moved to North Third Bar, located at 3rd & Brown. Different location, same festival fun! Flashing Lights and Camera Shots! (04.08.08)
Our festival photographers are running around town turning every film screening, party and event into a photo opportunity for our festival attendees. Check here everyday for photos taken to date. Who knows, we may have caught you in all of your festival glory! First Festival Favorite Announced! (04.07.08)
After 3 sell-outs, there’s no surprise that In A Dream is the first of this year’s Festival Favorites. Monday, April 14, 7:00pm - Ritz East Theater 1 Film Cancellations (04.07.08)
The screenings of Irina Palm on Tuesday, April 8 at 5:00pm (The Bridge Cinema de Lux) and Friday, April 11 at 9:30pm (Ritz Five) have been cancelled due to print issues. The film has been replaced with the film Far North, the story of a tough survivalist who lives with her adopted daughter in solitude in the frozen Artic. Read more about it here. Program Guide Error (04.04.08)
It has come to our attention that we made a mistake in the Program Guides (I know, I know…you didn’t think it was possible for us to make mistakes. We’re stunned, too)—on the map of venues, the Ritz Five and the Ritz East are switched. The addresses are listed properly underneath each venue, but they appear in the wrong place in the map graphic.
Ritz East - 125 S. 2nd St.
Ritz Five - 214 Walnut St. We apologize for any confusion. Enjoy the rest of the fest! Added Screenings! (04.03.08)
Due to its incredible popularity and subject matter, both screenings of In A Dream have sold out. But don’t you worry – we’ve added a third screening just for you! In A Dream tells the story of Philadelphia artist Isaiah Zagar. Over the past four decades, Zagar has covered more than 50,000 square feet of Philadelphia with stunning mosaic murals. In A Dream is a documentary that chronicles his work and his tumultuous relationship with his wife, Julia. It follows the Zagars as their marriage implodes and a harrowing new chapter in their life unfolds.
Saturday, April 5, 5pm
Prince Music Theatre We’ve also added a screening of the film The Bloodlines Video Diary Project so that you can bring the kids! Local filmmaker Eugene Martin gave two inner city Philadelphia high school students both cameras to chronicle a year in their young lives, including their experiences at home, school and with their friends. The result is an intimate and fascinating glimpse into the lives of two pretty average, yet very different, kids.
Saturday, April 12, 2:15pm Black Box at the Prince Music Theatre |
   John Leguizamo is awarded this year’s Artistic Achievement Award for his distinguished acting career, his prominence as a star on the silver screen, and his dedication to the world of cinema. Fast-talking and feisty-looking John Leguizamo has continued to impress movie audiences with his versatility: he can play sensitive and naïve young men, such as Johnny in Hangin' with the Homeboys; cold-blooded killers like Benny Blanco, gunning down reformed gangster Al Pacino in Carlito's Way; a heroic Navy SEAL, stopping aerial terrorists in Executive Decision; and drag queen Chi-Chi Rodriguez in To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar.
 The 2008 festival presents the second Rising Star Award to actor Shane West. Aside from catapulting to teen heart-throb status Shane West has made his mark on the screen within such films as A Walk to Remember, Liberty Heights and Whatever It Takes. Aside from acting, West continues the musical traditions of his family (both parents were musicians when he was young) with his band, Average Jo, for which he writes and plays guitar.
2008 Festival Program Guide
Click here to download the 2008 Philadelphia Film Festival Mini-Guide
(25 MB, Requires Adobe Acrobat) Click here to download the 2008 Philadelphia Film Festival Program Guide (40 MB, Requires Adobe Acrobat)
PFF Newslines
Festival Guest List
Click here to view films and events that have guests scheduled to appear for the 17th Philadelphia Film Festival.
Check back for changes and additions. 2008 PFF Press Room
 2008 Philadelphia Film Festival
Presenting Sponsors     |
2008 TLA Entertainment Group, Inc. / 2008 Philadelphia Film Society