The Philadelphia Film Festival continued to keep the city on its toes with numerous screenings, parties and awards honoring the cinema’s best. With another 72 films screened over the weekend, the festival had a record number of door sellouts.
Mario Van Peebles’ Baadasssss! debuted Thursday. Van Peebles himself starred in the film, struggling to portray his father, Martin Van Peebles,’ attempt to create the first black independent film classic.
“It was an African-American classic,” Public Relations Director Andy Preis said. “No, it was an American classic.”
A Saturday night repeat screened to a sold out audience.
Silent films have always been a part of the Philadelphia Film Festival history. This year’s Picadilly featured sexy melodrama fatale Anna May Wong in a film about the London nightlife.
Don Kinnier provided live piano accompaniment to the screening.
“In the past, silent films always had piano accompaniment. This was our way of recreating the experience,” Preis explained.
Sunday afternoon offered the highlight of the animation film festival with a screening of Hair High. The satire, by Bill Plympton, took a look at the 1950s high school culture and teen horror movies.
Finally, Sunday night closed the festival of independent films with the world premiere of Unknown Soldier. The film looks into the Philadelphia police department.
This year’s Philadelphia Film Festival concluded on Wed., April 21. For more highlights, visit their Web site at www.phillyfest.com.
Pooja Shah can be reached at pshah004@temple.edu
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