Tomorrow marks day one of Philadelphia Film Society’s SpringFest! This annual celebration of cinema gives audiences access to films from every genre that you won’t be able to see anywhere else. Tickets and badges are still available, so get on over to the PFS website to grab yours while supplies last.
Below are the films I am most excited for at this year’s festival:
These Are My Friends! (dir. Aaron Bartuska)
This locally shot one-crazy-night film is sure to be a crowd-pleaser, spinning a tale of a diverse group of young adults as they navigate the highs and lows of life during one banger of a house party. Of all the films at SpringFest, this one is most worth celebrating on account of its potential to enter the Filmadelphia canon. Philadelphia Film Society works to bring the best of film to Philly, but more importantly, it works to bring the best of Philly film to the world. This is your chance to see something truly original … and maybe some familiar faces too (this is not me coyly hinting that I’m in the movie — I am not in the move).
Filmmaker Aaron Bartuska and members of the cast and crew will be at the screening for a post-film Q&A!
Agon (dir. – Giulio Bertelli)
I love a sports movie, and this tale of three Olympic hopefuls promises to upend the conventions of a trope-filled genre. Blending documentary realism with narrative audacity, Agon is already gaining massive festival buzz. It’s a feature debut from Bertelli, drawing comparisons to a previous PFS pick: The Novice.
Carolina Caroline (dir. – Adam Rehmeier)
Filmmaker Adam Rehmeier has proven himself quite the prolific storyteller, with a unique sensibility that spans multiple genres while maintaining an anarchic streak of sweetness (I interviewed him once, and it tracks that he’s a Chuck Norris obsessive). This “lovers on the run” movie brings together the current best Scream Queen and King, Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner.
Rehmeier has become a “can’t miss” filmmaker whose fearless scripts bring forth idiosyncratic performances from his actors. It’s the type of film that I can’t allow myself to stream when there’s an opportunity to see it on the big screen.
Obsession (dir. Curry Barker)
Listen, I’m trying to go into this one as blind as possible, so it’s going to be up to you to find a plot synopsis. I’m not even watching a trailer. Why am I so eager to lockdown any potential spoilers? Because Barker’s previous film Milk & Serial is one of the most twisted, twisty, and indescribably weird found footagers I’ve ever seen. There’s no doubt in my mind that his follow up will crank the disturbing material up to eleven, and that it will be incredibly fun to witness it in a room with my fellow sickos.
And if you do decide read what it’s about, DON’T SAY ANYTHING TO ME.
Producer Christian Mercuri will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A on 4/18.
The Furious (dir. Kenji Tanigaki)
Fans of The Raid and The Night Comes For Us already know that Joe Taslim is the unsung hero of martial arts cinema, and his latest, in which he and genre legend Miao Xie team up to take down a kidnapping ring (presumably by relieving them of as much of their blood as possible), is already being hailed as one of the greatest action films of all time. The bar for martial arts choreography is raised year after year, and it would be foolish to miss a chance to see it at its zenith on a giant screen. The ballet of splattery martial arts violence is best seen with a crowd, and a festival crowd is the best crowd you can get (because they know to put their damn phones away).
Below are a handful of special events occurring during the fest (copy provided by Philadelphia Film Society):
- OPENING NIGHT MIXER, Friday April 17, 5-9PM, Festival Lounge (next to Film Society East)
- PHILLY INDUSTRY MEETUP, Wednesday, April 22, 6:30-8:30PM, Old City Kava
TALENT AT SPRINGFEST
STEP & REPEAT PHOTO OPPS 30 MIN. BEFORE SCREENING
FRIDAY, APRIL 17
- LOCAL Director Aaron Bartuska, THESE ARE MY FRIENDS, 9-10:15PM, followed by Q&A
SATURDAY, APRIL 18
- Director Jorma Taccone, OVER YOUR DEAD BODY, 2-3:45PM, followed by Q&A
- Producer Christian Mercuri, OBSESSION, 9:30-11:18PM, followed by Q&A
MONDAY, APRIL 20
- Director John Early, MADDIE’S SECRET, 6:15-7:54PM, followed by Q&A (8:15PM)
TUESDAY, APRIL 21
- LOCAL Director Cheryl Hess, MARRIAGE COPS and WHAT YOU LEFT, 6:30-7:53PM, followed by Q&A
WHEN/WHERE:
April 17- 23, 2026
Film Society East | 125 S. 2nd St. | Philadelphia
