Working on the new website ...

Hello, This is a post to let you all know that the website is being updated. It's been a long time for sure and we appreciate the feedback and interest. We have a great following on the website and lots of interaction. That being said, take a look at our social media pages including Festival Twitter Feed, and our Facebook page at Fest Facebook page and the ever expanding YouTube Festival Video's and more.
Of course submissions to the festival are still on. thank you to the hundreds who have submitted to date! Regards, Benjamin F. Barnett Festival Director

PIFF TRESTLE INN EXTENDED HAPPY HOUR

Filmmakers, film lovers, drinking enthusiasts: transport yourself to the Trestle Inn tonight for an extended Happy Hour until 9pm to support the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival. Join us in hiding from the rain, listening some sweet tunes and hobnobbing with hardworking indie filmmakers.

The Trestle Inn will be running this extended Happy Hour through tomorrow. Just show your PIFF ticket stubs or passes for $3 drafts, $4 whiskey sours, $5 cocktails, and a $5 Trestle Special (a cold can of Narragansett Lager and a shot of Old Crow)  until 9 pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

All proceeds benefit PIFF, so come sully your liver and help us keep this truly independent fest going!

Trestle Inn
11th & Callowhill
Philadelphia, PA
267-239-0290

Things I Don't Understand + Santiago @ the Franklin Institute TONIGHT

Things I Don't Understand + Santiago @ the Franklin Institute

Come join us tonight at the Franklin Institute for The Philadelphia premiere of this anticipated new

mystery drama Things I Don't Understand from up-and-coming New York director David Spaltro (in

attendance at the screening). Then stay for the East Coast premiere of Santiago, a dark drama from

director Felix Martiz.

8:00pm-9:45pm - Things I Don’t Understand (Drama/Mystery) (IMAX) (Philadelphia Premier)

Dir. David Spaltro

The story follows Violet Kubelick, a brilliant young grad student studying near-death experiences and her

recent withdrawn, closed-off behavior after a mysterious, failed suicide attempt. She and her two

artist-roommates are forced by financial matters to finally confront their fears and step out of the

protective bubble they've created for themselves in their Brooklyn loft while Violet herself forms a

cathartic relationship with a young, terminally ill girl in a hospice she is interviewing for her thesis. A

story of changing, relationships, love, life and what comes after we die.

10:10pm - 11:30pm Santiago (78 min) (Drama) (IMAX) (East Coast Premier)

Dir. Felix Martiz

Santiago is a drug dealer who agrees to let Miguel, a Mexican actor, follow and study him for his next

role. With only Billy the cameraman at his side, the two set out to document a day in the life of Santiago.

Through Billy's camera we see the story of a man struggling to survive as he juggles a world of

prostitutes, territorial control, and drugs in the streets of Los Angeles. As the night comes closer to an

end, all is not as it appears to be in a world of lies and blood shedding truths.

Benjamin Franklin Institute – IMAX and Franklin Theatre

222 N. 20th Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 448-1111

Festival screening update: Welcome to the Philadelphia Academy of the Fine Arts as a sponsoring venue!

A quick note, we are excited to be working with PAFA and their film theater group. We will be screening both Friday and Sunday and have a bold mix of local and international films. Thank you to Paul Hamannaka and Judi Garst for the help and encouragement. We are looking forward to working with you both.

Record Paradise: The Musical Life of Joe Lee - Michael Streissguth (54 min) - UFF

In the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival #UFF screening room: Record Paradise: The Musical Life of Joe Lee Michael Streissguth (54 min) #UFF Record Paradise rolls with Joe Lee, black sheep of a blue-blood Maryland family, owner of one of the nation's most successful record stores, and an irreverent musical impresario. Leading an unruly parade of musicians, collectors, and disc jockeys, Joe has sold records to generations of music fans and produced, booked and managed some of Washington D.C.'s most beloved blues and rock acts, including the tragically zany Root Boy Slim. Opinionated, brash, and unabashedly entertaining , Joe Lee is a movie unto himself. Record Paradise is the next best thing. ~ed

Submit! to the 5th Annual Philadelphia Independent Film Festival

You can submit to the 5th Annual Philadelphia Independent Film Festival via Withoutabox here: Submit! #piff #Pi5 #uff Please share and pass this link on.
See you at the festival June 20 - 24, 2012! Benjamin Barnett Festival Director 5th Annual Philadelphia Independent Film Festival June 20 - 24, 2012

Who Killed Chea Vichea? #Piff2010 #PUFF #uff #PhilaIndie

Posted: Philadelphia Independent Film festival
/ Philadelphia Underground Film Forum.

Screening's:
Media Bureau - Saturday ~ 2:45pm - 3:45pm
Random Tea Room - Friday ~ 6:00pm -
Ruba - Sunday ~ 12:30pm - 1:30pm

Amy Leonard
freeRADlab

Title: Who Killed Chea Vichea?


Bradley Cox's unsettling documentary Who Killed Chea Vichea? follows the investigation of the murder of Chea Vichea, leader of a Cambodian worker's rights union. A champion of justice and the humane treatment of laborers in Cambodia's extensive production industry, Chea Vichea was shot and killed on the Chinese New Year in 2004 in front of a newsstand on the street. Amid demands for justice from Vichea's many supporters, Cambodian police arrested two men alleged to be the culprits despite considerable evidence to the contrary. The political nature of the arrests raise disquieting suspicions about the Cambodian government, giving followers of Vichea little hope of justice or reconciliation in the future. Meanwhile, two men serve a 20-year prison sentence for a murder they likely did not commit while Vichea's family mourns the unresolved murder of a beloved brother, husband, and father.

Featuring interviews with Vichea's family and supporters as well as family and friends of the men convicted for his murder, Who Killed Chea Vichea? weaves a disturbing tale of corruption, injustice, and unanswered questions. Through investigative-reporting style filmmaking, Bradley Cox unveils a nation in sociopolitical turmoil despite reassuring claims to the contrary made by numerous international ambassadors. Under threat of death or incarceration by the government, many Cambodian citizens fear to speak out against this and other injustices occurring in their country.

Who Killed Chea Vichea? speaks to an international audience about human rights and democracy. It provides excellent insight into a disturbing situation, developing a compelling story that calls viewers to action against corruption and injustice around the world.

Movie site: http://WhoKilledCheaVichea.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WhoKilledCheaVichea#!/group.php?gid=76083065273
Twitter: http://twitter.com/RGarella

TRT: 56 min
Language: English / Khmer

Announcing the Panels and Speakers this week... #Piff2010 #PUFF #uff #PhilaIndie

Film makers and Festival supporters,

Programming is still going on! We believe we have accomodated EVERYBODY and their requests. That was a tall order. We believe that because of this we were able to get more than 17 film makers here to represent their movies. Thank you.

We have a great variety of speakers for this years festival. As of this writing, many (42 and counting) film makers have commited to speak and discuss their films. We will be posting to this blog this week as it unfolds but have laready been discussing via Twitter at PhilaIndie and on Facebook as you know. We will have many provacative discussions including journalist Jim Marrs , Actor / Philosopher Mark Borkowski , Director DAVID WHITNEY, Musician Chuck Treece, and many more... Panels will include http://Film.org on the future of film, an Animation discussion, and more!

PUFF, Philadelphia Underground Film Forum, is the sponsor of these events. All events will take place in Northern Liberties and are walking distance!

All events are FREE with festival badge and will sell out! If you would like to attend and do not have a badge, please get there early!

regards,

Benjamin Barnett
Festival Director
Philadelphia Independent Film Festival
June 23 - 27, 2010

Philadelphia Independent Film Festival UPDATE 02 02 2010

Hello,

February is upon us and we are enjoying these winter months. We have been hard at work with our Festival planning and have some updates. We'll be keeping to our weekly posting schedule through February at this point. Of course you will see Tweets and Facebook posts happening as the week goes by as well. Hopefully you feel informed. Let us know if you have any ideas or comments about the fest.


Festival entries: SUBMIT Online now!!!
The Without A Box (WAB) link is up (since last week actually!) You can now submit online. If you would like to continue to send us submissions via the mail, please do so! Call us with any questions: 215 592-1242 (USA)


A few people have gotten in touch already to book their stay during the fest ... We are looking to get early bird Hotel arrangements hooked up by April 1st. This would be a fest first so we are excited to make it happen! Stay tuned! Keep us posted with favorite hotels and we will try to help best accommodate your stay.


PUFF: Philadelphia Underground Film Forum
We've been having great screenings / discussions during the PUFF. We are screening weekly here in the studios as well as discussing via the PUFF web pages and the film makers. See the site for links / updates... Thank you for the support as always!

Next up is Tribeca Film fest entry, Cropsey. A scary (horror?) documentary that will keep you on the edge of your seats. Get ready.


SXSW: Will it happen?
Stay tuned for #PUFF unfestival news at the SXSW Film festival in Austin (March). We will hopefully have upto 8 movies screening there and are working on setting a 2 day event up. Let us know if you are interested in taking part.


And finally, we are sad to hear, as it has been reported, that it appears the film fest landscape has changed (once again) in Philadelphia with the postponing of the content cool Cinefest in April. We expect to see them back next year as planned.


That's it for now.


See you at the Festival,

Benjamin Barnett
Festival Director
Philadelphia Independent Film Festival
June 23 - 27, 2010