7 Movies to Watch This Week
PAAFF Preview Party @ Mayor’s Conversation Hall at City Hall | Thursday, October 20
Get a sneak peek of what you’ll be watching during the ninth annual Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, running November 10th-20th. The festival will feature more than 70 films, along with related talks, an academic conference about Asian Americans in the media, music and theater performances, and culinary exhibitions. The full lineup of screenings and events will be revealed at the preview party, where you can also check out movie trailers and sample food from Chabaa Thai chef/owner Moon Krapugthong.
La La Land @ Prince Theater | Thursday, October 20
The 25th Philadelphia Film Festival opens with the red carpet Philly premiere of Damien Chazelle’s La La Land, a throwback musical starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. Chazelle will be on hand to introduce the film. It’s sold out to the general public, but there are limited tickets available if you have a PFF badge or you bought tickets ($250) for the Opening Night Celebration with M. Night Shyamalan.
Tiny: The Life of Erin Blackwell @ Annenberg Center | Thursday, October 20
The 1984 documentary Streetwise, about homeless kids in Seattle, included a then 13-year-old Erin Blackwell, known as Tiny. The filmmaker, Martin Bell, and photographer Mary Ellen Mark continued to check in with Blackwell over the next 30 years, leading to Mark’s 2015 book, Tiny: Streetwise Revisited, and Bell is now releasing another doc, Tiny: The Life of Erin Blackwell. He’ll be discussing the movie after the screening with a panel of University of Pennsylvania film and social policy professors.
Little Sister @ PhilaMOCA | Thursday, October 20
This is the Philly premiere of 2016 SXSW selection Little Sister, about a young nun who goes back to her childhood home after her brother returns from the Iraq war.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show @ Keswick Theatre | Friday, October 21
The Keswick is hosting a party to celebrate the 40th anniversary of cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with a screening of the film followed by a discussion about the making of it with Barry Bostwick, who played Brad Majors. Costumes are, of course, encouraged.
Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit @ Colonial Theatre | Saturday, October 22
See the adventures of claymation pals Wallace (the cheese-loving inventor) and Gromit (the silent-yet-expressive dog) during this free screening at Phoenixville’s Colonial Theatre.
Rosemary’s Baby @ CineMug | Saturday, October 22
Mia Farrow gives birth to you-know-who in this horror classic, perfect for Halloween season.
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