New Faces at ReadingFIlmFEST! ReadingFilmFEST is thrilled to have Cammie Harris join us this year as our Operations Manager. We met Cammie last year after the WCR Center for the arts hosted the festival (Cammie is also their part-time director). Cammie loved the energy of the FEST and we loved […]
ReadingFilmFEST Writer’s Roundtable
Writer’s Roundtable New this year at ReadingFilmFEST will be the writer’s round table. There will be a reading of The Big Shebang, a short screenplay by local high school student Emily Rothermel. The Big Shebang concerns two teenagers as they navigate the troubled waters of friendship, love, and the […]
Filmmaker Talkback
ReadingFilm wants to hear from filmmakers. What are the challenges of creating your art? How are you working around these? How can we help? Join ReadingFilm Commissioner Santo D. Marabella for an informal discussion about the state of independent filmmaking. Date: Saturday, November 11, 2017 at 10:00 am Venue: The […]
Parties, Parties and more Parties!
Parties! Parties! Some festivals call it “networking”, but we’ve dropped the euphemism to call it what it is… a good time! Hang out with your favorite filmmakers and checkout some of our favorite places to see and be seen! Many thanks to our reception venues and sponsors! Located in the […]
Student Assembly
New for 2107, ReadingFilmFEST presents a special film screening and filmmaker talkback for high school and college students in Berks County. The assembly will feature a screening of the film CELLING YOUR SOUL, with filmmaker, Joni Siani in attendance for Q&A with the students. About the film: Celling Your Soul, […]
Closing Night Film: Sueño en otro idioma
Join us for a very special presentation of Sueño en otro idioma (I DREAM IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE) – this year’s recipient of the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award. Presented by The LGBT Center of Greater Reading and Reading Pride Celebration, this beautiful film was shot in Mexico. ABOUT THE FILM A young […]
Filmmaker Forum
Filmmaker Forum – New Technologies ReadingFilmFEST introduces a Filmmaker Forum, open discussion with all of our visiting and local filmmakers, and open to the public. The forum will focus on the new technologies that are impacting both production and distribution of films: including Hi Res small camera production, 3-D shooting, […]
Virtual Reality Demonstration
Live Virtual Reality Demonstration An interactive VR performance/experience featuring live ambient music by Dave Hall accompanied by reactive Tilt Brush paintings by Kris Jackson created during the show. The performers will demonstrate how technology is being used both in live events and for conceptualizing larger narrative experiences. Kris Jackson is […]
Awards Ceremony and Reception
Awards Reception Celebrate the accomplishments of our many filmmakers while enjoying entertainment by Chris Heslop and friends. Free to pass holders. Event tickets available online or at the door. Event Info Date: Sunday, November 12, 2017 at 4:30pm Venue: WCR Center for the Arts Address: 140 N 5th St, Reading
Opening Gala
Opening Night Gala Meet the filmmakers, schmooze with your friends, and enjoy entertainment by the Marty Mellinger Trio and the THIS IS READING Dancers! Open to VIP Passholders and Filmmakers only. Event Info Date: Friday, November 10, 2017 at 5:30pm Venue: WCR Center for the Arts Address: 140 N 5th […]
THIS IS READING
THIS IS READING Director: Tony Gerber Runtime: 50 minutes THIS IS READING is a 50 minute film created by Tony Gerber. The film describes the multi-media experience brought to Reading by Gerber and playwright, Lynn Nottage, in July, 2017. Members of the THIS IS READING production team will be at […]
StudentFEST
ReadingFilm’s core mission is to develop the production community in the region. This is our second year of including special competition for student filmmakers in the ReadingFilmFEST. Student filmmakers comprise a special group of independent filmmakers. They have not yet made the connections required of professional filmmakers, but they have […]
Close to Home Shorts
The Road to Jericho Director: Phillip G Carroll Jr Runtime: 25 minutes Twenty-nine year old struggling screenwriter Carter Morris, finally gets the opportunity to pitch to a Hollywood executive when he learns that producer Buddy Paxton is flying into Philadelphia – tonight. Concocting a scheme to pitch Paxton his passion […]
The Ground that Sinks
The Ground that Sinks Director: Brandon C. Lay Runtime: 92 minutes After the death of her father Paige (Valynn Turkovich) attempts to reconnect with her estranged family and rediscover herself. Screening Info Date: Saturday, November 11, 2017 at 8pm Venue: Reading Movies 11 & IMAX Theater Address: 30 […]
Stuck on Someday
Stuck on Someday Director: Emily Prescott Runtime: 92 minutes Ryan can’t convince herself to go after a job as a cartoon artist for fear of tarnishing the perfect dream she’s envisioned. By helping Bobby, a hoarder, clean house, Ryan learns to let go of the baggage that’s holding her back. […]
Made In Reading
White Paper Director: Mark Kochanowicz Runtime: 11 minutes A salesman’s honesty is put to the test when a chance encounter leads to the opportunity of a lifetime. website: www.facebook.com/WhitePaperMovie The Educators Director: Emily Rothermel Runtime: 43 minutes A documentary about how and why teachers connect with their students […]
FATF Films
Financial Action Task Force Filmmakers in this category were given submission waivers because of their countries’ economic status by the FATF. This group of films all were filmed by Iranian filmmakers, giving us an inside look at their culture. Limit Director: Javad Daraei Runtime: 7 minutes Someone in a […]
Denial
Denial Director: Derek Hallquist Runtime: 92 minutes Derek Hallquist is an earnest young filmmaker who wants to get to the bottom of the energy debate. How is the world going to become a truly responsible consumer of energy? Is it even possible? While searching for answers to these burning questions, […]
Awake: A Dream From Standing Rock
Awake: A Dream From Standing Rock Director: Josh Fox Runtime: 84 minutes The Water Protectors at Standing Rock captured world attention through their peaceful resistance. While many may know the details, AWAKE, A Dream from Standing Rock captures the story of Native-led defiance that forever changed the fight for clean […]
Saturday Shorts
Sparkleville Director: Fritz Robinson Runtime: 17 minutes A stranger wanders into Sparkleville. It seems to be a quiet, friendly small Western town. But the people who live there are just a little bit different. website: www.facebook.com/sparkleville Kill the Engine Director: Derek Frey Runtime: 10 minutes Three broken men […]
Double Docs Features
Celling Your Soul Director: Joni Siani Runtime: 48 minutes Celling Your Soul takes a unique approach to the contemporary issue of digital dependency by listening to those who were the first to be socialized in the digital landscape. How do the Millennials really feel about the world of 24/7 connectivity […]
Glass
Glass Director: Jason R. Gray Runtime: 105 minutes GLASS tells the story of a young girl, hidden away, and raised in complete isolation, by her mother. At the age of eleven, she is taken, in the night, to a place that makes no sense to her. It is a […]
The Iron Sixth
The Iron Sixth Director: Christopher O’Brien Runtime: 76 minutes Betrayal. Murder. Revenge. Those who say dead men tell no tales never met Thomas LeMond. Running out of time to save himself he turns to those he shouldn’t trust – his wife, his mistress, his mentor. Everyone knows whodunit – he’ll […]
LatinX Shorts
The Eliminadora Director: P.J. Gaynard Runtime: 20 minutes The Eliminadora is the inspiring story of a little girl with a big dream to be a luchadora, who proves that she has what it takes, and becomes a hero along the way. (Language – English/Spanish) website: www.eliminadora.com Sudden Death Director: […]
Friday Night Shorts
Far From The Tree Director: Dave Thomas Runtime: 16 minutes Abbie is a good mom, strong and a survivor…but Abbie is struggling. She struggles in her daily routine and in her relationship with her teenage son Evan. The effect of a sexual assault years earlier weighs heavy on her. […]
A Bold Peace
A Bold Peace Director: Matthew Eddy Runtime: 89 minutes In 1948, Costa Rica dismantled their military establishment and intentionally cultivated security relationships with other nations through treaties, international laws, and international organizations. Free of the burden of military spending, they used the financial savings to invest in their people, […]
At the Drive-In
At the Drive-In Director: Alexander Monelli Runtime: 80 minutes Unable to purchase a $50,000 digital projector, a group of film fanatics in rural Pennsylvania fight to keep a dying drive-in theater alive by screening only vintage 35mm film prints and working entirely for free. website: IMDB page Screening Info […]
Hope Works Here: A Camden Story
Hope Works Here: A Camden Story Director: Peter Prokop Runtime: 28 minutes Hope Works Here: A Camden Story follows the lives of three students who find hope through their training and trauma-informed care at HopeWorks. Meet George: a 22-year-old student at Rowan University from Vineland, NJ with a past in […]
Dr. Feelgood
Dr. Feelgood Director: Eve Marson Runtime: 84 minutes Dr. William Hurwitz was a preeminent doctor sentenced to 25 years in prison for overprescribing painkillers. His story provides a window into the ethical dilemma of opioid prescriptions. Painkillers give doctors tremendous power to relieve pain, a primary goal of any physician, […]
Submit Your Film Now!
ReadingFilmFEST is now accepting submissions for both professional and student films via FilmFreeway. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of our festival. Regular deadline is July 15th! (don’t worry, we understand if you need more time…late deadline is August 1st.) Categories include: Narrative Feature Documentary Film Short Film […]
Melissa Varone joins ReadingFilmFEST team!
Melissa Varone will serve as FEST Manager, managing the day to day operations of the festival. With 20 years of marketing, communications, and public relations experience, Melissa offers marketing strategy and event planning consulting services for businesses and non-profits in our community. “Having a primary focus in supporting the business […]
THIS IS READING opens July 14th!
THIS IS READING, a dynamic site-specific multimedia installation blending live performance and visual media, will occupy the historic Franklin Street Railroad Station in Downtown Reading, re-animating the long vacant building. Using as it’s foundation the challenges, and triumphs of people living in and around Reading, PA, THIS IS READING will weave […]
StudentFEST Winners!
Nearly 50 College and High School students from around the region and around the world presented their short films to ReadingFilmFEST’s StudentFEST. Winners will be announced and screened in each of 4 categories for both High School and College students: Narrative Documentary Music Video Animation Stop in to see tomorrow’s filmmakers […]
ReadingFilmFEST Trailer!
ReadingFilmFest_Trailer_2016 from Tracy Schott on Vimeo. Click here to view the trailer! ReadingFilmFEST’s promo trailer is scheduled to hit the theaters this weekend. However, you all got a preview here! This was a really fun project for our filmmaking team. Big thanks to the entire cast and crew: CREW: Executive […]
Our Vision for RFF
We are totally excited about the vision of ReadingFilmFEST! It will bring together both seasoned and emerging filmmakers with submissions in all genres, and provide opportunities to share ideas and experiences. From storyboard and budgeting, script to shooting, and edit to marketing, we are excited to celebrate the art of film […]