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The 35th Philadelphia Film Festival

The 35th Philadelphia Film Festival delivered its most extraordinary year yet, breaking ticket sales records, filling theaters with passionate audiences, and bringing together an incredible collection of films from around the world. From emotionally devastating dramas and thought-provoking international features to captivating performances, bold directorial visions, and unforgettable cinematic discoveries, this year's festival celebrated the power of storytelling in all its forms. Standout films like Josephine, Elephants in the Fog, Coward, Ben’Imana, and Labrador – Autopsy of Silence explored themes of love, trauma, identity, resilience, and the human experience with remarkable depth and artistry. Alongside highly anticipated releases, exciting independent productions, and powerful new voices in filmmaking, the festival proved why Philadelphia's cinematic community continues to thrive. Discover the films that left lasting impressions, the performances worth remembering, and the moments that made this record-breaking celebration of cinema one for the books.

LATEST REVIEWS

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April 13, 2026

Tony, The Weight, & Primetime

Tony, The Weight, and Primetime take us into very different worlds, united by emotionally complex performances from Dominic Sessa, Ethan Hawke, and Robert Pattinson. From the warmth of a Cape Cod kitchen to the wilderness’s brutal uncertainty and the chilling glare of reality TV, these films ask what ambition, survival, and the hunger for recognition can cost.

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Max Markowitz

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August 10, 2026

Christopher Nolan has never been interested in simply adapting a story—he reconstructs it. With The Odyssey, he strips away centuries of mythology to uncover something startlingly contemporary: a deeply human story about war, trauma, memory, and the impossible search for home. While Homer's epic has long been celebrated as an adventure, Nolan reframes it asking what becomes of a hero once the battle is over.

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Max Markowitz

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June 4, 2026

Some films haunt you long after the credits roll. The recent works of David Lowery, Aleshea Harris, and Kane Parsons explore the spaces between memory, grief, and isolation, creating experiences that feel like lingering presences.​ In a world increasingly defined by disconnection, these filmmakers remind us that the most powerful ghosts are often the ones we carry within ourselves.

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Max Markowitz

My 6th Year at the Philadelphia Film Festival.

As the leaves begin to turn and the crisp air of fall settles in, one of my favorite traditions approaches—the Philadelphia Film Festival (PFF). This year marks my 6th year attending, and the excitement never fades. From October 17th to October 27th, the city will once again transform into a hub of creativity and cinematic brilliance, where filmmakers, cinephiles, and casual moviegoers alike come together to celebrate the art of storytelling on screen.

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It's an absolute honor to be back another year as the Film Ambassador for AKA Hotels + Hotel Residences. I'm thrilled to partner with them and share my passion for film during the 33rd Philadelphia Film Festival, an event that has grown to be one of the highlights of my year. To me, this isn’t just a festival; it’s a space where stories come alive and where we, as viewers, are taken on profound journeys. It reminds us of the power of storytelling and how films can open our eyes, move our hearts, and inspire us to see the world differently.

 

The recap and reviews are in to the most captivating, spellbinding, and thought-provoking films this year’s festival offers. 🎬✨

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Welcome to The Script Report by Max Markowitz

We are all told, “live your life to the fullest”; I am here to do just that. 'The Film Critic's Ticket - Admit One' serves as a vessel to project my passion for cinema, to share with my readers as to what inspires me in this beautiful world.

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What is it that inspires you? For me, it’s The Film Critic's Ticket - Admit One!. I love writing about my passion, which is cinema.  I love sharing my thoughts and talking about what cinema means to me and to others.  

 

The Film Critic's Ticket - Admit One! is truly my own little passion project, gaining more and more traction each day. I hope you enjoy browsing my site and all of the unique content I have to offer. Take a look around; perhaps you’ll discover what inspires you as well. Read on and enjoy it!

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