Philadelphia Film Society's annual SpringFest kicks off April 17th – 23rd at Film Society East celebrating the best in the future of filmmaking -- and we see over a dozen films directed by Owls in their lineup! (and there may be even more! if we missed you let us know)
Featuring global to local Philadelphia filmmakers, and curated by the Philadelphia Film Society, SpringFest is rooted in the future of film. Much of the festival is organized into 5 programs of short films - In Our Skin, The Point of it All, After Hours: New Oddities: New Comedies, and A Philly Lens and we're proud to say that we have at least one Owl in every single category!
Below you can find each category and the films by Owls listed.
Head to the SpringFest website to learn more about each film and see the whole lineup.
Alumni who have films listed in the shorts events include:
In Our Skin - April 17th at 6:30pm, April 23rd at 8:30pm
Riveting tales spotlighting characters confronting rigid family expectations, internal conflict, past traumas, and institutional blockades to figure out who they are and the path ahead.
The Village It Took dir. Victoria Wilcox ('25)
SCAPE G.O.A.T. dir. Erika Lobati (MFA '24)
The Point of it All - April 18th at 6:30pm, April 20th at 6:00pm
Complex family dynamics, profound personal loss, unreciprocated longing, and the subtle turning points of life take form in these intimate narratives, capturing the emotional cost of moving forward amid life’s uncertainties. .
Waking dir. Jaran Huggins
To Orbit Around a Dying Star by Justin O’Neill ('24)
Silent Pull dir. Lamont Nathaniel Gibson ('20, MFA '25)
Marina dir. Eva Steinmetz (MFA '24)
Baby Brother dir. Harold Batista (MFA '24)
After Hours: New Oddities - April 18th at 9pm, April 20th at 8:30pm
From existential minimalism and forgotten television history to deadly Halloween games and manipulative psychological thrills, experience this collection of stories that delve into the eerie machinations of human existence.
Bill’s Miracle dir. Aidan Guynes ('18)
Dress to Kill dir. Kelly Holstrom ('20)
The Death of Therapy dir. Jared Hirsch ('16)
New Comedies- April 19th at 1:15pm and April 20th at 6:00pm
Eclectic tales of high-stakes mayhem and dark comedy, through characters navigating chaotic personal reckonings, incredibly intense showdowns, and eccentric self-discovery.
Warm Beer dir. Christina Hoffman ('23), Mike Macera ('23)
Lazybones dir. Douglas Williams ('10)
Room Tone dir. Tatyana Yassukovich (adjunct)
Gainz – Wesley Haag ('22)
Have A Safe Trip – Liz Wiest ('18)
A Philly Lens - April 18th at 11:45pm and April 22nd at 8:30pm.
Powerful stories of identity, memory, and community connection, from revisiting childhood memories and familial love for the Eagles, to preserving musical legacies and advocating for the environment, these five docs spotlight authentic Philly stories that are must-sees for the big screen.
Where the Water Goes dir. Grace Sullivan ('25)
Also, among the full-length films we saw THESE ARE MY FRIENDS!, which had Owls Drew Ferraro ('21) and Meghan Cavanaugh ('22) on the team! Friday April 17 at 9pm and Sunday April 19 at 11:15am!
SpringFest runs from April 17th – 23rd at Film Society East.