PHILADELPHIA FILM FESTIVAL 2026 (PFF) | 10 FILMS I WANT TO SEE

Written by

Abby Omoruyi

·

The 35th Philadelphia Film Festival kicked off on October 15th and runs through October 25th across three Film Society venues: Center, Bourse, and East. It’s the biggest lineup the festival has had, with more than 140 screenings, opening with Noah Segan’s The Only Living Pickpocket in New York and closing with Jesse Eisenberg’s The Debut. Since I live here, I’m making the most of it. I have my watch list ready to go, so here are the ten I have my eyes on.

1. CLARISSA

Sophie Okonedo leads this take on Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, built around one woman’s big party and the people from her past who turn up to it. This is top of my list, and I’m very excited about this Nigerian story.

A woman with braided hair looks out from behind a partially open door, seemingly deep in thought. In the background, a figure in a dark hooded garment is faintly visible.

2. RIDER

A musical about a bike courier whose New Year’s Eve delivery turns into a love story, one that has to survive the gap between the two leads’ worlds. An interesting concept for a musical, and it all comes down to execution.

Close-up profile shot of a young man and woman facing each other, showcasing their features and expressions in an intimate setting.

3. BEN’IMANA

A Rwandan woman who helps her neighbors heal in the aftermath of the genocide has to face her own family when her daughter turns up pregnant. Another interesting watch.

A group of people gathered outdoors in a rural setting, with a woman in a purple dress standing confidently in the foreground. The crowd appears engaged and diverse, with trees and electrical poles in the background.

4. HALF

Two half-vampire siblings square off against roadside scavengers in a blood-soaked martial arts western that the festival is already calling a future cult favorite. This will either be a very entertaining movie or a try-hard bloodbath. I’m curious to see how it plays out.

A man pouring a liquid from a container into a damaged car, while a woman sitting nearby checks her phone. The car is covered in what appears to be mud and stains.

5. BUNKER

Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz play a married couple whose marriage starts to crack when the husband, an architect, takes on a new project. Sounds interesting enough.

A woman with disheveled hair and a distressed expression sits in the foreground, while a shadowy figure stands in the background, creating a tense atmosphere.

6. CLUB KID

Jordan Firstman’s first film as a director follows a longtime New York party promoter whose life gets turned around when a son he didn’t know about shows up. I’m always open to any A24 production.

A lively party scene with people dancing and enjoying themselves in a dimly lit space filled with colored lights and smoke.

7. I DON’T WANT TO DRINK YOUR BLOOD ANYMORE

A reclusive vampire who lives in isolation to hold her bloodlust in check gets her routine shaken up by some uninvited guests. It’s October, so all vampire films will be watched, good or bad.

A woman smiling while holding a drink, with a straw positioned between her teeth.

8. THE DEBUT

Julianne Moore plays a New Jersey housewife with big ambitions for her local community theater. You had me at New Jersey housewife.

A woman with long brown hair, wearing a light blue sweater and a black skirt, sits on a bench with a bag beside her in a room filled with people moving around.

9. VICTORIAN PSYCHO

Maika Monroe plays a mysterious governess who arrives at an English manor in this Victorian slasher comedy. Between Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story and East of Eden, I’m a little tired of the genre, but one more wouldn’t hurt.

A close-up portrait of a woman wearing a black bonnet and ribbon, gazing directly at the camera with a subtle expression, surrounded by a blurred natural landscape.

10. WICKER

A quirky mix of fable, fantasy, comedy, and romance that the festival calls one of the most original love stories in recent cinema. I’ve been waiting patiently for this one.

A joyful woman embraces a large, humanoid figure with a textured head and hands, displaying a moment of connection in a festive outdoor setting with onlookers in the background.

That’s my watch list. I’ll be back with reviews of what I watch. If you’re in Philly, tickets and schedules are at filmadelphia.org.

Discover more from Vixen Cinema

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Leave a Reply

Discover more from Vixen Cinema

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading