Sunday marked the end of the 7th edition of the Centre Film Festival, held in Centre County, PA, home to Penn State University. This festival’s proximity to Penn State, and the integration of resources/professors from the school help this festival stand out: While most festival Q & A’s are comprised of simply the filmmakers and a moderator, Centre often includes an subject expert, or other relevant voice on the panel. On paper, this looks like it could be clunky and a bit too academic, but in practice, it leads to unique perspectives and questions, that often engage the filmmakers in a way that makes them think outside the rote answers they might’ve given at other festivals.
One of the highlights of this fest can also be a bit of an inconvenience: In addition to the venues in State College, screenings are also held at the Rowland Theatre in Philipsburg, PA, roughly a half hour drive from State College. Those who make the trip to Philipsburg are rewarded with a delightful 1,000 seat, century-old theater, that cinephiles will love.
While a shuttle bus is offered to the theater, the remote location seems to deter some festival goers. Plus the large size of the theater makes even well-attended screenings look somewhat sparse: 200 people attending a screening would only fill 20 percent of the seats, after all. Maybe having other activities in Philipsburg (filmmaker lounge, perhaps?) would help encourage people to make the trek. I hope the Rowland stays as part of the festival, and that more people can be enticed to journey to it.
The quality of films in this festival was great, as it seems to “punch above its weight” in getting compelling projects from around the world. And kudos to the fest for offering portions of the festival online for this who can’t make it in person, or wish to cram more movies into their festival experience by watching on their schedule.
We’ll be back for the eighth edition of the festival, and hope more people will discover this bit of a hidden gem, with a lovely theater to match.
Leave a Reply