Watching movies is easier now than ever in the age of streaming, but watching new releases on your laptop can be an isolating experience. The art of film has the power to bring people together, and film clubs give you that chance to find a community to nerd out with, share your thoughts on a deeper level, and support independent filmmakers so they can keep making their work.
Whether you’re a casual moviegoer or an absolute enthusiast, check out these local film clubs and what they have to offer. ⤵️
Girls Like Horror
You don’t have to wait until it’s Halloween for a scary movie marathon. Girls Like Horror highlights the contributions of women in the horror genre and the complexities of their stories. Whether you’re into the classics or newer releases, the club covers them all and is open to all genders.
Philadelphia Film Society
The Philadelphia Film Society has been my go-to resource to watch the latest releases while supporting local theaters (and if you go on a Monday, tickets are only $7.50).
PFS stays busy across its three local theaters with programming like Spring Fest, Philadelphia Film Festival, curated film series, and free community screenings.
If you become an official member, perks include presale access to festivals, discounted rates on tickets and concessions, and free tickets to curated screenings. If you’re between the ages of 21 and 40, you can join PFS’s Young Friends Film Club to make friends with fellow enthusiasts and attend its PFS Young Friends Film Festival, Home Alone Pizza & Pajama Party, and special screenings.
BlackStar Film Festival
Every summer the BlackStar Film Festival celebrates work from Black, brown, and Indigenous storytellers. The organization also runs programming year-round, including a filmmaker lab, screenings, exhibitions, and parties.
There are three membership tiers to select from to support the work, with benefits including invites to members-only events, discounted festival passes, voting privileges for the festival, and priority access to a filmmaker seminar.
Lightbox Film Center
The Lightbox Film Center’s history dates back to the 1970s, when it showcased independent and international films. The center has moved on from its past homes, the International House of Philadelphia (R.I.P.) and the University of the Arts (R.I.P. again), but it has not stopped its mission of providing access to overlooked films. Members can attend exclusive events and get discounted tickets for screenings.
Philadelphia Psychotronic Film Society
Maybe your taste in films is more niche, leaving you with no one to share your level of interest with. The Philadelphia Psychotronic Film Society brings people together twice a month at PhilaMOCA to watch “cult/weirdo/trash films for the locally like-minded.” Annually, the society hosts its Philadelphia Psychotronic Awards (or Schlockademy Awards) to celebrate the different films watched in the past year. If you’re a member, you can vote for your top picks for awards in six categories.
South Philly Autonomous Cinema
The South Philly Autonomous Cinema is a small collective with focused on screening “leftist, queer, and rare films in South Philadelphia,” according to its site. The club does not have its own physical space, so it hosts pop-ups at different venues around the city. Its Philm Club newsletter connects movie lovers to other screenings happening across Philly.
