2024 Allentown Film Festival Schedule
To buy individual tickets, click on the screening block(s) below.
Sat, April 6, 2024
What is Art?
12:00 PM · Sat, Apr 6, 2024 · Admission FREE - Click to RSVP
Allentown Art Museum, 31 North 5th Street, Allentown, PA 18101
Not here. Now (2 min) Witness the dance of existence in cosmic flow.
Digital Automatic Writing! (6 min) Transcend traditional journaling by seamlessly blending drawing, sketching, and animation.
Restoring the Horse (2 min) The Baum School restores the da Vinci Horse after weathering the elements outdoors for years.
Thomas J. Shillea: UpsideDown & Backwards (5 min) Lehigh Valley artist Thomas J. Shillea recounts his photo session with Coretta Scott King.
Nothing Left Undone: The Art of G (19 min) Philadelphia artist G Kellum reflects on his artistic origins and complicated relationship with success.
i heart ART (2 min) Twin 3-year-old girls introduce the art in their Chicago home.
How To Be Not Perfect (8 min) Witness an artist’s journey on canvas.
Dropped - History in the breaking (18 min) Discover the potter behind the shards.
Pavarotti & Me (3 min) Linda La Due’s harmonious moment with an opera legend.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
Especial Cine Español
COMUNICADO DE PRENSA · NEWS RELEASE
2:00 PM · Sat, Apr 6, 2024 · Admission FREE (Click to RSVP)
Allentown Art Museum, 31 North 5th Street, Allentown, PA 18101
Primavera Salvaje (5 min) Close your eyes to see life’s true path.
Selfi (11 min) A witty take on our obsession with cell phones and selfies.
From Cuba to America: An Immigrant's First Day in New York City (2 min) From Havana to hope: Ivan’s new chapter
Diner Kiss (5 min) Teen love swirls with 50’s diner magic
A Street For Two (5 min) Love sparks under streetlights and stars
Arnoldo's World (7 min) A teacher’s fight against Mayan poverty
Hamelin 771 (7 min) Human-AI harmony tested in darkness
To fly (8 min) Sofia: When the body stops, the spirit flies.
Mariposas (3 min) Pride and perception clash in magical realism.
BICHARAVANA 2019 BICHOS CARNAVAL VEGANO (7 min) “Bichos, ” a vibrant carnival group from the Dominican Republic, brings life to the streets.
*** Nueve cortos en español. Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members. ***
Wed, April 10
Lehigh Valley Competition Semi-Finalists
5:30 PM · Wed, Apr 10, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)
19th Street Theatre, 527 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
City Serpent (3 min) Jake Keenan conquers Philly on a streetboard.
SILENCE IN THE NIGHT (4 min) Violence shatters the night, then silence.
Commodore 2 (4 min) Dive into animated psychedelic cosmos
Illusion of Knowledge (2 min) Peace, violence, life, death: A cycle’s tale.
The Island (5 min) An island castaway’s last reflections.
Weekdays are My Sh*t (3 min) Gator and Ali in The Swamp spit straight heat.
The Pineapple Plague (5 min) Beware: Killer pineapples on the loose!
SHARK MUSIC (Jawz) By Dolph-YFS Ft CantFindRL (3 min) I’m only 1 Person but an Army to you.
A Jester Within (4 min) Prabh navigates the mental health maze.
Dirty Dough Rising (3 min) Life is Sweet! Life gets messy! It's better with cookies!
UFO Vs. Dinosaur (2 min) Another quiet evening in Pangea.
I Hate My Job (But I Like My Shoes) (4 min) Ten-foot Snails in a musical escapade.
So Much For Flirting (3 min) A short "western" featuring art community of 1970
BLOOD NOD (1 min) Chaos before bedtime for NY’s beast.
Bloody Candy (4 min) When one conjures spirits in a mirror, who knows what will arrive?
Still Frames (4 min) Life’s moments captured in poignant scenes.
Between Lines (5 min) A pregnant woman teeters on life’s edge, until an unexpected savior alters her path. .
Birdsong/Twigs (2 min) Celebrating the beauty & connection of growth & nature
Outstanding (2 min) The peril of questions best left unasked.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
Organic Rising
6:30 PM · Wed, Apr 10, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to purchase tickets)
Theatre514, 514 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
Organic Rising (2 hours 10 min) (Trailer) Organic Rising demystifies organic agriculture for the consumer. U.S. consumers are confronted with the U.S.D.A. organic label on a daily basis but only a handful of people know what it represents. To understand what organic is, it is also necessary to know what organics is not. Therefore the film takes a close look at conventional agriculture through the voices of farmers and renowned scientists. The research presented by the scientists, on the human and the environmental effects of synthetic pesticides, is profoundly disturbing and unprecedented.
Post-screening Discussion about the important issues raised by this film.
Voices of Change
8:00 PM · Wed, Apr 10, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)
19th Street Theatre, 527 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
From Fugitive to Freedom: The Joshua Holi Redemption Story (4 min) Josh: Street life to transformed soul.
Backgrounded (13 min) An exploration of criminal record related housing barriers.
Ending Gun Violence with Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley (10 min) Allentown’s battle to end child gun deaths.
BikeLife_610 (12 min) Wheelies in Allentown: Dangerous or just fun?
Fragile (4 min) A save the Earth themed call for change.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
Thu, April 11
The Art of Storytelling
5:00 PM · Thu, Apr 11, 2024 · Click to buy premium tickets! No PASSES accepted.
Theatre514, 514 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
A deep dive into how filmmaking to market or advertise is evolving in our digital age.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
K12 & College Semi-Finalists
5:30 PM · Thu, Apr 11, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)
19th Street Theatre, 527 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
Down For Maintenance (5 min) Her world vanishes post-breakup.
Intruder (5 min) Sleepless night breeds chaos.
Echoes of Routine (4 min) Monotony plagues a 9-to-5 life.
Hand-to-Hand Combat (3 min) Cowboys duel with finger guns.
Now Streaming (3 min) A poetic take on resource neglect.
The Perpetrator (4 min) Students face an unknown threat.
Combat Baby (2 min) A doll’s big NYC adventure.
Lost Conversations (5 min) Granddaughter explores a lost past.
l'appel du vide (5 min) Instincts betray in L’appel du vide.
Growing Dimmer (2 min) Darkness encroaches in his room.
THE KELCE TAPE (4 min) A man probes a home disturbance.
Shadows of Confession (4 min) Interrogation reveals a grim truth.
The Sassy Show - episode 3 (3 min) Sassy grills a grumpy penguin.
A Fast Stop (3 min) Speeder-Man teaches road safety.
The Chest (1 min) Frankie’s eerie basement ordeal.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
Psychological Thriller Shorts
7:00 PM · Thu, Apr 11, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)
Theatre514, 514 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
You're On Your Own, Kid (10 min) Sophia’s imaginative terror unfolds.
Completely Well Adjusted (30 min) The Rise: Discover your true self.
Pretty Hands (10 min) A mother’s seaside paranoia escalates.
Shiver (29 min) A pill keeps his demon at bay.
Birdie (13 min) Teen holds babysitter captive.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
Lehigh Valley College Shorts & College Competition Finalists
8:00 PM · Thu, Apr 11, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)
19th Street Theatre, 527 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
The Gym Girl (19 min) Engineer vies for a photographer’s heart.
Strangers (12 min) Apocalypse survivor befriends a stranger.
One Phone Call (2 min) Criminal’s fate hangs on a call.
Ben (2 min) Ben’s mysterious escape.
Growing Roots (5 min) Freshman seeks her college tribe.
Thoughts (5 min) Student battles grief and thoughts.
Goodbye (2 min) Grief descends, swift and harsh.
Evaline (4 min) Man’s final apology before doom.
Sungaze Through Vast Timber (1 min) Poetic film: World over phones.
Purple (2 min) Diary reveals a woman’s lessons.
ELH: CATABASIS (3 min) Man faces scientists’ grand scheme.
MECH (2 min) Boy pilots robot against monster.
Sleeping (5 min) Rai’s musical journey unveiled.
Goodbye To Love (5 min) Patrick learns acceptance from Joy.
Dear Summer (2 min) Winter pens to Summer.
Spinning Webs (2 min) Spider’s work vs. pesky fly.
Beauty World (4 min) Woman’s quest for beauty begins.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
Fri, April 12
Family Films & K-12 Competition Finalists
5:30 PM · Fri, Apr 12, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)
19th Street Theatre, 527 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
Heart of Gold (22 min) Girl conquers new world with love.
Kristin Wants a Car (24 min) Teen’s quest for a first car.
Misu Misu (5 min) Misu Misu: A cat’s life journey.
Nibbles Meets Wacky Mole (2 min) Clowns’ chaos disrupts the morning.
in my solitude (3 min) Teen love’s unseen struggles.
BCTC Blades (2 min) Reading Royals’ youth on ice.
The First Snow (3 min) Brother’s last first snow.
Adam’s Little Insecurity :) (4 min) Adam confronts his inner turmoil.
Between the Shelves (2 min) Teen girls’ library love spark.
Just Like Heaven (4 min) Amusement park’s fleeting romance.
Stardust (2 min) Girl’s celestial comfort in grief.
Parallel: A Parking Love Story (3 min) Chris’s race for a license.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
Arthouse Horror Thrillers & The Softening
6:30 PM · Fri, Apr 12, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)
Theatre514, 514 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
Forever Flowers (13 min) Caregiver’s heist meets karma.
The Softening (1 hr 18 min) (Trailer) A man's wife and kids suddenly disappear without explanation and are replaced by a Strange Woman claiming to be his wife.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
Rock Pool Waltz & Lehigh Valley Competition Finalists
8:00 PM · Fri, Apr 12, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)
19th Street Theatre, 527 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
The Rock Pool Waltz (8 min) A lonely boy befriends nature.
Getter's Island: The Man Who was Hanged Twice (4 min) The dark origins of Getter’s Island.
The Audition (4 min) Jazz musician’s unexpected talent audition.
Dismissive (3 min) 1950s housewife’s strange backyard noise.
R.I.P. Double Decker (5 min) Double Decker Records’ final days.
The Bus Trip (2 min) Boy learns inner beauty on bus trip.
Eva and Fern (5 min) Dialogue between youth and elder.
Inherently Special (4 min) Teen awaits famous mother’s call.
Beyond the Dark Glass (3 min) A mother’s promise against the odds.
LiR (4 min) A psychedelic experimental journey.
Brushed by Grace (3 min) Artist Paris’ self-discovery after loss.
A taste of Japan in America (5 min) Bethlehem’s Cherry Blossom Festival.
Misfortune Cookie (3 min) Man’s fortune cookie prophecy.
Conquest of the Magic Squirrel (3 min) Dog’s toy comes to life.
Head2Head Global Warming (3 min) “Head2Head” political cartoon animation.
Missing Pieces (1 min) Questioning safety on a walk to the car.
It's Not You, It's Me (5 min) Young man’s post-party breakup.
Wings (2 min) “Wings”: The thrill of wing walking.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
Horror & Gory Shorts
9:00 PM · Fri, Apr 12, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)
Theatre514, 514 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
Saint-Sacrifice (15 min) Widower Antoine bargains with fate.
Grampy (14 min) Woman finds beau’s taxidermied grandpa.
Broken (23 min) Teacher faces home-invading foes.
Sorry, Dumpling (8 min) Don’s anniversary turns nightmarish.
stalking the stalker (10 min) A killer haunted by a ghostly victim.
13 Steps (26 min) A woman performs a grueling ritual to banish a malevolent presence from her home.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
Sat, April 13
Women Take Control
12:30 PM · Sat, Apr 13, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)
19th Street Theatre, 527 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
The Mummy Rap (3 min) Linda La Due’s motivational rap.
Five Questions (11 min) Jill confronts trauma through questions.
CYA (6 min) Alice’s descent into violence.
Melody Skylark and the Cosmic Soup (14 min) Melody Skylark warned of otherworldly war.
Change of Scenery (12 min) Julia meets Nate, an ex-FBI agent.
OCD (1 min) Amanda battles inner demons in class.
Millie's Care Free Day (9 min) Millie confronts trauma for change.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
The Karamazovs
1:00 PM · Sat, Apr 13, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)
Theatre514, 514 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
The Karamazovs (1 hr 26 min) Fyodor Karamazov is dying and holed up in his oceanfront home with Liz, his loyal caretaker, when his three estranged children return home to settle a financial dispute. Despite carving out new lives for themselves (Aly has found refuge in religion, Viv is a queer intellectual, and Dmitri, a charismatic screw-up) each is in the midst of their own personal crisis.
Part murder mystery, part spiritual quest, THE KARAMAZOVS follows Liz as she pieces together her memories of that eventful week. She is haunted by it still, in this contemporary American adaptation inspired by Dostoevsky's classic novel about what we inherit from our parents and what we chose to leave in the grave.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
Behaving Badly Shorts
2:30 PM · Sat, Apr 13, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)
19th Street Theatre, 527 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
Plastic Ransom (3 min) Scammer’s past threat turns tables.
The Hit (17 min) Hitman’s error leads to deadly twist.
Amnesia (21 min) Evie’s pill erases dad, rewrites life.
Downhill (10 min) Doubtful husband faces an unseen truth.
MDMA - Deep End (3 min) A journey home, in heart and space.
Enter the Room (15 min) Brothers clash, a past haunts.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
Inspiring Shorts & Temple Grandin Documentary
3:30 PM · Sat, Apr 13, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)
Theatre514, 514 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
Who is God? (3 min) AI film: Creation seeks creator’s image.
Local Runner (8 min) Runner faces life’s toughest race.
An Open Door - Temple Grandin (59 min) (Trailer) An Open Door is the international award-winning documentary that reflects on the influential life and work of Dr. Temple Grandin as a champion of the humane treatment of livestock, autism rights, and inclusive neurodiversity by employing her gifted insights from her personal experience with autism and visual thinking. The film speaks with Dr. Grandin, her colleagues, industry professionals and those she has influenced to celebrate her groundbreaking life, lessons learned and lasting legacy. An Open Door is directed by award-winning filmmaker John Barnhardt and presented by Colorado State University.
Carving a New Future (3 min) Todd’s fall leads to faith’s test.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
Wacky Comedies & WordLotto
6:30 PM · Sat, Apr 13, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)
Theatre514, 514 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
Eye Love You (5 min) Frederick’s eye puns charm his dates.
Sex Tape (6 min) Greg’s risqué agreement.
WordLotto (59 min) (Trailer) In a world where words are limited, Tom Brennan grudgingly handles appeals from citizens who claim that their WordMeters are malfunctioning. After he’s assigned a string of bizarre clients, the Word Representative’s life spins out of control.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
Augie AI Film Challenge & Carson Kressley: Born in Allentown
7:30 PM · Sat, Apr 13, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)
19th Street Theatre, 527 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
Augie Challenge (20 min) After "listening to" and "watching" short narratives related by US Congressional Representative Susan Wild, Allentown’s Mayor Matt Turk, Carson Kressley, and a dozen others, the Augie AI software brought the stories to life by adding footage from Getty Images and artwork that Augie itself created. After the screening, a panel of filmmakers and experts will discuss how AI is influencing traditional storytelling and transforming cinema.
Fly Fishing (2 min) A young filmmaker reveals his grandfather’s golden-years passion.
Carson Kressley: Born in Allentown (20 min) Carson’s journey from Allentown to fame.
Wild, Susan (5 min) An intimate glimpse into the life of the Lehigh Valley’s representative in Congress, courtesy of a human editor and Augie AI.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
Family Drama Shorts
8:30 PM · Sat, Apr 13, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)
Theatre514, 514 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
Courage (12 min) Luke finds solace in Captain Courage.
Blood is Thicker (14 min) Sisters’ meal reveals a hidden past.
The Unreliables (18 min) Babysitter and father confront loss.
Precious (22 min) Mark battles his inner demons.
ABCs Always Be Smiling (22 min) Claire faces a bleak Christmas alone.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
Sun, April 14
Relationship Shorts
12:30 PM · Sun, Apr 14, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)
19th Street Theatre, 527 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
Marriage Counseling for Friends (5 min) Kimia and Nico’s unusual therapy.
Why Dogs Howl (5 min) Online date spirals into a cosmic rant.
Seth Witcher - I'm afraid of love (2 min) Seth’s musical journey through nightmares.
Rêver (14 min) A 1920's style self-reflection.
An After Party (10 min) A dinner party exposes a marriage’s truth.
The Life of Sophie (5 min) Sophie’s life, dictated by her phone.
Chris Cummings and The Way - Dreams (5 min) Chris Cummings’ first film music journey.
Reggie: Protector of the Universe (3 min) Molly and Reggie’s contrasting lives.
It Doesn't Mean Anything (4 min) A Seoul family’s photo day unfolds.
Hedgehog (17 min) Nina finds a soldier in war’s shadow.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
Out of State: A Gothic Romance
1:00 PM · Sun, Apr 14, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)
Theatre514, 514 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
Out of State: A Gothic Romance Trailer (1 hour 47 min) Elsa, on the cusp of turning 18, is sent to live with her strange step-relatives Aunt Marcia and her two twenty something sons, Tab and Emery. Tab is a gifted pianist and Marcia's favorite. Emery, the Cinderella of the famiyl, restores antique furniture to support the household. They are shut-ins and never leave their house or garden. Both brothers fall madly in love with Elsa shattering Marcia's control. Think "My Cousin Rachel" meets "The Royal Tenebaums," dark with a sly sense of humor.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
Surreal Shorts
2:30 PM · Sun, Apr 14, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)
19th Street Theatre, 527 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104
Bananas (6 min) Joe’s banana mishap disrupts a party.
Fred the Super Computer (7 min) Man meets tech-hungry supercomputer.
This Way To The Egress (11 min) Hell’s waiting room opens its doors.
The Shower (12 min) A young woman's fate takes a dramatic turn after receiving a precious gift.
The Brink (14 min) The Brink: Afterlife’s justice limbo.
Weightless (8 min) An artist’s morbid daily companion.
Song From The Deep (7 min) Fishing trip catches a nightmarish twist.
Infinity Eggs, an AI Film (5 min) Aliens spark a timeline’s evolution.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
Closing Reception
5:00 PM · Sun, Apr 14, 2024 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)
Miller Symphony Hall, 23 North 6th Street, Allentown, PA 18101
Pavarotti & Me (3 min) Linda’s concert connection with Pavarotti.
The Rock Pool Waltz (8 min) Lockdown boy finds solace in nature.
Carson Kressley Born in Allentown (20 min) Carson’s journey from Allentown to fame.
Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.
The second annual Allentown Film Festival takes place from April 6 - 14, 2024 at the Civic Theatre of Allentown's two historic venues, the Allentown Art Museum, and Miller Symphony Hall. In the 2024 Festival we are screening over 160 films from around the world - nearly half from local filmmakers.
La segunda edición anual del Festival de Cine de Allentown tendrá lugar del 6 al 14 de abril de 2024 en las dos históricas sedes del Teatro Cívico de Allentown, el Museo de Arte de Allentown, la Sala Sinfónica Miller y otros lugares emblemáticos de la ciudad.
Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk presents a medal to filmmaker Kwesa the Artist with Festival Director Alan Younkin.
Founded by award-winning filmmakers and educators, the Allentown Film Festival is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that brings the Independent Film Festival experience to Eastern Pennsylvania. Each screening block includes films of various lengths followed by a Q&A panel discussion with filmmakers.
El alcalde de Allentown, Matt Tuerk, entrega una medalla al cineasta Kwesa the Artist junto al director del festival, Alan Younkin.
Fundado por cineastas y educadores galardonados, el Festival de Cine de Allentown es una organización sin ánimo de lucro 501(c)3 que lleva la experiencia del Festival de Cine Independiente al este de Pensilvania. Cada bloque de proyecciones incluye películas de diversa duración seguidas de una mesa redonda de preguntas y respuestas con los cineastas.
Special Lehigh Valley Filmmaker Prizes*
Premios especiales para cineastas de Lehigh Valley**
The 1-5 Minute Short Film Contest $1,000 Grand Prize*
El Concurso de Cortometrajes de 1-5 Minutos $1,000 Gran Premio**
The 1-15 Minute Spanish Short Film $250 Grand Prize*
El Concurso de Cortometrajes Españoles de 1-15 Minutos $250 Gran Premio**
The K-12 Student Film Prize*
Premio de cortometrajes para estudiantes de primaria y secundaria**
The College Student Film Prize*
Premio de cortometraje para estudiantes universitarios**
The Local Filmmaker Prize*
Premio para cineastas locales**
* All genres welcome (scripted, unscripted, etc.)
* Open to filmmakers with connections to the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania
* Free to enter
* Entry deadline: March 1
* Multiple submissions by filmmakers encouraged
** Todos los géneros son bienvenidos (con guión, sin guión, etc.)
** Abierto a cineastas relacionados con Lehigh Valley, Pensilvania.
** Inscripción gratuita
** Fecha límite de inscripción: 1 de marzo
** Se anima a los cineastas a presentar varias películas
