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West Chester Film Festival Announces Lineup

West Chester Film Festival

49 Films Featured In 17th Annual West Chester Film Festival, April 28-30

by Main Line Tonight editors

West Chester Film Festival

The festival committee screened more than 170 films from 24 countries before selecting their top 49 picks. “This year, there is a sense of the importance of community, which I think reflects the impact of the past few years,” said Victoria Rose, sponsorship coordinator for West Chester Film Festival. “From rediscovering our own hometown to the connections we have forged online, from found family to taking a chance on new experiences, we are all searching for our place in the world.”

“Do you like mushrooms? Do you like West Chester? Do you like history? Do you like small stories with a massive impact? If the answer to any of those questions is yes, then you will not want to miss ‘The Mushroom Man,’” Quigley raved. “It is without hyperbole that I say I have never been as excited to share a film with our audience as I am to share this 20-minute documentary.  It is such an incredible story with global impact that happened right here in West Chester. Yet, it is so little known and we are happy to change that! It is the epitome of our tagline: small town, big film.”

“Hedgehog”: A timely story set at the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2021, “Hedgehog” follows a young girl who goes to stay with her grandmother while her parents volunteer to fight for their country. When she encounters a badly wounded Russian soldier, there are decisions to be made.

A touching film that explores the connections we make, this coming-of-age story follows Tereek, a teen in New York City. His encounter with Artie changes his plans for the night and forever changes how he sees the world. The first film to star a DeafBlind actor, this film was a 2021 Academy Award Nominee for Best Live Action Short Film.

West Chester Film Festival

A father and son defy gravity to provide ice for their remote village. When the ice begins to melt, their precarious position on the side of the mountain is threatened. An animated film from Portugal, the film shows – without a single spoken word – the impact of love, loss, and connection. This film was a 2023 Academy Award Nominee for Best Animated Short Film.

The West Chester Film Festival has grown by leaps and bounds since its origin. “We are an entirely volunteer-run festival, and this is a labor of love for all of us,” Rose said. “We believe in the power of art and independent short film to create connections and an impact in our community.”

West Chester Film Festival
Courtesy of West Chester Film Festival.

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