The Centre Film Festival unveiled its 2025 lineup Monday evening at a press conference at The State Theatre, revealing a record-breaking year of premieres, new programming and community partnerships as the event prepares to celebrate its seventh season Nov. 10–16.
This year’s festival will feature 90 Pennsylvania premieres, 22 U.S. premieres, 11 North American premieres and 18 world premieres, drawn from hundreds of submissions received from around the globe.
“I cannot believe we’re at year seven, and I could not have done it without all of you,” said co-founder and artistic director Pearl Gluck, addressing a crowd of filmmakers, students and community leaders.
Gluck shared that the festival’s team of student interns watched more than 350 films before selecting the final lineup.
“There’s something for everyone, including kid films,” she said, before highlighting this year’s biggest addition — a virtual reality program in partnership with the Palmer Museum of Art, curated by Penn State senior Diane Akpovwa.
Akpovwa, who studies human-centered design and art history, said the idea began as a conversation with Gluck last year.
“I came to Pearl with a really bold idea and said, ‘What if we had a virtual reality showcase for the festival?’ She said, ‘I know nothing about that, but I trust you,’” Akpovwa shared. “We are bringing six immersive films from Germany to South Africa to England, and we’re really excited for what this is going to do for the collective zeitgeist… I don’t think State College has ever seen anything like this before.”
The festival will span five venues, including UEC Theatres and The State Theatre in State College, The Rowland Theatre in Philipsburg and Carnegie Cinema and Foster Auditorium at Penn State. Pre-festival screenings will begin Tuesday, Nov. 4 with “How to Build a Library” (Kenya), followed by “The Librarians” (USA) on Thursday, Nov. 6. A Penn State student tailgate celebration is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 9 at Carnegie Cinema.
Opening night will feature “Free Leonard Peltier,” directed by Academy Award–nominated filmmaker David France and Oglala Lakota filmmaker Jesse Short Bull, paired with the short “Five Seasons of My Childhood” from Kosovo.
State College Mayor Ezra Nanes proclaimed Monday, Nov. 10 to Sunday, Nov. 16 as “Centre Film Festival Week” in the borough, recognizing the festival’s cultural and economic contributions.
“The Centre Film Festival, now in its seventh year, is a week-long celebration of film and conversation that connects local stories with global perspectives,” Nanes said, calling it “a cornerstone of Central Pennsylvania’s cultural life.”
Nanes praised the festival for drawing more than 1,500 attendees annually and offering free access to students.
“Through its educational programs and master classes, the festival inspires the next generation of filmmakers, offering young people opportunities to learn, create and share their voices,” he said.
Fritz Smith, president and CEO of the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, emphasized the event’s growing role in building the local film industry.
“I think, as we go into year seven, we can take it to the next level and really start to turn this into a destination film festival,” Smith said. “My vision is that someday we become Hollywood East… that students don’t have to go to Atlanta or New York to make a living, they can stay right here in Happy Valley.”
The bureau’s film commissioner, Pablo Lopez, echoed that sentiment, noting how the festival supports local businesses and creatives.
“This festival is more than movies about people. It’s about the stories and the curious creative spirit that makes Central Pennsylvania and the rest of the world so special,” he said. “Every production that films here supports local business, fills our hotels and puts our region on the map.”
Among this year’s honorees are Penn State alumnus and Emmy-winning “Saturday Night Live” director Don Roy King, who will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, and actor and writer Jerrie Johnson (“Harlem,” “Survival of the Thickest”), recipient of the Chandler Living Legacy Award.
Assistant to the State College Borough Manager Jess Whitley reaffirmed the borough’s continued partnership.
“State College is incredibly supportive of the arts and culture,” Whitley said. “We see the festival’s value. It’s a great way to bring the community and students together. Our lives are much better with art in it.”
The 2025 program will also introduce a new signature series, Disability on Screen, alongside returning favorites Made in PA, Sports on Screen, and Pride on Screen. Highlighted films include “Row of Life,” “Tatami”, “In Excess,” “The Fisherman,” and “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” — Denmark’s official Oscar submission.
Gluck closed the evening by reaffirming the festival’s mission to elevate both local and global voices.
“This is your festival,” she told attendees. “You want to do VR? Let’s do VR. You want to tell a story? Let’s tell it here.”
The Centre Film Festival runs Nov. 10–16 across multiple venues in Centre County. Full schedules and tickets are available at www.CentreFilm.org. Students attend for free.
