STATE COLLEGE — The Centre Film Festival returns for its seventh season, Nov. 10–16, bringing global stories and local voices together across five cherished venues — UEC Theatres, The State Theatre, and The Rowland Theatre as well as the Carnegie Cinema and the Foster Auditorium at Penn State University.
This year’s celebration opened with a proclamation from the Borough of State College, recognizing the festival’s cultural and economic impact on the region and its role in connecting community, art, and storytelling. As Mayor Ezra Nanes affirmed in the proclamation, “The Centre Film Festival celebrates the world-class talent, artistry, and storytelling found right here in Centre County—proving that our region is rich with screen-worthy stories and the creative skill to bring them to life.”
Attendees are invited to participate in post-screening discussions, explore Pennsylvania-based filmmaking through the “Made in PA” series, and connect with creatives shaping the future of film.
Pre-festival screenings
This year, audiences can get an early taste of the festival with two pre-fest screenings
held at Foster Auditorium on the Penn State campus:
- Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. — “How To Build A Library”
- Thursday, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. — “The Librarians”
Penn State student celebration
The festival will honor Penn State students and alumni filmmakers at its annual Tailgate Screening on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. at Carnegie Cinema.
Opening night films
The festival launches with “Free Leonard Peltier.” Paired with the opening feature is the poetic short film from Kosovo, “Five Seasons of My Childhood.”
Festival highlights
This year includes the first-ever VR collaboration with the Palmer Museum of Art, featuring immersive experiences from France, Germany, South Africa, and the United States. The event takes place Thursday, Nov. 13, from 1 to 7 p.m. and is curated with Diane Akpovwa and creatively furnished by Shindig Alley of Philipsburg.
Honorees
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Don Roy King — Penn State alumnus and one of live television’s most celebrated directors, including sixteen seasons of “Saturday Night Live.”
- Chandler Living Legacy Award: Jerrie Johnson — Penn State alum, actor (“Harlem,” “Survival of the Thickest”), writer, and creative force whose work bridges artistry, activism, and radical joy.
Festival sections & new additions
This year, the festival will inaugurate a new signature series: Disability on Screen, featuring award-winning documentaries “Life After,” “Row of life,” “Disposable Humanity” and other international shorts and features. The festival will also continue to celebrate its hallmark series: Sports on Screen, Made in PA, Pride on Screen, and the Industry Awards.
Spotlight films & visiting filmmakers
- “Mr. Nobody Against Putin”
- “Row of Life”
- “Tatami”
- “In Excess” (Made in PA)
- “Luz”
- “The Fisherman”
- “Holding Liat”
- “A Letter to David”
- “The Wolves Always Come at Night”
- “Just Kids and Speak”
- Sneak Peek with WPSU: “The American Revolution”
The full festival schedule is available on www.CentreFilm.org
On-campus & daily screenings
- Lunchtime Screenings at the Library: Every day, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
- UEC Morning Screenings: Daily mornings leading up to the weekend.
