The West Chester International Short Film Festival, celebrating the spirit of independent filmmaking and diverse voices from around the world, has officially announced its full lineup of films for 2024. Over three days (April 26-28) at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center, 73 short films will be shown in film blocks, pop-up events, and a Young Filmmaker Festival.

Films from more than a dozen countries, all 30 minutes or less, are shown in two-hour film blocks. The annual event is an exciting flurry of short film blocks, workshops led by industry professionals, networking events, fantastic parties, and more.

“We are proud to have a home at the Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center, where all our main film blocks will be shown, as well as hosting our opening and closing night parties and the Young Filmmaker Festival,” said Sarah Beck, President of the West Chester Film Festival.

Located in the heart of downtown West Chester, Uptown! is the prime location for all things entertainment in the borough. The festival weekend kicks off with the Opening Night Party on Friday, April 26 at 5:30 PM, followed by the first block of 10 short films. Highlights in this block include:

• How Sweet the Sound, the true story of John Sutton, a blind singer who entertained commuters at Suburban Station in Philadelphia for decades
• An Avocado Pit, an Oscar-shortlisted film from Portugal in which Larissa, a trans woman, and Cláudio, a cis man, dance away their differences until morning
• Fading Giants, a documentary from Norway showing the devastating effects of climate change on glaciers over time
• A Close Encounter, a thrilling comedy in which a chance meeting leads to unexpected revelations

“Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center is thrilled to partner with the West Chester Film Festival,” said Heather Grayberg, Program and Development Director of Uptown! “This collaboration between our organizations is a highlight of our programming at Uptown!, and we are excited for yet another successful year. Uptown! continues to focus on our pillars of theatre, music, dance, comedy, and film. Partnering with the West Chester Film Festival allows both of our organizations to achieve our missional goals and, most importantly, bring top-tier entertainment to West Chester and surrounding communities.”

Official film selections, award nominees, and the full schedule can be found at the West Chester International Short Film Festival. Tickets are available at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center.