Parties, Pop-Ups, & Networking Events
Opening Night Party
Friday, April 28 from 5:30 – 8:00 pm
$35 online or at the door
Church Street Market House
120 N Church St, West Chester, PA 19380
OPEN to the PUBLIC. Celebrate the kick off of the 2023 West Chester Film Festival at the newest venue in the Borough! Enjoy a great evening of cocktails, delicious hors d’oeuvres, camaraderie and of course…. FILM! Ticket price includes admission to the Saturday morning 11:30 am film collection as well as previews to the entire weekend of screenings! Not sure which films to watch? Come to the Opening Night Party to get a sneak peek of all the films screening throughout the weekend!
Meet filmmakers, directors, actors and sponsors and pick your preview! Open to the public with tickets available online or at the door. Space is limited so get your tickets early!
Pop-Up – Horror Film Collection
Friday, April 28 at 9:00 pm
$7 online or at the door
Mayday Coffee Shop
123 North High Street, West Chester, PA 19380
Join us at the newest Borough scene, for this popular late-night screening that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Was that a slight breeze on your shoulder…. Or evidence of a presence far more sinister? Come find out!
Food and drinks will be available during this collection of some of the best horror films of the 2023 season. (Some of these films may not be suitable for children.)
Sound Bites: A Filmmakers Breakfast Workshop on the Importance of Sound and Music in Short Films
Saturday, April 29 at 9:30 am
Hotel Warner
120 North High Street, West Chester, PA
FREE, Registration through our Ticket Page is Required
Sponsored by West Chester Film Festival & Something’s Awry Productions
Presented by Director Kris Theorin from Something’s Awry and Composers Dan Rufulo & Adam Kromelow from Young Lion Audio
Moderated by Executive Producer Amy Theorin
Food provided by Mayday Coffee Shop
Pop-Up – Pride Film Collection
Saturday, April 29 at 3:00 pm
$7 online or at the door
Side Bar & Restaurant
10 East Gay Street, West Chester, PA 19380
Get out our finest rainbow-wear and join us for this special collection of PRIDE films touching on social issues here and around the globe. Food and drinks will be available during this collection of some of the best LQBTQAI+ films of the 2023 season. (Some of these films may not be suitable for children.)
The Mushroom Man Q&A
Saturday, April 29 at 4:15 pm
FREE
Chester County History Center
225 N High St, West Chester, PA 19380
Immediately following the 2:00 film screening at Uptown! that will wrap up with The Mushroom Man, cross the street with us to the History Center for a brief Q and A with the Producers of The Mushroom Man, Raymond Rettew’s grand-niece Deborah Divine and nephew, Doug Gahm. We are thrilled to have Doug and Deb join us, and they are happy to take your questions about this production that has been a labor of love for them and their families, and about Raymond Rettew and his work here in West Chester that changed the world.
Pop-Up – Coffee & Cartoons Film Collection
Sunday, April 30 from 10:30 – 12:00 pm
$7 online or at the door
The Split Rail Tavern
15 N Walnut St, West Chester, PA 19380
Rise and shine for the return of our ever-popular collection of animated films while brunching at one of West Chester’s finest brunch spots. Coffee, tea or mimosas will beautifully complement the creative fare of these animated short films. Brunch and drinks will be available during this collection of some of the best animated films of the 2023 season. (Some of these films may not be suitable for children.)
Closing Night Awards Party
Sunday, April 30 from 6:30 – 10:00 pm
$45 online or at the door
Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center
226 N High St, West Chester, PA 19380
OPEN to the PUBLIC Please join us for THE best deal in Chester County, this fun wrap-up to the Film Festival weekend, and find out if your favorite films of the weekend have won the coveted “Chester”! The West Chester Film Festival’s beloved Award, the “Chester” is a one of a kind blown glass sculpture designed by Brett Walker and hand-crafted by Scott Krenitsky of Reading’s GoggleWorks Center for the Arts. The Best Woman Filmmaker will receive a $500 award presented by the Regional Center for Women in the Arts. Beverages and light nosh will be provided. Following the Awards Presentation, you’ll get to see some of the award-winning films one last time! Tickets may be purchased online or at the door on Sunday evening.
West Chester Film Festival is a Composting Festival
WCFF + Mother Compost = 
This year, the WCFF is partnering with Mother Compost to keep us GREEN! Look for Compost Containers around the Fest and please use them for appropriate items! Learn more at MotherCompost.com.