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‘Club Kid,’ ‘Queen at Sea’ Earn Top Prizes at Philadelphia Film Festival; 35th Edition Sets All-Time Attendance Record (EXCLUSIVE)
Lance Hammer’s *Queen at Sea* won the Philadelphia Film Festival’s narrative jury prize, while Jordan Firstman’s *Club Kid* received the narrative audience award. The 35th edition also set an all-time attendance record, marking a strong year for the festival and its range of films.
Other winners included Sharon Liese’s documentary *Seized*, and a tie between *Naza* and *Once Upon a Time in Harlem* for the documentary audience prize. *Big Phan* won the local feature audience award; Philadelphia-area honours went to *The Haunting of Pennhurst* and *The Second Life of Freddie Nole*. Tim Blake Nelson received an artistic achievement in directing award for *The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd*.
In short
- *Queen at Sea* won the narrative jury prize.
- *Club Kid* took the narrative audience award.
- The 35th festival set an attendance record.
Explained simply
The Philadelphia Film Festival is an annual event that screens films for local audiences and gives awards chosen by juries and festival-goers. Its prizes cover narrative films, documentaries and work made in the Philadelphia area.
The awards recognise different kinds of achievement: jury prizes are decided by film-industry or arts professionals, while audience awards reflect viewers’ choices. Local categories highlight films connected to the region, and special honours can recognise an individual filmmaker’s work.
Attendance is one way festivals measure how many people come to screenings and related events. A record turnout can indicate strong interest in the programme, which ranges across independent films and documentaries.