Cinedelphia Film Festival poster by Justin Gray
Cinedelphia Film Festival brings music docs, 80s talent shows and a Nigerian Purple Rain to PhilaMOCA
The fourth annual Cinedelphia Film Festival kicks-off on April 7th and features another jampacked month of screenings, interactive events, special guest chats and q&a sessions curated by PhilaMOCA‘s Eric Bresler. Turning the lens onto “locally shot rarities and video era oddities,” CFF is an eclectic and eye-opening ode to counterculture film worlds.
In addition to programming highlights Room Full of Spoons (“The definitive documentary on the making of cult classic THE ROOM that Tommy Wiseau doesn’t want you to see”) and Undercover Cops 2: Anonymous Cop (the sequel to 13 year old PhilaMOCA neighbor Lil’ Sean’s debut short), there are several evenings dedicated to music-related films and documentaries.
Check out a rundown of those screenings below and pick up tickets for the festival here.
Sunday, April 10th: The Philadelphia premiere of 1989’s New Breed documentary, which traces the influences and impact of a now legendary NYC tape compilation and the hardcore music scene it showcased. Director / Producer / Editor John Woods will be in attendance.
Sunday, April 10th: The Philadelphia premiere of Dead Hands Dig Deep catches up with Edwin Borsheim, the GG Allin-esque lead singer of defunct extreme metal band Kettle Cadaver.
Thursday, April 14th: The Philadelphia premiere of Akounak Teggdalit Taha Tazouhai presents a Nigerian remake of Prince’s Purple Rain in the “world’s first Tuareg-language fiction film” with Tuareg guitarist Mdou Moctar.
Thursday, April 14th: The Philadelphia premiere of Desire Will Set You Free follows a true story set in the modern underground world of Berlin artists and performers and features appearances by Nina Hagen, Peaches, Blood Orange, Einsturzende Neubauten and more.
“Godmother of Punk” Nina Hagen in a still from Desire Will Set You Free | photo by Alexa Vachon
Friday, April 15th: Video Pirates presents Stairway to Stardom, a 1980s public access talent show created by Philadelphia native Frank Masi that gave a platform to amateur singers, dancers and people with “uncommon talents.” Theme song composers and show regulars All the King’s Men will give a rare performance.
Monday, April 18th: The Philadelphia premiere of Monsterman presents an exploration of life after success. The documentary follows Finnish metal band Lordi as they navigate their career after winning the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest (the first hard rock band and Finnish band to do so).
Friday, April 22nd: The Philadelphia premiere of Sympathy for the Devil: The True Story of The Process Church of the Final Judgement lifts the curtain on a satanic cult that crossed paths with some surprising people. Features interviews with John Waters, George Clinton and Genesis Breyer P-Orridge and a soundtrack of Funkadelic and Napalm Death’s Nicholas Bullen.