The Philadelphia Cinema Alliance is a non-profit organization* founded in 2009 to produce Philadelphia’s two existing world-class film festivals (CineFest and QFest) as well as to present year-round international film programming throughout the city. But the festivals themselves are the ones with a history.

Philadelphia CineFest

In 1992, International House and its president Ellen Davis produced the inaugural Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema (PFWC), with Linda Blackaby as Artistic Director. TLA Entertainment took over management of PFWC in 2001 and in 2003 renamed it the Philadelphia Film Festival. For several years the festival was produced by the Philadelphia Film Society (PFS). Late in 2008, disagreements between PFS founder Raymond Murray and the PFS board resulted in the creation of the Philadelphia Cinema Alliance and the 2009 festival was renamed Philadelphia Film Festival/CineFest. Going forward, The Alliance will present the Festival (now simply named Philadelphia CineFest) annually in April.

Philadelphia QFest

TLA Entertainment founded the Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival in 1995. In 2009, the festival joined the newly-formed Philadelphia Film Alliance and beginning with the 2009 festival, changed and shortened its name Philadelphia QFest. This festival, one of the leading GLBT film festivals in the country, is presented annually in July.

In April, 2009, The Philadelphia Cinema Alliance's board members include Claire Kohler, Eric Moore, James Houck, Herb Lipton, John Herzins, Raymond Murray and Irene Lewis. Its singular goal is to present the best of international cinema to Philadelphia-area movie-lovers with its year-round program of film festivals, special film events, film discussions and mystery screenings.

*501(c)3 application pending

MISSION STATEMENT:

The Philadelphia Cinema Alliance (PCA) is a non-profit organization created to produce, run and promote two annual world class Philadelphia Film Festivals, along with additional year round film programming. CineFest, an international film festival held in the spring, and QFest, a gay/lesbian film festival to be held in July, will showcase a diverse collection of films from around the world, covering a wide array of subjects that will encourage learning, inspire conversation and provide audience insight into previously unknown worlds. Educational and informative panels on a number of topics with both local and international speakers will be offered as well.