cinéSPEAK

cinéSPEAK bringing the under-represented and eclectic to the forefront of the Philadelphia cinema scene

We are a Philadelphia-based cinema and film publication that engages diverse audiences through our globally-minded contemporary and repertory independent film programming; creating space and centering the stories of individuals and communities that are often underrepresented in mainstream cinema. We promote community togetherness and global understanding by engaging film enthusiasts while cultivat

ing the next generation of discerning moviegoers; encouraging people to demand social justice both on-screen and throughout society

cinéSPEAK is an independent charitable 501(c)(3).

It’s a HOT June in Philly. Keep cool with the indie film scene! 🔥⁠☀️⁠Check out the June 2026 Cinema Arts Round-Up writte...
05/31/2026

It’s a HOT June in Philly. Keep cool with the indie film scene! 🔥⁠☀️
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Check out the June 2026 Cinema Arts Round-Up written by Sophia Abraham-Raveson!

Highlights include 🎥 screenings from the Philadelphia Latino Arts and Film Festival, 🇵🇸 a special event from Q***r Cinema for Palestine, and 🌃 several nights of community joy at Under the Stars in Clark Park. That’s just the surface, as there’s so much to enjoy this month! ❤️‍🔥
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Read the full round-up: https://cinespeak.org/2026/05/28/philadelphia-monthly-cinema-arts-round-up-june-2026/

This July, we proudly welcome visionary artist, Rashid Zakat, for an interactive artist lecture!❤️‍🔥‼️ ⁠⁠Join cinéSPEAK ...
05/30/2026

This July, we proudly welcome visionary artist, Rashid Zakat, for an interactive artist lecture!❤️‍🔥‼️ ⁠
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Join cinéSPEAK and Maestro Filmworks for a performance and open-laptop conversation with media artist Rashid Zakat. Rashid will VJ a short set, then converse with the room about past projects, works in process, half-finished ideas, and the randomness of his media archive. 💻⁠
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Come out on Thursday, July 23rd to Symphony Philly (1516 N 5th St Unit 104). Networking starts at 6pm (with light snacks and free drinks thanks to Human Robot Beer), and the program begins at 7. Don’t miss the post-event hang at Human Robot (1710 N 5th St)! 🎉⁠
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Tickets are $15. Learn more and register: https://cinespeak.eventive.org/schedule/69de536d9f0d88574866fc6e

✨ We’re so honored to be featured by ahead of the 2026 cinéSPEAK Under the Stars Film Festival! 🎬🌙💜⁠⁠Huge thanks to WXP...
05/29/2026

✨ We’re so honored to be featured by ahead of the 2026 cinéSPEAK Under the Stars Film Festival! 🎬🌙💜⁠
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Huge thanks to WXPN, writer and longtime cinéSPEAK fam, for highlighting our festival, our community, and the importance of independent cinema in Philadelphia. 🌆🎥⁠
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The article dives into this year’s theme of community resilience and highlights our incredible lineup of films, music, food vendors, and community partners that make Under the Stars such a special gathering each summer. 🍿🎶🌮✨⁠
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You can read the full article: https://xpn.org/cinespeak-under-the-stars-bringing-music-food-and-indie-cinema-together/
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And don’t miss our first week of programming TONIGHT at Clark Park! 🌳⁠
Live music + community gathering starts at 7 PM and the film begins at 9 PM. Bring your blankets, friends, and community spirit. 💫⁠
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See you under the stars! ⭐

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Under the Stars at Clark Park ✨🌙⁠⁠📍 Location:⁠New! This year’s screenings are located on the souther...
05/28/2026

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Under the Stars at Clark Park ✨🌙⁠
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📍 Location:⁠
New! This year’s screenings are located on the southern end of “The Bowl” along Kingsessing Ave between 43rd & 45th Streets.⁠
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🚋🚕🚲 Getting Here:⁠
Street parking is free but limited, so we highly recommend public transportation or ride-sharing when possible. Nearby SEPTA routes: T2 + T3⁠
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🧺 What to Bring:⁠
✔️ Blankets + chairs (no seating is provided)⁠
✔️ Water (there is no potable water on site)⁠
✔️ Snacks or dinner (please support our on-site food vendors!)⁠
✔️ Sunscreen + hats⁠
✔️ Bug spray⁠
✔️ Flashlight⁠
✔️ Hoodie or long sleeves (for the after sunset chill)⁠
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🍿 Good to Know:⁠
👉 Free and open to all — donations encouraged!⁠
👉 Seating is first-come, first-served⁠
👉 Designated accessible seating area (across from info table)⁠
👉 Food trucks will be on site weekly⁠
👉 All films will have open captions⁠
👉 2 ADA accessible restrooms on site (by basketball court)⁠
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💓 Community Care:⁠
If bringing pets or children, please supervise them closely at all times. We also encourage attendees to research films in advance if they have concerns about content or trigger warnings.⁠
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📸 We will have photographers and videographers at the park to document the event. Photos and videos will only be used for future marketing and promotional purposes. If you are not comfortable having your face in any photos or videos, please let the photographer/videographer know.⁠
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🤑 Every Under the Stars festival redirects over $25K to local artists and cultural workers. Help us reach our $5K fundraising goal before the festival ends! Donate via the link in bio or on-site by purchasing merch ⁠
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❓ Questions during the event? Stop by the welcome table or email [email protected] ⁠
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🎞 Check out our full Know Before You Go guide and film program: https://cinespeak.org/cinema/

Heartbroken to hear about the passing of Gretjen Clausing! 🕊️⁠⁠Gretjen believed deeply in the power of community media a...
05/27/2026

Heartbroken to hear about the passing of Gretjen Clausing! 🕊️⁠
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Gretjen believed deeply in the power of community media and in making media production accessible to all Philadelphians. Through PhillyCAM, she opened doors for so many of us and helped create pathways for independent filmmakers, journalists, and storytellers to grow.⁠
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She was also one of the first people to support and truly believe in cinéSPEAK. Gretjen was a cheerleader, a connector, and someone who consistently showed up for artists and community-driven media. Her work at PhillyCAM, The Prince Theater (now, Philadelphia Film Center), and iHouse (RIP) was formative to our work and to the larger independent film community in Philadelphia.⁠
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This photo is from 2017, when Gretjen interviewed Sarah Mueller, our founder and Executive Director, for her WPPM 106.5 radio show, Pulling Focus. Looking back on moments like this reminds us how much care and intention Gretjen brought into building spaces for conversation, creativity, and community.⁠
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Thank you, Gretjen, for everything you gave to Philadelphia’s media arts community. Your impact will continue to ripple through all of us and the work we do. Rest easy, sweet friend. 🤍

New article alert! ✨⁠⁠Ahead of opening night for cinéSPEAK Under the Stars on Friday, May 29, cinéSPEAK Philly Cultural ...
05/27/2026

New article alert! ✨⁠
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Ahead of opening night for cinéSPEAK Under the Stars on Friday, May 29, cinéSPEAK Philly Cultural Critics Fellow Sophia Pradhan spoke with the filmmakers behind Everybody to Kenmure Street and Barriga Llena, Corazón Contento (Full Belly, Happy Heart) about community resistance, mutual aid, and the power of collective action. ✨🎬⁠
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Read the full article: https://cinespeak.org/2026/05/21/steal-this-story-please-urges-journalists-to-go-where-the-silence-is/

Under the Stars kicks off with a bang! Come see everything we’ve got planned to start off our annual free film festival ...
05/26/2026

Under the Stars kicks off with a bang! Come see everything we’ve got planned to start off our annual free film festival in West Philly’s own Clark Park on Friday, May 29th.🌠❤️‍🔥

⏰ Event Flow:
—7 PM: Community gathering with special musical guests Mariposas Galácticas and DJ Ripley. 🎶

Take the opportunity to say hi to our advocacy partners—Asian Americans United, No Ice Philly, Center for Integration and Migrant Support (CIMS), Juntos, Food Not Bombs, Sharing Excess and West Philly Porchfest—all of whom will be tabling! 💗

And don’t miss the chance to grab a bite from Tokio Sushi Truck and drinks from Two Locals Brewing Companyy. 🍣🍻

—9 PM: We’ll be screening the Pennsylvania Premieres of Everybody to Kenmure Street (dir. Felipe Bustos Sierra), winner of the Special Jury Award at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, as well as Barriga Llena, Corazón Contento (Full Belly, Happy Heart) (dirs. Marshall Leitner-Hanig and Jordana Rubenstein-Edberg). 🎥🎞️

—10 PM on: Afterwards, come on down to Dahlak Paradise for a special opening night party, with DJs riva + bianca! Show your ticket for 10% off all food and drink. 🎉

What are you waiting for? Learn more and register: https://cinespeak.org/cinema/

Under the Stars 2026, our series of independent film screenings in West Philly’s Clark Park, is just over a week away. 🌃...
05/25/2026

Under the Stars 2026, our series of independent film screenings in West Philly’s Clark Park, is just over a week away. 🌃🎥⁠
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We wanted to take this chance to shout out our incredible advocacy and cultural partners. Under the Stars wouldn’t be the same without them, and we wouldn’t want to do it without them! 🙌💖⁠
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Thank you to—Amistad Law Project, Asian Americans United, Art Philly, Be Reel Black Cinema Club, BlackStar, Center for Integration and Migrant Support, Consulate of Mexico, Free Press, Food Not Bombs, Juntos, Gender Justice Fund, Mexican Cultural Center, Philadelphia Latino Film and Arts Festival, No Ice Philly, Sharing Excess, Video Consortium PHL, Writer's Room, and West Philly Porchfest—for doing the vital work you do and for partnering on our festival!
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Stay tuned for announcements re: each week's our tabling partners! 🎉🌸⁠
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Ready? Learn more and register: https://cinespeak.org/cinema/

This June 8th, we’re bringing heist energy to Pride! 🌈💰cinéSPEAK x Two Locals Brewing Company present Set It Off (1996) ...
05/23/2026

This June 8th, we’re bringing heist energy to Pride! 🌈💰

cinéSPEAK x Two Locals Brewing Company present Set It Off (1996) + Rainbow Girls (2025), two electrifying films about Black q***r and trans women refusing to play by the rules.

If you love cinema about friendship, survival, and getting what you deserve, this one is for you! 🤑

🎥 Film runs 6–8:30 PM —with Rainbow Girls Dir. Nana Duffuor in attendance!
🍹 Happy Hour 5–7 PM
🍿 Free popcorn
🥡 BYO dinner

Free event! Donations encouraged to keep Movie Mondays going strong.

Grab your ticket: https://cinespeak.eventive.org/schedule/69a07f5202d4a83456c571d7

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