Beneficial Bank will serve as the Presenting Sponsor of the Film Festival, which will open Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Philadelphia, PA (July 22, 2015) – The World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 and Greater Philadelphia Film Office (GPFO) today formally announced the World Meeting of Families Film Festival, which will open Tuesday, September 22 and close on the evening of Friday, September 25, 2015, just before Pope Francis’ arrival in Philadelphia. Curated by the GPFO and presented by Beneficial Bank (NYSE: BNCL), the Film Festival will be held at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, adding to the many cultural and family-friendly events being planned across the Philadelphia region for the week of the 2015 World Meeting of Families Congress (September 22 – 25) and Papal Visit (September 26 – 27).
“We are absolutely delighted by the World Meeting of Families Film Festival and how it was so diligently and beautifully curated by Sharon Pinkenson, Joan Bressler and the entire team at the Greater Philadelphia Film Office,” said Donna Crilley Farrell, Executive Director, World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015. “This is an extraordinary opportunity for families to come together throughout the week to share in true quality time via these films. Never before at a World Meeting of Families has a film festival been planned and we are proud that Philadelphia will change that! We are so grateful to the GPFO as well as Gerry Cuddy and Beneficial Bank for helping bring this exceptional project to life as we know it will create an unforgettable experience for all.”
Films set to be shown include, “The Mighty Macs,” the story of the NCAA Champion Immaculata College Women’s Basketball Team and “Diary of a City Priest,” which tells the story of Father John McNamee and his work at St. Malachy Parish in North Philadelphia. “The Mighty Macs” and “Diary of a City Priest” star Philadelphia-born actors in David Boreanaz and David Morse, respectively. Other films to be shown include “The Wizard of Oz,” “Invincible” and M. Night Shyamalan’s “Wide Awake.” The festival will also premiere “Urban Trinity,” a film chronicling the history of Catholicism in Philadelphia, produced by Sam Katz. This film will premiere on Wednesday, September 23 at 8 p.m.
All films will be shown in the Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts with the exception of two films. On Thursday, September 24, 1,400 high school students from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the School District of Philadelphia will gather at Congregation Rodeph Shalom for a special screening of the Academy-Award winning film, “Schindler’s List.” On the evening of Friday, September 25, an outdoor screening of the popular Sing-a-Long version of “The Sound of Music” will be held at Dilworth Park. A final schedule which will include additional films will be released in August and ticket information for all shows will be forthcoming.
“Motion pictures are meant to unite, inspire and educate audiences,” said Sharon Pinkenson, Executive Director, Greater Philadelphia Film Office. “And that was exactly our focus in curating the World Meeting of Families Film Festival for the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015. Through the joy of cinema, we wanted this festival to unite the thousands of international guests who will visit here as well as our local residents, through the power of film. For many of the selected films, Philadelphia serves as the backdrop for powerful and compelling stories. It seemed only appropriate that we celebrate and share that with the world. We are hopeful that these films will inspire families and friends to spend quality time together in our wonderful city.”
“The World Meeting of Families presents an incredible opportunity for the world to get to know the city Beneficial has called home since 1853,” Gerry Cuddy, President & CEO, Beneficial Bank. “We’re proud to sponsor an event that showcases the rich culture, history and vibrancy that has made Philadelphia one of the best places in the world to live and work.”
Co-sponsored by the Holy See’s Pontifical Council for the Family and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the World Meeting of Families is a triennial global event that seeks to strengthen the sacred bonds of family across the globe and highlight its intrinsic value to the good of society. This international gathering will welcome Pope Francis to the United States for the first time in his Papacy. Being held in the United States for the first time ever, the official theme for the 2015 World Meeting of Families is “Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive.”
For more information regarding the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, visit www.WorldMeeting2015.org. For more information regarding The Holy See’s Pontifical Council for the Family, which co-sponsors the World Meeting of Families, visit http://www.familiam.org/famiglia_eng/00002554_HOME_ENG.html. You can also engage the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia on Facebook (World Meeting of Families 2015) (Encuentro Mundial de las Familias – Filadelfia 2015), Twitter (@WMF2015) (@WMF2015ES) and Instagram (WMF2015).
About World Meetings of Families
Beginning with 1994, The Year of the Family, the Pontifical Council for the Family has been responsible for organizing the World Meetings of Families in Rome (1994); Rio de Janeiro (1997); Rome (2000); Manila (2003); Valencia (2006); Mexico City (2009); Milan (2012); and now, Philadelphia (2015). Since its inception by Saint John Paul II, the World Meeting of Families has sought to strengthen the sacred bonds of family across the globe.
About Greater Philadelphia Film Office
Greater Philadelphia Film Office (GPFO) is a “film commission” representing Southeastern Pennsylvania that officially serves the counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia. A non-profit economic development agency committed to the growth of the regional film and television industry, GPFO has been responsible for impacting the local economy with over $4 billion since 1992. Please visit http://www.film.org for more information.
About Beneficial Bank
Founded in 1853, Beneficial Bank is the oldest and largest bank headquartered in Philadelphia. With more than 58 offices in the greater Philadelphia and South Jersey regions and approximately $5 billion in assets, Beneficial is a full service financial institution whose product offering includes commercial, consumer and real estate lending, insurance and wealth management services. Known as the knowledge bank, Beneficial has been committed to providing financial education to individuals and businesses in the Delaware Valley for more than 160 years. Visit www.thebeneficial.com for more information.
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