2026 Press Release

2026 Allentown Film Festival
The fourth annual Allentown Film Festival will take place from April 9 - 12, 2026, at the Civic Theatre of Allentown's two historic venues and April 26, 2026 at the Allentown Art Museum. We will screen 112 films selected from 1,1111 films submitted by filmmakers around the world.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

4th Annual Allentown Film Festival Announces Record-Breaking Submissions and Expansive 2026 Lineup

Allentown, PA — The 4th Annual Allentown Film Festival returns to downtown Allentown with its most ambitious program yet, celebrating independent cinema from the Lehigh Valley, across the United States, and around the globe. This year, the festival received a record number of film submissions, reflecting its rapid growth as a cultural destination for bold storytelling and emerging voices.

The 2026 lineup showcases an extraordinary range of genres and styles—from heartfelt dramas and quirky comedies to chilling horror, psychological thrillers, experimental art films, and compelling documentaries. The festival proudly highlights its Regional Competition, featuring standout Pennsylvania shorts such as Date Night, The Mystery Dog, Clickbait, Nevermore, and Right Here, alongside inventive micro-shorts like Capicua! and The Check.

The Homegrown Films: Local Shorts block spotlights Lehigh Valley talent with deeply personal and community-driven works including Inequity Indoors, Phillipsburg: A Railroad Legacy, and the moving drama Buch.

This year’s feature presentations add further excitement. The festival will screen the gripping arthouse horror thriller Dreamland Awaits (Hungary), the internationally buzzed documentary Dad Genes (United Kingdom/New York), and the feature drama Pieces of Lilo (United States). Audiences can also experience curated collections such as Relationships, Quirky, Unhinged & Unfiltered, Horror and Gory Shorts, Psychological Thriller Shorts, Surreal Shorts, and Delightfully Unpredictable Shorts—each offering daring, conversation-starting cinema.

Art lovers will enjoy the Art-Related and Spanish-Language Shorts block, including films from Mexico, India, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, and beyond, underscoring the festival’s expanding international reach.

Festival organizers note that the record submissions demonstrate both the hunger for independent film exhibition and Allentown’s growing reputation as a welcoming, filmmaker-friendly venue. “We are thrilled to present our most diverse and dynamic slate yet,” said Festival Director Alan Younkin. “This year’s selections prove that powerful stories can come from anywhere—and resonate everywhere.”

Screenings will take place throughout the festival weekend in Allentown, PA. Filmmaker Q&As, audience awards, and special events will round out the celebration.

For tickets, schedule updates, and full program details, visit www.allentownfilmfestival.org

Thurs, April 9

Regional Competition Semi-Finalists
6:00 PM · Thurs, Apr 9, 2026 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)

19th Street Theatre, 527 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104

One Minute Later (3 min) A bungled donut robbery sparks a wild, on-foot escape through town.

The Gummy Bear’s Revenge (2 min) A Gummy Bear encounter transforms Rodney’s once‑ordinary world.

The Sassy Show (episode 5) (5 min) Rex throws a surprise birthday party for Sassy.

Just another dream (2 min) An Afghan girl finds freedom in dreams and writing beyond her walls.

A Corncob Figurine (4 min) A grandfather who made things others would never dream of, Corncob Figurines.

In My Mind's Eye (4 min) A widowed photographer finds healing and hope through love, grief, and art

Gone but NEVER Forgotten (3 min) A father–son clash sparks tender reflection on love and loss.

The Wheel Keeps on Turning (4 min) Memories of time in the Garage start a new beginning.

Falling Into Frame (3 min) A magic painting sends June and Robert on a quest to reunite in love.

The Other World (5 min) Lost in a zany dimension, two friends fight to get back home.

Date Night (Director: Biello) (5 min) Rosy and Sy confront whether their love can survive the struggle.

Croaked! (4 min) A boozy detective and a bold frog chase the criminal known as Silly Goose.

Mahi Mahi: Ceviche (2 min) We must feed him

The Starving Artist (5 min) A surprise visit forces Max to conceal her art‑student dreams.

Seasons - Wave to Earth (4 min) A heartbroken young man is haunted by memories of a past love

My Garden Pals (4 min) Katie the Caterpillar is having difficulty getting along the tools in the garden.

Surveillance (5 min) An abduction case hinges on whether one witness can be believed.

Tales from the Park Bench (3 min) A point of view perspective of a Park Bench

Dine (1 min) An animated short horror film.

Pickup In Bethlehem (1 min) Limo driver can't do the run and a substitute takes control.

A Daily Struggle (4 min) A move to L.A. tests his dream of making it in music.

Hooked On A Feeling (4 min) A boyfriend hides a terrible secret from his girlfriend

Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.

Pieces of Lilo (feature drama film)
7:00 PM · Thurs, Apr 9, 2026 · Admission $10 (Click to purchase tickets)

Theatre514, 514 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104

Pieces of Lilo (1 hr 30 min) Jerry returns home after his father’s funeral and is pulled into a destabilizing 24 hours where past and present collide. Vivid childhood memories intrude on reality, igniting long‑buried tensions with siblings, Lilo, and wounded relatives. As resentments erupt and the family’s emotional structure cracks, Jerry spirals into a psychological break that forces everyone to confront the legacy and trauma they’ve avoided for decades, blurring the line between memory and identity.

Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.

Homegrown Films: Local Shorts
8:00 PM · Thurs, Apr 9, 2026 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)

19th Street Theatre, 527 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104

Inequity Indoors (7min) Yusuf Dahl’s fight to repeal the Thurmond Amendment exposes its human cost.

Phillipsburg A Railroad Legacy (14min) Exploring the history and impact of Phillipsburg’s once‑thriving rails.

Guitar Lessons (20min) At 70, he swaps screen time for guitar strings—thanks to his wife.

Buch (9min) A young woman prepares to make a statement about the loss of her boyfriend.

The Day the Wind Blew East (11min) He comes back for Lily Rose—but her new fiancé may seal his fate.

Torments (26min) Claire’s gift lifts others’ burdens but leaves her carrying them.

Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.

Fri, April 10

Regional Competition Finalists
6:00 PM · Fri, Apr 10, 2026 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)

19th Street Theatre, 527 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104

K-12 Finalists

Date Night (Director Watkins) (2 min) After forgetting date night, a girl scrambles for last minute date ideas.

The Mystery Dog (5 min) A ghost club goes undercover to find a phantom dog in a music school.

Clickbait (3 min) Four teens vanish after a campfire turns into a phone‑driven distraction.

One More Night (5 min) Two kids reunite a year later to relive the day that changed them.

College Finalists

Loud & Lively, Still & Silent (2 min) A city’s rush fades into the quiet beauty of falling snow.

Capicua! (1 min) An animated tale of a grandpa and grandson bonding over dominoes.

The Check (1 min) A first date implodes when a guy asks the worst question imaginable.

UNSOLVED: The Cereal Murders (5 min) Cereal boxes fall victim as a detective faces his strangest case yet.

Nevermore (4 min) Inheritance, murder, and a vengeful Raven haunt a guilty doctor.

Sprinkles (5 min) Nick braces for the toughest talk of his life with his longtime crush.

Hivemind (3 min) A girl explores a strange game after her friends mysteriously stop talking to her.

Password 316 (3 min) A man tries to hack his girlfriend’s laptop while battling his alter ego.

Between The Lines (4 min) Notes in a used book foretell the terror that strikes when lights fail.

Non-Student Finalists

illustrabamus (3 min) An experimental short exploring young‑adult growth through mixed media.

A Day at Gap Theater (4 min) An inside look of a screening at the newly opened Gap Theater.

The Hardest Arrangement (4 min) While planning a funeral, Danielle discovers the love Marcus meant to share.

Right Here (5 min) A missing child reveals a deeper truth as a mother’s reality unravels.

A Neglected Face of Profundity (4 min) A haunting look at how judging the messenger blinds us to real wisdom.

Tooth-walking Seahorse (3 min) A documentary about an Atlantic walrus herd off the coast of Svalbard

A Painting Comes to Life (2 min) An animated version of cityscape paintings using stop motion techniques.

Popcorn Pushers (4 min) A mob‑owned cinema faces chaos as the Lumbagos fight to stay open.

The Scissor Man (3 min) Wilkes‑Barre’s 1917 nightmare begins when the Scissor Man emerges.

Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.

Dad Genes (feature documentary)
8:00 PM · Fri, Apr 10, 2026 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)

19th Street Theatre, 527 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104

Conception Game (8 min) Missy’s baby quest hits chaos when Patrick unwittingly breaks the code.

Dad Genes (1 hour 3 min) Dad Genes is a documentary that tells the story of a former sperm donor whose carefree bachelor life takes an unexpected turn two decades later. After registering with a DNA ancestry site, he discovers he may have dozens of children, leading to an unprecedented family reunion, a surprising romance with the mother of a donor child, worldwide media attention, and a remarkable experiment in instant family and an unconventional fatherhood.

Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.

Horror and Gory Shorts
8:30 PM · Fri, Apr 11, 2025 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)

Theatre514, 514 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104

JÓLAKÖTTURINN (7 min) (Trailer) 1862 Iceland: a widow's story leads daughters to evade a nightmarish Yule cat with Freya's guidance.

The Prize (10 min) Emily may win the last prize at Edward's store, but does she want it?

Nice Girls (3 min) Two best friends find themselves in a dangerous situation after hitchhiking for a ride.

BIALO (5 min) (Trailer) Friends' reunion turns nightmare amid dark rituals and haunting shadows.

Unfinished Chapter (10 min) (Trailer) FBI agents unravel a writer's dark stories as vanishings plague town.

Coffee (2 min) What do you do when your soul is tired?

Stiff (3 min) Stuck in sleep paralysis, a woman confronts a creature in her bedroom.

A Coward's Legacy (10 min) (Trailer) Deserting soldier in dystopian war confronts unimaginable terror.

Brett's Special (2 min) (Trailer) A burger with a side of betrayal leaves one friend questioning their next bite.

Toxemia (3 min) (Trailer) In a padded cell, Bailey fights a disturbing doppelgänger, distorting reality.

Bastard Toadflax (12 min) (Trailer) Missing: Barrera, Mikey. Jack and police search for answers in box truck.

Don't You Forget About Me (16 min) (Trailer) Joe is stalked by an eerie apparition that seems to resemble an old friend of his.

Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.

Sat, April 11

What is Art? and a collection of Spanish-language short films with English subtitles
12:30 PM · Sat, Apr 12, 2025 · Admission FREE - Click to RSVP

Allentown Art Museum, 31 North 5th Street, Allentown, PA 18101

Art History / as told by logos (6 min) 67,000 years of art history as seen in 210 logos over six minutes.

Boots on the Ground for Art (5 min) (Trailer) A Veterans' art project honoring military service and new beginnings.

Green Greenie (1 min) Walk in the woods with static, golden fluff, and a journey to optimism.

SHE SPRANG OUT RED (6 min) (Trailer) Cross-cultural Caribbean feminine narratives: Transformation through design.

P[]P C()RN (1 min) (Trailer) Two comestibles of the American Midwest splice together to create a jargonized monstrosity.

Sock's Manifesto (4 min) (Trailer) Socks can't exist alone. Explore the case for independent socks!

EXISTENTIAL ACTION THRILLER (11 min) (Trailer) Artist Heidi Schwegler, in crisis, finds new inspiration in unfamiliar settings.

Community: The Universal Language (5 min) Immigrants get English and job training for a better future through new center.

Hasta Que Salga El Sol (3 min) Sing it, feel it, live it—Los Bichos Carnaval, until the sun rises!

That One Song (13 min) Santiago chases a lost melody he heard once, but can't recall its name or lyrics.

Revelation (13 min) Photographer Luciano finds the perfect image with Elena, uncovering dark secrets.

Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.

The Fries Rebellion and Documentary Shorts
3:30 PM · Sat, Apr 12, 2025 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)

19th Street Theatre, 527 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104

Find Yourself (16 min) (Trailer) From Wall Street to Dalmatian Coast, a man finds meaning in underground movement.

Iron Brotherhood (10 min) Two brothers face challenges as rising drivers in the motorsport of demolition derby.

The Fries Rebellion (33 min) (Trailer) After moving to Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, a teenage schoolgirl struggles with a local history report until she experiences immersive visions of the 1798-99 tax revolt first hand.

Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.

Broken Pieces (feature film & a short)
7:00 PM · Sat, Apr 12, 2025 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)

19th Street Theatre, 527 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104

Cut Me Summa Dat Noise (6 min) A film that celebrates the rhythms of everyday life through the eyes of a neighborhood matriarch who sets the tone for a new day with the beat of her own heart. As the neighborhood comes to life, people of all ages unite in a joyous cacophony of sound that illuminates the connections between them as members of a vibrant and diverse community in rhythm.

Broken Pieces (1 hour 23 min) (Trailer) One day in NYC the lives of five people cross paths with each other in unexpected ways, revealing the subtle yet important interconnectedness of their lives as they grapple with their own issues and try to make sense of the chaos that surrounds them. Love is a complicated and messy thing, and sometimes it takes being broken to find the pieces that fit.

Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.

Behaving Badly Shorts
7:30 PM · Sat, Apr 12, 2025 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)

Theatre514, 514 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104

Nepotism, Baby! (12 min) (Trailer) Young woman, fame-obsessed, invents conspiracy after nepotism fails.

MEOW! (14 min) (Trailer) To find her cat, a toilet attendant must sell foot pics to a river hunchback.

Her Curse (12 min) (Trailer)A young artist in Brooklyn follows a How-To article in an attempt to place a curse on her ex-girlfriend.

Flynn (15 min) (Trailer) When an Irish father and daughter con-artist duo plan a heist, will lust get in the way?

VIATICUM (14 min) (Trailer) A priest's Last Rites are contested by a nurse who denies her patient absolution.

Miscast (15 min) (Trailer) Filmmaker makes a Spanish crime drama, but neither he nor his production team speak Spanish.

Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.

Sun, April 12

Comedy Shorts
12:30 PM · Sun, Apr 13, 2025 · Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)

19th Street Theatre, 527 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104

Three Times a Week (13 min) Berrezzella sisters use superstition in Lotto; betrayal offers life-changing luck.

The Last Gunfight... yet! (3 min) Two duel in the Far West’s merciless universe, under the sheriff's watchful eyes.

Number Numb (10 min) A girl's unique affliction with numbers sparks her struggle for acceptance.

The Last Donut (2 min) (Trailer) Co-workers go to extremes for the last breakroom donut.

Back in Baby's Arms (16 min) Struggling actor lives with memory-impaired woman who thinks he's her late husband.

Breakfast Salad (5 min) (Trailer) Chaos erupts when Andrew's friends swap traditional breakfast for salads.

Cup Noodles (11 min) After a sour confrontation with an angry costumer, a delivery man attempts to right his wrong.

Static Cling (15 min) (Trailer) While attempting a love connection, a guy gets trapped inside his own coat at a laundromat.

Cell Buddies (5 min) Sam the raccoon and Bob the manatee find humor, heart, and trust in escape.

The Connoisseur (17 min) Connoisseur’s outlook changes with new Chinese eatery in the neighborhood.

Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.

Psychological Thrillers and Surreal Shorts
2:30 PM · Sun, Apr 13, 2025 · youtu.be/xtnvaOLjovo Admission $10 (Click to buy tickets!)

19th Street Theatre, 527 North 19th Street, Allentown, PA 18104

DOMINO SPRINGS (21 min) (Trailer) Mechanic ropes friend into body disposal; Mojave Desert holds unexpected perils.

Sit With It (12 min) (Trailer) A middle-aged man on the brink of divorce gets stalked by a blue chair that refuses to go away.

Mannequin (12 min) (Trailer) Frustrated artist Tunde transforms into a mannequin as an artistic statement.

Flashes of Light (11 min) (Trailer) A profound essence, Bagliori returns throughout life despite time and distance.

As Easy As Closing Your Eyes (22 min) (Trailer) A grieving mother fights addiction to a drug that dreams her deceased son to life.

Post-screening Panel Discussion featuring attending filmmakers and cast members.

Filmmakers love the Allentown Film Festival for its “smart, kind, film-loving folks” and its “efficiency and professionalism at all levels.” Enthusiastic audiences enjoy screening blocks in a gorgeously restored 1920s arthouse theatre from the golden age of cinema — “arguably the nicest venue I’ve ever been to.” “Engaging talkbacks and fun meet-the-filmmaker networking events” make the experience truly memorable. “Some films are even better than those featured at bigger cachet festivals.” Plus, you get a “super-cool medal”! Read additional enthusiastic reviews at FilmFreeway.com/AllentownFilmFestival, and submit your films today! Feel free to contact us at AllentownFilmFestival@gmail.com.

Allentown is only 60 miles from Philadelphia and 90 miles from New York City. In fact, many of North America's largest cities are less than a half-day’s drive away. The fourth annual Allentown Film Festival will take place from April 9 - 18, 2026 at two of the city’s most iconic cultural landmarks: the Civic Theatre of Allentown and the Allentown Art Museum. We strive to expand the enthusiastic audience of moviegoers in Pennsylvania’s third-largest city and beyond and to promote outstanding films from Eastern Pennsylvania and around the world.

Make plans to attend the 2026 Allentown Film Festival!

Founded by award-winning filmmakers and educators, the Allentown Film Festival is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that brings the Independent Film Festival experience to Eastern Pennsylvania. Screening blocks of short and feature films are followed by Q&A panel discussions during which audience members interact with filmmakers. It’s an unmatched opportunity for artists to receive feedback and encouragement.

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk presents a medal to filmmaker Kwesa the Artist with Festival Director Alan Younkin.

Set amid gentle hills and charming countryside, the Lehigh Valley is a diverse area, home to Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, as well as dozens of small towns and picturesque boroughs, all peppered with parks, trails, and waterways ready to explore.

Steeped in pre-Colonial, early American, and industrial history, the region’s storied past defines its dynamic present, offering visitors everything from craft beer and covered bridges to museums and amusement parks.

Special Regional Filmmaker Prizes*

1-5 Min. Short Film Contest $1,000 Grand Prize*

1-5 Min. Short Film Contest $100 K-12 Student Prize*

1-5 Min. Short Film Contest $100 College Student Prize*

1-5 Min. Short Film Contest $100 Non-Student Filmmaker Prize*

* All genres welcome (scripted, unscripted, etc.)

* Open to filmmakers within a 100-mile radius of Allentown, PA

* Free to enter

* Entry deadline: February 15, 2026

* Multiple submissions by filmmakers encouraged

* Click to submit your film.

The the third annual Allentown Film Festival took place from April 10 - 13, 2025 at the Civic Theatre of Allentown's two historic venues and the Allentown Art Museum.