AKA at the 34th Philadelphia Film Festival

A Cinematic Celebration in Philadelphia

2025 Philadelphia Film Festival - A Review by Max Markowtiz 

The 2025 Philadelphia Film Festival (PFF34) was a dazzling showcase of storytelling, community, and cinematic euphoria. From sold-out screenings to sidewalk conversations, the energy was electric. Wait lines curled around corners, yet the atmosphere remained warm and spirited, fueled by shared anticipation and film-loving camaraderie. The festival volunteers were exceptional, and the post-screening Q&As added depth to the experience. Colman Domingo’s discussion of Dead Man’s Wire was a standout moment, and we applaud Larry Korman and Andrew Greenblatt for their roles in making PFF34 possible for all of us. I’m thrilled to recommend three of my favorites from this year, and for my full review on this year's festival, please visit moviecritic.today.

AKA invites guests to continue the celebration at our own a.cinema screening rooms. Located within select AKA properties, a.cinema offers an intimate, design-forward space to enjoy curated films in comfort and style. Whether you're revisiting festival favorites or discovering new gems, a.cinema is your personal gateway to elevated viewing.

(Larry Korman and the Markowitz Family at PFF34)

Max's Festival Favorites

Sound Of Falling
Mascha Schilinski’s Sound of Falling is a hypnotic meditation on innocence and transformation. Told through the eyes of four girls across four eras from pre-WWI to the early 2000s, the film unfolds within a single German estate, where even the trees seem to breathe with emotion. With haunting visuals and poetic storytelling, this film evokes the spirit of The Virgin Suicides and lingers long after the credits roll.

Frankenstein
Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein is a masterwork of emotion and design. Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, and Mia Goth deliver spellbinding performances in this reimagining of Mary Shelley’s classic. With themes of grief, love, and redemption, Del Toro crafts a world that is both terrifying and tender. Elordi’s portrayal of “The Creature” is among the year’s finest, an embodiment of longing and beauty.

Blue Moon

Set over a single night in 1943, Blue Moon is a quietly devastating portrait of Broadway lyricist Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke) as he grapples with the loss of his creative partnership with Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott). After leaving the premiere of Oklahoma!, Hart retreats to Sardi’s, where the evening unfolds in a haze of regret, wit, and unexpected connection. Hawke’s performance is a masterclass in vulnerability. His portrayal of Hart’s unraveling is raw, nuanced, and deeply human.

The film finds its emotional heartbeat in Hart’s interactions with bartender Eddie (Bobby Cannavale), pianist Morty (Jonah Lees), and a luminous college student played by Margaret Qualley, whose presence injects warmth and hope into the melancholic night. Their final scene in the coat room is pure cinematic magic. Intimate, aching, and unforgettable.

Andrew Scott’s Rodgers is restrained yet quietly heartbroken, a man torn between admiration and disappointment. Blue Moon doesn’t offer redemption, but it does offer grace. It ends not with resolution, but with the quiet understanding that art endures, even when partnerships fade.

Experience More at a.cinema

Whether you missed these films at PFF34 or want to relive their magic, a.cinema offers a refined, residential-style setting to enjoy them. Join us for weekly screenings curated by Max Markowitz of moviecritic.today and discover why AKA is the home of the world’s most livable hotels and inspiring cinematic experiences. For screening schedules and reservations, visit stayaka.com.