Emerging Filmmakers Hub Evolves into Major Cultural Event
The Centre Film Festival has quickly become a cultural force in Central Pennsylvania, connecting local voices with global cinema. Held at the historic Rowland and State Theatres, it’s more than a week of screenings—a dynamic platform for storytelling, community engagement, and creative exchange. This virtual and in-person hybrid event, recently supported by a Centre Foundation grant, brings together emerging filmmakers, award-winning films, local student showcases, live music, and masterclasses while making the arts accessible and highlighting the region’s untold stories.
What began as a modest gathering has rapidly evolved into a thriving international film festival. Filmmakers engage directly with the community through workshops, building creative connections, and offering valuable industry insights. This emphasis on collaboration is helping shape the future of the local arts scene by nurturing a pipeline of young talent, particularly through partnerships with high school students.
The festival’s digital presence has deepened its global reach. Thanks to platforms like Eventive, films and conversations are no longer confined to in-person attendees. Viewers from across the world are engaging with what’s happening in State College, transforming the event into a truly global experience. Highlights from recent years include premiering award-winning local films with global impacts as well as those with local impact.
The festival’s growing influence is evidenced by its ability to attract high-profile industry figures. Emmy-winning producer Gerry Abrams and his son, director J.J. Abrams, attended in recent years, underscoring the event’s significance as a platform for rising talent and cross-generational conversations about the future of film. Yet, the Centre Film Festival’s greatest impact remains its ability to elevate local talent.
Pearl Gluck, a Donald P. Bellisario Career Advancement Professor, associate professor of film production, and filmmaker, co-founded the festival in 2019. She partnered with Curt Chandler, a former colleague and associate teaching professor of journalism.
Gluck’s passion for filmmaking took root in childhood when her father gave her a camera. What fascinated her was how people became more animated and self-aware once the lens was focused on them. This early observation shaped her understanding of the dynamic between performance and reality, this idea later influenced her work, particularly one of her films, “The Turn Out, “which blends documentary with fiction to explore that delicate balance.
Gluck insightfully reflects, “The festival began with a simple goal: to bring visibility to voices often left out of the conversation,” she explains. “It’s about creating an ecosystem where these voices can thrive.” This vision has shaped the festival’s programming, with initiatives like the “Pride on Screen” award in partnership with Centre LGBT+. The festival also champions Pennsylvania artists through their Made in PA awards, Lifetime Achievement Award, and Living Legacy Award. Now, they are collaborating with the Film Commission of Central Pennsylvania to determine how to build a viable and sustainable film industry in the “T-zone” of our State, above and between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
The Festival thrives on the contributions of the community, with students playing a key role in its growth. Diane Akpovwa, a Junior majoring in Human-Centered Design at the College of IST, shares her experience: “Interning at The Centre Film Festival allowed me to explore the potential of Virtual Reality in ways I never imagined. It offered an invaluable opportunity to experiment and discover how I can help create innovative experiences within the realm of film festivals.”
The Centre Film Festival is a shining example of how community support can transform a local event into a global conversation. With backing from local donors, business sponsors, and recently, a grant from Centre Foundation, it keeps its doors open to students, fosters local talent, and broadens its international influence. Since its debut, the festival has showcased over 500 films and brought more than 150 filmmakers to State College, while offering more than 20 free workshops for high school students. It’s not just an event—it’s a dynamic movement that grows and evolves, sparking creativity year after year. It has put State College on the map, turning it into a go-to destination for film enthusiasts and industry professionals.
Filmmakers interested in submitting to the 2025 Centre Film Festival can do so through Film Freeway at www.filmfreeway.com/CentreFilmFestival2025. Submissions open on March 17, 2025. The Centre Film Festival 2025 website, featuring the full schedule and event details, will go live in the fall of 2025.
