The Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival is back to bring together filmmakers and film lovers.

The fourth edition of the event runs today through Sunday at the Mauch Chunk Opera House, with three packed days of screenings.

The festival attracts world-class independent films, but still makes a point of celebrating local talent.

“We’re curating a program of independent, unusual films from literally all over the world, and locally,” said Todd Morris, the festival’s founder. “We have a lot of local filmmakers we give the opportunity to have a voice and show their work, and hopefully grow as filmmakers and artists.”

This year’s festival includes screenings of 90 films. Over 30 filmmakers are scheduled to be on hand to answer questions about their films.

Dozens of films are being screened for the first time in Pennsylvania, some even for the first time in the U.S. Some premiered at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.

Tickets are available for the full festival, single days and individual sessions made up of a mix of feature length and short films.

Independent filmmakers make up for their limited budgets by pouring their passion into their films. Festivals are where they get a chance to share that work with an audience.

Last year, most festivals including Jim Thorpe did not take place. Many were relegated to taking place online.

While they were necessary, those online festivals lacked the quality of sitting in a darkened theater with quality sound, and deprived filmmakers of the interaction with their fans, Morris said.

“The only thing that’s interesting is to actually present films for live people, in situation, being able to appreciate and watch the films, and connect with the filmmakers themselves, and connect with each other as they appreciate the film together,” he said.

The festival’s traditional home, Mauch Chunk Opera House, reopened for shows this month, just in time for the festival.

The festival is highlighted by 11 feature-length films, including two documentaries by Pennsylvania-based filmmakers, and acclaimed American and international films.

The filmmakers’ gala takes place Friday night at the Victor Stabin Museum on West Broadway.

The opening night session features “Superior,” a thriller which debuted at Sundance, and live music.

Friday’s 7 p.m. session is headlined by “Philly DA,” a documentary currently being aired as a series on PBS. Filmmaker Ted Passon documents controversial Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who won by pledging to reform the criminal justice system and reduce incarceration.

Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Pennsylvania-based filmmaker Alexander Monelli will debut his documentary, “Marionette Land,” about a Lancaster man who has operated a marionette theater for 30 years, living upstairs with his mother. Monelli’s previous film, “At the Drive-In,” won awards for its depiction of the staff and patrons of Carbon County’s own Mahoning Drive-In Theater.

Two sessions are dedicated strictly to films from the region: the Pa. Student Filmmaker block (11 a.m. Saturday) and Local Heroes (11 a.m. Sunday).

Giving a venue to filmmakers from the region has been one of the goals of the festival. But there are also filmmakers who are making return trips to the festival from other parts of the country.

Filmmakers like the setting that Jim Thorpe and the Mauch Chunk Opera House provide for the festival. And the festival strives to provide a quality screening experience for their films.

“Even filmmakers from LA love it here and want to come back. They love the festival, ambiance and vibe we create,” Morris said. “One of my biggest sources of pride is when a filmmaker says, ‘That’s the best screening I’ve had for this film.”

Those positive experiences help the festival grow in animé recognition. And with that exposure, they get opportunities to add more acclaimed independent films to highlight the returning filmmakers. That’s clear this year through the festival’s closing film, “Anne at 13,000 feet,” which debuted at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival. Another film, the sci-fi feature “Scales,” was Saudi Arabia’s entry for Best International Feature at this year’s Oscars.

“A couple of years ago, there was no way we could get them,” Morris said.

The Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival takes place Thursday-Sunday at Mauch Chunk Opera House. A full schedule of events and tickets are available at www.jim­thorpeindiefilmfest.com.