The City of Pottsville has announced its first-ever Pottsville Film Festival, set to take place from May 30 through June 1, 2025.

The highly anticipated event will bring together filmmakers, industry professionals and movie enthusiasts for a celebration of cinema, creativity, and community.

Headlining the festival are two distinguished special guests: Danny Grimaldi, best known for his role as Patsy Parisi in the iconic television series “The Sopranos,” and Pottsville’s own Meredith Averill, an award-winning television writer and producer for Netflix.

Averill, a graduate of Pottsville Area High School, has garnered critical acclaim for her work as the executive producer on “Locke & Key,” “Wednesday” and “The Haunting of Hill House.”

Event Highlights

• Friday, May 30: The festival will kick off with an exclusive meet and greet with Grimaldi and Averill at the Eagle Tavern, offering fans a rare opportunity to interact with the acclaimed actor and writer, followed by a red carpet event at Arrow Studio & Events.

• Saturday, May 31: The Majestic Theatre will host a full day of Film Block Showings, featuring a variety of films from local, national, and student filmmakers. Attendees can also enjoy a beer garden, live entertainment and a writers workshop led by Averill at the Pottsville Campus of Alvernia University, offering aspiring writers a chance to learn from one of the industry’s top talents. End the evening at The Chopping Block with an Italian-style dinner party and “Sopranos” Q&A session with Grimaldi.

• Sunday, June 1: The festival will conclude with a Sunday brunch and the awards ceremony, where three $500 cash prizes will be awarded for Best Student Film, Best Pennsylvania Film and Best of the Fest. An additional 15 trophies will also be handed out to recognize outstanding films in various categories.

How to Participate

Filmmakers are invited to submit their work at www.downtownpottsville.com.

Click on “Pottsville Film Festival” to be directed to the FilmFreeway application portal for more details.

Tickets will be available for purchase at www.downtownpottsville.com in the coming weeks.