24th Philadelphia Film Fest, Days 2 and 3: Having a 'Cannes' do attitude

This may be only the second time of sitting in theaters for hours a day watching movies, a.k.a., enduring the best of a film festival. And for me, Philadelphia's annual fest devoted to international and local cinema is the only place I do it... for now.

But the some feeling kicks in days before it starts: do I really have the energy to endure four movies a day for the first few days of the fest? In my head I say no, but by the third movie of each day my body is programmed to endure it. It also doesn't mean that I don't feel like nodding off during the third movie, either. Whoops.

So with day one of the festival off to a smashing start with "Anomalisa", I grabbed my badge and tickets (for select screenings not covered with my badge) and headed downtown for day two, Oct. 21.

24th Philadelphia Film Fest, Day 1: "Anomalisa" shines as opener!

Yay, the Philadelphia Film Festival has officially started!

After weeks since announcing the fest's lineup the anticipation can finally start to dissipate as local cinephiles can start their marathon moviewatching.

The festival's opening night activities appeared to go off without a hitch, and what a fabulous event that sounded like. The red carpet, the party, and all sorts of luxuriation that comes with it.

It started off with two screenings of "Anomalisa", the award-winning, stop-motion animation film from Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson, at the Prince Theater at 6 and 8:30. There seemed to be a flood of interest for the 8:30 screening since it was announced that Kaufman and Johnson would be in person to have a Q&A segment after that showing of their film, and they would be honored with the fest's artistic achievement award. Of course there were email updates saying this screening was sold out, rush tickets were available and blah blah blah.

Charlie Kaufman, Todd Haynes to appear at Philly Film Fest

Organizers of the 24th Philadelphia Film Festival announced Thursday that Charlie Kaufman and 30 other special guests will be in attendance for certain screenings during the duration of the 11-day festival.

Following the 8:30 screening of their festival-opening film "Anomalisa" at the Prince Theater, directors Kaufman and Duke Johnson will participate in a Q&A following the screening, and will be feted with the festival's artistic achievement award: Kaufman for his "incredibly imaginative writing" and Johnson for his work in animation that culminated in "the revolutionary stop-motion animated work of art 'Anomalisa'".

The festival also announced a Charlie Kaufman Retrospective section has been added to the festival line-up at the Prince Theater, which will showcase all of his titles: "Adaptation"; "Being John Malkovich"; "Confesstions of a Dangerous Mind"; "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"; "Human Nature"; and "Synecdoche, New York".

The retrospective has not yet been scheduled.

In addition to previously announced guest Michael Moore during the closing night showing of his latest film "Where to Invade Next"at the Prince Theater, director Todd Haynes ("Carol") is scheduled to appear, as is Gaspar Noé ("Love", "Irreversible"), actress Zoë Bell ("Camino") and Jamie Kennedy ("Scream").

Below is the full line-up of guests scheduled to attend. All information is subject to change.

Patricia Riggen, Director, The 33

Charlie Kaufman, Director, Anomalisa

Duke Johnson, Director, Anomalisa

Kevin Kerslake, Director, As I AM: The Life and Times of DJ AM

Brian Klugman, Director, Baby Baby Baby

David April, Subject, Beer Runners

Justin Wirtalla, Director, Beer Runners

Erik Shirai, Director, The Birth of Sake

Josh C. Waller, Director, Camino

Zoë Bell, Actor, Camino

Todd Haynes, Director, Carol

Rick Alverson, Director, Entertainment

Alison Bagnall, Director, Funny Bunny

Tara Culp, Producer, Funny Bunny

Greg Koh, Director, The Great Alone

Lynn True, Director, In Transit

Erika Frankel, Director, King Georges

Georges Perrier, Subject, King Georges

Jeffrey Loeb, Producer, A Light Beneath Their Feet

Gaspar Noé, Director, Love

Jessica Edwards, Director, Mavis!

Jay Dockendorf, Director, Naz and Maalik

Noah Pritzker, Director, Quitters

Ben Hickernell, Director, A Rising Tide

Jamie Kennedy, Actor, Scream

David Felix Sutcliffe, Director, (T)error

Christopher K. Walker, Director, Welcome to Leith

Marilyn Cohen, Executive Producer, When Voices Meet

Sharon Katz, Subject, When Voices Meet

Nonhlanhla Wanda, Subject, When Voices Meet

Michael Moore, Director, Where to Invade Next