POTTSTOWN PA – Two nights of film screenings – Thursday and Friday (Oct. 5-6, 2023), both from 7-10 p.m. with doors open at 6:30 p.m. – are being introduced as the first annual Pottstown Film Festival. The events are presented by borough native, actor, and entrepreneur Kyle Klaus and his company, Wishlist Productions, at Rivet: Canteen & Assembly, 238 E. High St.
- Thursday’s program offers what are said to be 10 “Oscar-qualifying short films submitted from all over the world,” billed as the Manhattan Short Film Festival.
- The Friday program opens with a 10-minute short film, “Roundabout,” that stars Klaus and actress Elizabeth Tate. It is scheduled to be followed by a special preview of new feature film, “Hayseed.” It currently is “making the rounds at various film festivals,” with a public debut and release planned for November.
Tickets are priced between $17 and $30, and are available for sale online at Eventbrite. Additionally, Rivet’s full bar will be open for the evenings. Items from its food menu can be ordered during the events.
Klaus is a New Jersey resident who moved from Pottstown in 2008 to pursue his acting career. In the following 15 years has added the titles of real estate agent, development partner, investor, online retailer, and entertainment producer to his resume.
Klaus calls it his mission “to bring a slice of Hollywood and New York City’s film and entertainment industry to Pottstown.” Having grown up in Pottstown and later relocated to a major city, Klaus said he takes “pride in my roots. Pottstown is a remarkable town with immense potential and exceptional individuals. I aspire to contribute and cultivate a cultural environment that can fuel the town’s progress, allowing anyone interested to dream more vividly and imagine new possibilities.”
More about the screenings
The Thursday presentation of the Manhattan Short Film Festival is described by promoters as “a first-of-its-kind global film festival” showcasing its submitted films. The Pottstown venue is one of more than 600 worldwide locations with showings during the same week. The local audience will have opportunities to vote for their favorite films and actors.
In the Friday opener, Roundabout, “a finance all-star walks in on a surprising and scandalous scene involving his boss and trans sister. He’s thrown into a world of moral turmoil, as he’s forced to confront his own values and beliefs. He begins to realize that nothing is what is seems in his inner circle of family, friends and co-workers.”
Friday’s special preview presentation, “Hayseed,” is “set in a small Midwest town. (It) follows the investigation of a church congregation after their reverend is found dead.” Directed by Travis Burgess, it stars Kathryn Morris (Cold Case, Minority Report), Jack Falahee (How to Get Away with Murder), Ismenia Mendes (Orange is The New Black), and Amy Hargreaves (13 Reasons Why). Hayseed is winning awards ahead of its theatrical debut in November, promoters added.
After the screening, Burgess and Klaus will participate a 15-minute question-and-answer session. Then Rivet will provide an after-party Friday with an outdoor music show.
Clapboard photo by Getty Images on Unsplash+; Pottstown photo by Travels With The Post
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