The Full Lineup for 2014’s Awesome Fest


Imagine a film festival that includes everything from The Karate Kid to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to documentaries on bronies (those male lovers of My Little Pony) and George Takei…and imagine that most of the screenings are free. Sound too good to be true? It’s not.

Back for it’s fifth year, Philadelphia’s Awesome Fest is featuring some unique experiences for 2014. The festival, which runs from June 19 through August 17, takes place all over the city and has something for just about anyone.

“The Awesome Fest is bringing independent cinema, retro screenings, yet-to-be-released Hollywood Blockbusters, music, stand-up comedy and more to Philadelphia,” said Dave Cowden, a festival representative. This year, the theme is “The Soundtrack of Awesome,” and it’s the first time that organizers have teamed up with Wizard World to present several screenings at the comic con. Moviegoers can also catch free outdoor screenings at Liberty Lands Park in Northern Liberties, Clark Park in University City, and Eakins Oval on the Ben Franklin Parkway.

We’ve got the full line-up, including venue details, below. For more information on Awesome Fest, check out their website.

AWESOME FEST 2014 PROGRAM

The Awesome Fest Lineup at Wizard World Comic Con

All screenings (except where noted) are free with a Wizard World ticket.

Tickets for Wizard World Comic Con are on sale at www.wizardworld.com

Thursday, June 19th, 2014

THE KARATE KID (30th Anniversary Screening), 5:30PM, Q&A with Ralph Macchio & Martin Kove.

The Doug Benson Movie Interruption (30th Anniversary Screening of REVENGE OF THE NERDSTrocadero Theatre, 9:00PM With Doug Benson and Curtis Armstrong (Booger). Tickets are on sale now at www.thetroc.com

Friday, June 20th, 2014

WIZARD’S WAY, 12:30PM

KUNG FU ELLIOT, 2:00PM, Winner of the Audience Award at Slamdance.

WICKER KITTENS, 4:00PM, Q&A with Amy Elliott

BUZZARD, 5:15PM

Saturday, June 21st, 2014

TO BE TAKEI, 11:00AM

THE RODDENBERRIES – 12:30pm, Philadelphia’s own premiere Star Trek tribute band

TROMEO & JULIET, 1:15PM, Q&A with Lloyd Kaufman

A Conversation with Christopher Lloyd, 3:00PM

A Conversation with John Carpenter, 4:00PM

SUMMER OF BLOOD, 6:15PM

Sunday, June 22nd, 2014

ALL CHEERLEADERS DIE, 12:00PM, Q&A with Andrew van den Houten

TENTSQUARE PANEL, 1:30PM, with Jeffrey Reddick

A BRONY TALE 2:30PM, Q&A with Brent Hodge

THE AWESOME FEST OUTDOOR SERIES

Opening Festivities

CITY GARDENS TRIBUTE SHOW featuring INTO ANOTHER & MURPHY’S LAW

Co-presented by This Is Hardcore Fest, The Trocadero Theatre (6/25), Tickets ($16) go on sale Friday, May 30th at 12:00PM – www.thetroc.com

Closing Festivities

THE OTHER ONE: THE LONG, STRANGE TRIP OF BOB WEIR

The Trocadero Theatre, Sunday, August 17th, 2014, Tickets ($12) go on sale Friday May 30th at 12:00PM – www.thetroc.com

Centerpiece (of Pizza) Event – Friday, July 18th, 2014

The Pizza Underground: Free Concert & Pizza Party outdoors at The Oval – Followed by an outdoor screening of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) The Pizza Underground will perform at 8:00PM. Screening will immediately follow.

OUTDOOR PREMIERES & SCREENINGS, BY LOCATION

Clark Park, 4398 Chester Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104, All outdoor screenings are free to attend and begin at 9:00PM

RIOT ON THE DANCE FLOOR, Thursday, June 26th, 2014

LIVING STARS Thursday, July 3rd, 2014

THE WIZARD OF OZ/DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, Thursday, July 10th, 2014

DEATH METAL ANGOLA, Thursday, July 17th,2014, Co-presented by BlackStar Film Festival

JINGLE BELL ROCKS!, Thursday, July 24th, 2014

PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE (30th Anniversary Screening), Thursday, August 7th, 2014

SKANKS , Thursday, August 14th, 2014

The Oval, Intersection of Benjamin Franklin Parkway & 24th Street, All outdoor screenings and events are free to attend.

SCHOOL OF ROCK Screening, Friday, July 25th, 2014, Live music TBA

THE 2ND ANNUAL (KEVIN) BACON FEST!, Sponsored by Godshall’s Turkey Bacon, Friday, August 1st, 2014 – 5:00PM. Screening of APOLLO 13 at 8:30PM

90’S PROM ON THE PARKWAY FEATURING THE BAYSIDE TIGERS, Free concert at The Oval, Friday, August 8th, 2014 – 8:00PM

WAYNE’S WORLD, Friday, August 15th, 2014 – 9:00PM

Liberty Lands, 926 N American St, Philadelphia, PA 19123, All outdoor screenings are free to attend and begin at 9:00PM

POSITIVE FORCE: MORE THAN A WITNESS, Saturday, June 28th, 2014

THE CROW (20th Anniversary Screening), Q&A with Rochelle Davis (Sarah), Saturday, July 5th, 2014

JOHNNY WINTER: DOWN AND DIRTY, Saturday, July 12th, 2014

DAZED AND CONFUSED, Saturday, July 26th, 2014

BIG IN JAPAN, Saturday, August 2nd, 2014

MIAMI CONNECTION, Saturday, August 9th, 2014

PULP: A FILM ABOUT LIFE DEATH AND SUPERMARKETS, Saturday, August 16th, 2014

The Trocadero, 1003 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, $3 admission; can be applied towards a drink or snack (except where noted). 21+. Doors at 6:30PM. Movie at 8:00PM.

SID & NANCY/REPO MAN, Monday, June 30th, 2014

HIGH FIDELITY, Monday, July 7th, 2014

JUDGEMENT NIGHT, Monday, July 14th, 2014

VELVET GOLDMINE, Monday, July 21st, 2014

HEAVY METAL, Monday, July 28th, 2014

HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH, Monday, August 4th, 2014

PURPLE RAIN, Monday, August 11th, 2014

THE OTHER ONE: THE LONG, STRANGE TRIP OF BOB WEIR, Sunday, August 17th, 2014 – $12.00 admittance