Philadelphia F/M Festival showcases local talent
This weekend a new film and music festival launches in Philadelphia. The F/M Festival based mostly in Northern Liberties is put together by a few local concert promoters with big ideas.
This weekend a new film and music festival launches in Philadelphia. The F/M Festival based mostly in Northern Liberties is put together by a few local concert promoters with big ideas.
The F/M Festival is designed to be Philadelphia’s answer to South-By-Southwest, the major music event in Austin, Texas that draws hundreds of thousands of people every year. South By Southwest started small in 1987, only adding a film component seven years later. The organizers of F/M Festival are going big right out of the box. There will be 300 bands, 70 events, and over 50 films in 30 locations.
It’s a new idea by untested organizers that has won support from city officials. State Representative Curtis Thomas of Philadelphia is anticipating such large crowds on the Girard Avenue corridor that he helped convince SEPTA to halt trolley service.
“The fest is going to take place from Front to Fourth. So, the trolley would be a problem in those four blocks. There might be close to 80 vendors and different venues, with the trolley it would be problematic.”
Festival organizers say they want to create a national showcase for local talent by making an event so large it can’t be ignored.
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