Barnes writes about the increase in films dealing with homosexuality.  Philadelphia is an example of the upsurge in major gay and lesbian characters in film; meanwhile mainstream culture experiences a new acceptance of homosexuality as well as a sharp backlash against it.  By L. Pardue

Holmesburg Prison is considered outdated by Philadelphians, but according to film advisor Bob Vazquez, it is deal for prison scenes in movies.  Holmesburg Prison as well as East State Penitentiary are big draws for movie-makers to film such scenes in Philadelphia.  By L. Pardue

Cipriano interviews Van Blunk and Rosanio about their 15-minute documentary on six synagogues in south Philadelphia, only one of which was active at the time the film was shot.  The film examines the growth and decline of the Jewish population in south Philadelphia and the corresponding closures of synagogues and Jewish businesses. By L. Pardue

Toni Cade Bambara, a black female filmmaker, dies in Philadelphia.  She had taught screenwriting for 10 years at the SCRIBE Video Center, mentoring several black female filmmakers.   She made several documentaries which frequently dealt with stereotypes of blacks and often wrote and gave presentations about film.  By L. Pardue

Holden enjoys Two Bits but criticizes it for being too subdued and nostalgic of the good ol’ days.  He writes that the film paints an overly wholesome picture of the Depression.  By L. Pardue

A Walk of Fame for African-Americans in film, television, and theater is inaugurated outside of the Bushfire Theater for Performing Arts.  Director Lloyd Richards and actor John Amos make handprints in the sidewalk.  Deceased performers Paul Robeson, Ira Aldridge, and Dorothy Dandridge as well as theater technician William B. Dickerson will be honored with plaques placed on the pavement.  This event is the first Walk of Fame for blacks in the United States.  By L. Pardue

Mo Wax, who published Film Bulletin, an independent film journal, and owned a local independent theater, died recently.  Klauber describes Wax as a mentor to local film journalists and filmmakers who supported independent filmmaking.  By L. Pardue

The Greater Philadelphia Film Office actively solicited the producers of Money Train to film in Philadelphia, despite the controversial depiction of the firebombing of a New York tollbooth.  Executive director Sharon Pinkenson and her counterparts across the country explain that a film’s content is irrelevant in recruiting filmmakers to their cities.  By L. Pardue

The premier of Two Bits takes place in Philadelphia.  Two Bits gives the city a positive image.  The film contributed approximately $2 million to the local economy.  By L. Pardue

Temple film students Keith Fulton and Lou Pepe were asked by director Terry Gilliam to make a short documentary of the making of the film to be used for promotion.  They describe the difficulties in working on the set of a major film and compiling a 10 minute sample of their footage.  By L. Pardue

Rickey interviews the director and cast members of 12 Monkeys as filming begins.  Philadelphia was appealing as a filming site due to the combination of preservation and decay in its unique architecture.  By L. Pardue

Rickey approves of Martin’s use of Philadelphia landmarks and his new ideas in the representation of recent college graduates and their relationships.  By L. Pardue

United Artists, the current owner of the Boyd Theater, AKA Sameric 4, are in the process of selling the theater to real estate investors despite efforts to preserve it as a historical structure. By L. Pardue

Inmates at Holmesburg Prison were used as extras in filming a riot in Up Close and Personal.  They reflect on new-found knowledge of film production and relate to Philadelphia native Glenn Plummer (who plays a supporting role in the film).  By L. Pardue

12 Monkeys completes filming in Philadelphia after employing about 900 locals and pumping $12 million into the economy.  Sites used for filming included the Convention Center, Eastern State Penitentiary, Franklin Field, Memorial Hall, and the Richmond Power Station.  Many Philadelphians had hoped for sightings of stars Brad Pitt and Bruce Willis.  The filming of 12 Monkeys in Philadelphia is representative of a surge in Philadelphia movie-making that has attracted several well-known film professionals to the area.  By L. Pardue

In Philadelphia many of the extras had AIDS or were HIV-positive and were recruited from Action AIDS Philadelphia.  Since the film’s release, 43 out of these 53 extras have died.  Jonathan Demme purposely set out to use AIDS patients in the film, which caused some apprehension with other members of the crew.  By L. Pardue

The Philadelphia International Film Festival begins with a screening by Luis Bunuel and continuing with screenings of other films by Hispanic directors.  The emphasis of the festival shifts more towards feature films than shorts.  By L. Pardue

Sameric Corp., which sold the Boyd Theater in 1988, claims that the fight over the status of theater as a historical structure forced it to sell the building for less than fair market value.  Courts have upheld the law allowing the designation of buildings as historical structures but have rejected the Boyd Theater’s designation as such.  The new owners of the building intend to convert it into stores.  By L. Pardue

The Dixie Hummingbirds are depicted in We Love You Like a Rock as the preeminent gospel group.  The documentary includes interviews with Stevie Wonder, Paul Simmons, Bobby Womack, and other figures in the music industry praising the Dixie Hummingbirds for their influence on gospel music and African-American music.  The documentary is screened at the Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema.  By L. Pardue

While Philadelphia has been the setting for several contemporary films, Two Plus One gives a more personal perspective of the city.  Director Eugene Martin, a Philadelphia native, demonstrates a familiarity to the city that locals will appreciate.  By L. Pardue

This documentary harshly examines the life of a comic book illustrator from Philadelphia.  The film shows the way in which Crumb’s persona was developed through his childhood and family. By L. Pardue

The ninth annual Philadelphia Weekend Film Festival features a presentation by director Alan Rudolph and screenings of both mainstream and alternative films.  Attendees welcome the festival as a space for discussion of film and as a social gala.  By L. Pardue