The 8th Annual Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival (JTIFF) returns May 1- May 4 with a line-up of 2025 SXSW and Sundance premieres, live music, immersive art experiences, parties, special events and surprise appearances.

Expected to attend are directors from three 2025 SXSW films, including Annapurna Sriram, Ari and Ethan Gold and Lanfia Wal.

“Our credo is ‘eyes and minds wide open’ and we mean it,” said JTIFF Founder, Executive Director Todd Morris.

“JTIFF has grown leaps and bounds over the past eight years,” said JTIFF Co-Founder, Co-Director and Juror Jocelyn O’Neil Morris.

“We’ve maintained our place in ‘The Top 100 Best Reviewed Festivals’ out of more than 8,000 on FilmFreeway and we’ve premiered more A-list festival films in Pennsylvania with more attending directors than nearly any other festival in the state,” said O’Neil Morris.

This year’s four-day celebration of film, music and culture is themed “Jim Thorpe Loves Philly.” The festival will showcase Philly-centric talent on and off the big screen.

There will be 90 films screened in genres including drama, documentary, comedy, horror, sci-fi, experimental and animation.

The festival will screen 10 first-run feature films and 80 short films from around the world.

There will be three 2025 SXSW world premieres, including a Special Jury Award winner. All three directors will travel from Los Angeles to present their films in person.

Screenings are at the Mauch Chunk Opera House, 14 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe.

Opening Night is “Alma and the Wolf,” a psychological horror film directed by Michael Patrick Jann, who will participate in a Q&A with the audience.

The night begins with a set by Philadelphia art-rock band, Upholstery, known for their theatrical performances and cinematic soundscapes presented by Philly’s Great Circles music collective.

Other films include the BAFTA-nominated “Sister Midnight” (Cannes 2024), “Crocodile Tears” (TIFF 2024), “OBEX” (Sundance 2025) and “In the Mouth” (Slamdance 2025).

The film shorts include a “Student Film Block,” and “Local Heroes Block” by regional film-makers.

Tickets, festival passes, film descriptions, schedule and lodging:

jimthorpeindiefilmfest dot com.