November 6-8 festival to feature Miss Representation: Rise Up, Josh Fox’s The Welcome Table, Oscar-nominated A Lien, award-winning animation, industry programming and an Opening Night VIP Gala.
READING, PA– ReadingFilmFEST returns November 6-8, 2026, for its 12th annual celebration of independent cinema, bringing filmmakers, industry professionals and audiences together for three days of screenings, conversations, educational programming and special events in downtown Reading, Pennsylvania.
Founded in 2015 by working filmmakers alongside the ReadingFilm Office, ReadingFilmFEST was created as a festival “by filmmakers, for filmmakers and film lovers.” Twelve years later, that philosophy remains central to an experience that encourages visiting filmmakers to stay for the weekend, participate in Q&As, connect with audiences and fellow creatives, and take part in festival events. ReadingFilmFEST also provides hotel accommodations for attending filmmakers.
Miss Representation: Rise Up Takes Center Stage
A centerpiece of this year’s festival will be the Women Filmmakers Block on Saturday, November 7, featuring the confirmed presentation of Miss Representation: Rise Up, directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
Building upon the original Miss Representation, the new documentary examines how artificial intelligence, deepfakes, social media and emerging technologies are contributing to new forms of misogyny while highlighting women and girls leading change through advocacy, resilience and innovation.
ReadingFilmFEST will expand the experience beyond the screening with a special discussion panel featuring members of the film’s production team and key individuals featured in the documentary. Audiences will also hear a special message from director Jennifer Siebel Newsom.
Presented in partnership with the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the League of Women Voters, the program will bring filmmakers, educators, community leaders and audiences together for a conversation about women, media, technology, representation and leadership.
“Our mission has always been to use film as a catalyst for conversation,” said Eliza Taylor, Festival Director of ReadingFilmFEST. “We’re not simply presenting an important film. We’re bringing people directly connected to it into the room with our audience and creating an opportunity for the conversation to continue after the credits roll.”
Josh Fox, The Welcome Table & Oscar-Nominated A Lien
ReadingFilmFEST has also confirmed a special screening of The Welcome Table, with director and Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Josh Fox making a special appearance for a discussion panel following the film.
The festival will also screen the Oscar-nominated short A Lien as part of programming presented in partnership with the Greater Reading Immigration Project. The films and accompanying conversation will use independent cinema as a starting point for dialogue around immigration, community and the human experiences behind these stories.
Award-Winning Animation & Industry Programming
Animation will receive a special spotlight with a curated showcase featuring award winning independent animated films, including work recognized at SCAD and Sundance. ReadingFilmFEST is also developing a special community animation presentation, with the featured film to be announced.
Industry education remains an important part of the weekend. Jared Hoffa, Emmy® and Telly Award-winning producer and co-founder of Pixquid, will lead sessions examining film distribution, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in independent media.
Award-winning New York director, writer, producer and acting coach Joe Whelski will present From Stage to Screen, a workshop for actors age 16 and older focused on translating performance from theater to film and television.
A Grand Opening at the Historic Trexler Mansion
The festival weekend will begin with an Opening Night VIP Gala at the historic Horatio Trexler Mansion, formerly home to Reading Elks Lodge No. 115.
The 27,000-square-foot French Empire Revival landmark, dating to 1869, is undergoing an extensive restoration by Shuman Development Group as it begins a new chapter as an event destination. The ReadingFilmFEST gala will be among the premier events held
at the mansion following its renovation, welcoming filmmakers, special guests, sponsors and VIP passholders for the opening of the festival.
A Festival Built for Filmmakers
The weekend will also include independent features, documentaries, narrative shorts and student films, along with StudentFEST, Made in Reading, filmmaker Q&As, networking opportunities, awards and special events.
Festival Director Eliza Taylor, an Emerson College graduate, brings more than two decades of professional experience in photography, film production and production management on the East and West Coasts. ReadingFilmFEST is led by Board President Tracy Schott, a filmmaker and one of the festival’s founding creative leaders.
As Schott has said of the philosophy behind ReadingFilmFEST, “A film festival without filmmakers, is just ‘going to movies’. We wanted to create an event that was much more inclusive, intimate, and interesting!”
Working alongside the Reading Film Office, ReadingFilmFEST also helps showcase Reading and Berks County’s creative talent, architecture and production potential while bringing independent cinema and filmmakers directly to regional audiences.
The 12th Annual ReadingFilmFEST takes place November 6-8, 2026, in Reading, Pennsylvania. Additional official selections, special guests and schedule information will be announced in the coming weeks.
