Homegrown filmmakers at the international 19th annual West Chester Film Festival

As an international festival with short films of all genres, the weekend is an opportunity to catch stories that may not be available elsewhere, from filmmakers of various countries and backgrounds. Attendees craft their weekend watch lists around themed pop-up blocks—like based on a true story, Oscar-worthy or LGBTQIA+ pride—then meet with filmmakers or attend panel discussions.

The festival received nearly 200 submissions from filmmakers around the world. About a third of the filmmakers selected to show have local roots, and three such filmmakers chatted with Broad Street Review.

An emotional ‘short jawn’

Filmmaker Darnell Brown, a “proud son of Chester” and University of the Arts grad, brings his Philly-set “short jawn” Lyz to the West Chester Film Festival. (Keep an ear out for a reference to corner shop Black Moses.)

This off-beat dramedy, representing Brown’s first time at the festival, is inspired by his experiences as a mental health professional in the Black community. He aimed to showcase characters and storylines rarely seen on screen, and capture both the emotional and hilarious moments on the job.

Originally a TV pilot, Lyz stars Angela Lewis as a character based on Brown’s friend and former coworker, a real mental health professional in Chester County. A highlight of the festival is the chance for Brown to watch in the audience with the real Lyz. His advice to emerging filmmakers: “Don't let whatever you think is stopping you stop you from telling that story.”

A dark comedy from Delco

Director Derek Frey's short film, Viaticum, about a priest challenged over Last Rites by a hospice nurse, marks his third appearance at the West Chester Film Festival. Written by and starring The Minor Prophets, the black-and-white film is nominated for best comedy, with Frey up for best Pennsylvania filmmaker.

Shot in Frey’s Pennsylvania home, Viaticum plays with concepts of light and dark. Visually, Frey found inspiration in Brandywine artist Andrew Wyeth's shadows and cinematic depictions of everyday moments. Dark comedy is apropos for the West Chester University alum, as Frey’s career includes serving as producer on numerous Tim Burton films.

“I've had the opportunity to watch the film with the crowd, and they seem to be in tune with the comedy,” said Frey. “And then when that moment comes, you hear a collective gasp and a jump.”

Documenting homecomings

In the 1970s, Fr3der1ck Taylor’s family moved from the South Side of Chicago to West Chester. He credits the community with making a significant difference in his family’s lives and his own trajectory, which led him to study film at Temple University and create hip-hop music video art before turning to documentary work.

The Third Country will be Taylor’s third film to show at the West Chester Film Festival. Last year, his film Pre-Existing Freedom was named best in the arts/experimental category. His new documentary follows young Burmese refugees seeking asylum as they journey from Myanmar, to Thailand and finally the US.

As Taylor’s filmmaking captures humanity’s universal joys and struggles, it’s no wonder that in talking about his documentary, he’s also thinking about his own journey.

“I’m beginning to discover that some of the answers to my great questions of life lie in where I come from and who I am,” Taylor said.