Fire Department, Inc. Goes East

New friends, killer festival!

Our first of two stops on the East Coast was the Phoenixville Film Festival. Now in its second year, we weren’t sure what to expect, but it quickly became one of our favorite festival experiences yet. Located just outside Philadelphia, Phoenixville is a charming small town that has seen a revival over the last 20 years, with much of the buzz centered on the historic Colonial Theatre. Made famous by the 1958 classic The Blob, the Colonial is a wonderful place to screen a film.

From the moment we arrived, the Phoenixville festival team made us feel right at home. They also thoughtfully programmed our film alongside HIVE, a short documentary directed by firefighter Ryan Rust. Our screening drew an enthusiastic crowd, and the subsequent Q&A session sparked some truly thought-provoking conversation.

A screening for the Terrapins

​After wrapping up in Phoenixville, we headed south to the University of Maryland for a screening hosted by the Society of Professional Journalists and Merrill College. We were greeted by a packed house of students and faculty. After the film, Professor and filmmaker Josh Davidsburg led another lively and insightful Q&A.

A special shout-out goes to our East Coast friends—both old and new—who came out to support us at these events. Thank you for making our trip such a success!