MICKAYLA MILLER | Staff WriterThe Red Rose Film Festival will bring locally made and nationally made films to Lancaster County this weekend in a celebration of films in all their forms.
Attendees can view several dozen films on the big screens at Penn Cinema in Lititz and Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse in Lancaster city from Friday to Sunday, Nov. 7-9. There's a mix of feature-length films, short films, documentaries, student films and more.
"The festival has become a reflection of Lancaster itself — creative, entrepreneurial and full of heart," says Ryan Shank, executive director and founder of the Red Rose Film Festival, in an email to LNP | LancasterOnline.
Shank started the film festival in 2019, and although the festival has changed scopes and venues, the general mission of bringing films to audiences remains the same.
"The festival was built on the belief that local stories matter and that big dreams can grow in small cities," Shank says.
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"Keep Quiet and Forgive" is one of the films being shown at the festival. It's a feature-length documentary by director, producer and journalist Sarah McClure that delves into the aftermath of widespread sexual abuse in Plain communities, and what happens after women report their abusers.
The Red Rose Film Festival will show the documentary at Penn Cinema at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. Saturday and 12:15 p.m. Sunday.
McClure, who lived in Los Angeles but moved to Lancaster city, originally started her research about this topic when she wrote an article for Cosmopolitan that was published in 2020. This documentary is more of a continuation of the article than a rehashing, McClure says.
"The film is really about what happens next, and how these women and men … decided that this is now the time to speak out ... (and) file these reports," McClure says.
"Keep Quiet and Forgive" is currently only showing in a festival circuit, premiering at the Buffalo International Film Festival on Oct. 10. It will formally make its TV debut on PBS on March 23, 2026.
McClure says she hopes that the film sparks curiosity and change. For instance, encouraging police officers to talk to the victims of sexual abuse, instead of deferring to the male elders in a given Plain community. Or offering Pennsylvania Dutch language interpreters in courts.
"We live in our communities, they live right beside us, but what I’ve really picked up on and what I hope comes from the film is that they are lacking these resources and access to basic facets of our legal system and education system," McClure says. "I know that they’re hungry for change.”
The Red Rose Film Festival will also feature a variety of locally made movies. Here are a few to put on your radar.
— "Adamstown," directed by Andrew Bilindabagabo. Local film production company Ingoma Films created this short film, which chronicles what happens when an African refugee is suspected of a brutal killing. A young Rwandan translator might be the only thing keeping him from downfall. Plays at Zoetropolis at the event's welcome party that starts at 5 p.m. Friday.
— "Amish Country Queer," directed by Colleen C. Brady. This documentary focuses on Brady Pappas, a local photographer who talks about the struggles and beauty of growing up as gay in a rural community. Plays at Penn Cinema at 5:25 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday.
— "A Night to Remember," directed by Michael Kelly and Creighton Smith. This short horror/thriller film details what happens after a couple's party night doesn't go to plan. Plays at Penn Cinema at 4:15 and 10:15 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday.
— "Goodbye, Neverland," directed by Jeremy Kessler. This six-minute short film was shot at Copper Cup in Lancaster city, by a Mount Joy-based filmmaker. Plays at Penn Cinema at 10:20 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Plays at Zoetropolis at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
— "Poetry on the Pavement," directed by Nate Shihadeh. Local film production company StreetLamp Films created this short film, which takes place in and around the basketball court in Lancaster city's Reservoir Park. Plays at Penn Cinema at 12:20 p.m. Friday and 12:15 p.m. Saturday. Plays at Zoetropolis at 8:45 p.m. Friday.
For more information about the film festival, visit redrosefilmfestival.com.
LNP | LancasterOnline newsletter reporter Kevin Stairiker contributed to this report.
