JIM THORPE, Pa. — The seats in the theater inside the Mauch Chunk Opera House in Jim Thorpe are filled with people watching films on the big screen. It's all for the Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival.
"Be ready to see things that you necessarily wouldn't choose to see if you're sitting on your couch watching Netflix. This gives you an opportunity to expand your horizons and see films you won't be able to see anywhere else," said Todd Morris of Jim Thorpe.
The film festival is in its seventh year. The four-day event features 90 different films across different genres. Organizers say the festival draws people from across the country and Canada. People like Joani Beanen of Coolbaugh Township. She didn't have to travel far for her second trip to the festival.
"It's a great deal of fun to see films from all over the world. It's really very interesting to us because you get exposed to other types of cultures," Joani Beamen of Coolbaugh Township.
Every year, thousands of people flock to Jim Thorpe for the film festival, but while they're here, they explore the downtown businesses, and business owners say they look forward to seeing those new faces.
"It brings all kinds of people to town. It's just starting to get busy in town, so it's nice to see fresh faces, and the amount of talent it brings is incredible," Lisa Sawyer, Wild Elder Wine and Cider Co. Manager.
Because of that talent, festivalgoers say it's exciting to see films you won't see in your average movie theater.
"The community that's been built around people who enjoy going to film festivals, so everyone is really friendly and interested in talking about them. You sit down at dinner, and someone wants to have a conversation with you about something you just saw," added Beamen.
For a full list of showings at the Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival, click here.