NEWS

Pittsburgh, PA – Film Pittsburgh proudly announces the 44th annual Three Rivers Film Festival (3RFF), returning November 4-15, 2026, with a dynamic lineup of independent features, shorts, panels, parties, and special events across multiple venues in the city.

This year’s festival showcases 28 feature films and 120+ short films presented in person and online, including World Premieres and the 6th annual Filmmaker Conference. Films will screen at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Harris Theater, The Lindsay Theater in Sewickley, and Row House Hollywood in Dormont. Passes and single tickets will go on sale October 14, 2026, at FilmPittsburgh.org

On Opening Night, November 4th, we will present the World Premiere of LOUDER THAN THE ODDS: THE MR. SMALLS STORY, the long-awaited documentary of the survival and cultural impact of the family-owned independent music venue founded by Rusted Root’s Liz Berlin and pro skater Mike Speranzo. The screening will be held at the Mr. Smalls Theatre and will be followed by an after-party at The Sanctuary across the street, included in the ticket price.

LOUDER THAN THE ODDS is part of Film Pittsburgh’s America 250 celebration along with ALL AMERICAN GIRLS, a documentary directed by Christy Wegener, that gives a behind-the-scenes look at the millennial-era cultural revolution. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own American Girl dolls as their “plus-one” to the screening at Row House Hollywood for a photo opportunity. 

The second half of the festival will feature short films, including the return of the beloved Chiller Theater program hosted by Sean Collier. Named in honor of Chilly Billy Cardille, the spooky showcase features new independent horror shorts at the Hollywood Theater. In partnership with WQED, the festival will also spotlight short documentaries made by Pittsburgh filmmakers, called Shorts N’At, at The Lindsay Theater in Sewickley, hosted by WQED’s Ryan Rust.

Films that have been picked up for distribution ahead of award season include the hotly anticipated Sylvester Stallone biopic I PLAY ROCKY (Amazon MGM Studios) directed by Peter Farrelly and starring Anthony Ippolito, which opens the festival; CLARISSA (Neon), a modern-day reimagining of Virginia Woolf’s MRS. DALLOWAY set in Nigeria; and KILLING CASTRO (Lionsgate) by legendary music video director Eif Rivera in his feature film debut and featuring Al Pacino.

In addition to film screenings, the festival will have a free immersive film exhibit in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University’s SONA Festival on Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14. SONA explores how Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, 360 Video, and interactive media expand the ways stories are told and experienced and builds community among the artists, researchers, and audiences who care about this work.

Starting this year, all features in the Three Rivers Film Festival will be presented with open captions, breaking the industry norm to be emerging leaders in accessibility in the arts. 

“Every person deserves to experience the magic of cinema in a theater,” states Executive Director of Film Pittsburgh, Shanna Carrick, “and while English-language films are not typically presented with open captions on screen, we believe that everyone can benefit from captioning.” 

The Three Rivers Film Festival also stands out with unique opportunities for filmmakers through their annual Script Competition and Filmmaker Conference.