The 2026 Neumann Inspires Film Festival focuses on this year’s popular theme, America 250. Highlights include more than 20 short, creative films about American life and two episodes of a new documentary series, In Pursuit: Philadelphia and the Making of America.

The free, two-day celebration of visual storytelling is set for Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18, in the Bruder Life Center.

Saturday’s lineup features screenings of short films at 10, 11, 12, 1 and 2 – all organized around familiar American themes: Life, Liberty, The Pursuit of Happiness, The Home of the Brave, and The Melting Pot.

Normandy, a 52-minute documentary, is included in the 12 p.m. collection. It follows four young adults as they accompany World War II veterans back to the beaches and battlefields where they fought. Along the journey, the young travelers begin to grasp the true human cost of freedom.

A panel discussion on “The Influence of Film in Preserving (and Erasing) History” is scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. Panelists include Sam Katz, a former Philadelphia mayoral candidate and documentary filmmaker, and Tilottama Karlekar, a scholar whose work explores the connection between media and social movements.

After the panel, the festival lineup includes a 4 p.m. screening of Episodes 3 and 4 of Katz’s new project, In Pursuit: Philadelphia and the Making of America. The series explores American history, democracy, and identity through the story of one city.

Saturday workshops on improv, directing, and stage combat occur throughout the day to provide hands-on instruction for novice or experienced actors and filmmakers.

The Friday portion of the festival offers a 6 p.m. screening of the feature film Colewell, starring Karen Allen. The film tells the story of Nora, who has been the postmaster of a rural Pennsylvania town for 35 years. When the USPS decides to close her office, she must choose whether to relocate for a new position or face retirement in Colewell.

Director Tom Quinn – a graduate of LaSalle and Temple and a professor at Drexel – will lead an audience Q&A after the film.

A screening of six short films, including four by students, concludes the Friday lineup at 9 p.m.

“The Neumann Inspires Film Festival is thrilled that, in its fourth year, we'll be celebrating the America 250 theme in a meaningful way,” said Sara McDermott Jain, festival director. “We received film submissions from 36 countries, and by exploring timeless ideas like ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,’ discovered how these very American phrases actually resonate across the world. It's a powerful reminder of what the spirit of America stands for globally.”

The festival wraps up with a 6:30 comedy presentation and performance by the NU Dance Team on Saturday, followed by an awards ceremony with raffle baskets and live music by the NU Jazz Band at 7:30 p.m.

The full Neumann Inspires Film Festival schedule with a brief description of every film is available at www.neumann.edu/filmfest.