About Film Erie
Film as Culture. Film as Industry.
Film Erie is the regional film office and cultural nonprofit serving Erie and Northwest Pennsylvania. Our mission is to support and grow a sustainable film and media ecosystem in the region — one that creates economic opportunity, cultivates creative talent, and connects our stories to the world.
We believe in the power of film to build community, spark conversation, and transform how people see a place — including the people who live here. Through advocacy, education, and programming, we work to make Erie a place where both filmmakers and film lovers feel at home.
Whether you're behind the camera, in the audience, or just getting started, Film Erie is here to help you plug into a story that’s still unfolding.
Cut to: Our Origin Story
Film Erie is the next evolution of a long-running production—a mash-up of indie passion, regional pride, and a deep love for storytelling on screen.
It all began in 2011, when the Film Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania premiered with a mission: bring high-quality film programming, events, and education to Erie. Around the same time, the need for local film infrastructure was gaining traction. So, in 2013, the Greater Erie Film Office was established to support film, television, commercial, and new media productions across Erie and Crawford Counties. Since then, it has assisted or consulted on more than 75 projects, helping put our region on the cinematic map.
And let’s not forget the cult classic in our catalog: the Eerie Horror Fest, founded in 2004, which quickly became one of the top horror and sci-fi festivals in the country. Over the years, it’s hosted celebrity guests, screened over 500 films from 30+ countries, and terrified thousands (in the best way possible) at the historic Warner Theatre. In 2021, the Film Society acquired the festival and gave it a fresh new chapter—still spooky, but now with a mission-driven twist.
Fast forward to 2025: Film Erie debuts as the unified brand and forward-facing identity for all of it. It’s not a sequel—it’s the cinematic universe we’ve been building all along. Film Erie is now the official DBA of the Film Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, combining culture, industry, and community into one powerful story. Lights, camera, action… we’re just getting started.