5 Illinois Film Festival’s Student Filmmakers

Should Attend

Now showing

Illinois houses the third largest city in the states that is Chicago in which the film community continues to grow. Annual film festivals are held across the state for local and worldwide filmmakers to compete for the audience’s attention. Each festival contains its own objective and theme, which accepts entries that must meet the festivals criteria. Festivals aren’t just for the filmmakers but for the aspiring students in the industry and your average movie goer. Chicago Film festivals bring in the crowds, which is why I’m naming off some of the best festivals student filmmakers should attend to network, learn, enjoy, and just experience the overall process.

48-Hour Film Project

When: July 27th – 29th

Where: Firehouse Studios 1545 W. Rosemont Ave.

Website: 48hourfilm.com/en/chicago

The 48-hour Film project isn’t native to Chicago, but they regularly hold a festival every summer for local Chicagoans. You probably won’t see any big names at a festival like this, but its great for amateur filmmakers. Groups can register with a small fee and get assigned a genre to write, shoot, and edit in… you guessed it, 48-hours. Each group is also assigned specific props and one-liners to be thrown into their films. After the hard work is done, sit back and watch all the screenings. It’s very laid back as all the contestants get the opportunity to speak to the audience about what they had to go through. Teamwork and determination are the take away. Who knows… you could search for new contacts or have someone discover you.

TV Pilot CompetitionMovies aren’t always leading the medium for entertainment these days. Every summer this festival puts up locals against one another to dish out a half hour television pilot. Comedy is the goal, as the competition is about presenting the best half hour pilot. The panel of judges consists of studio executives from CBC, Fox, Comedy Central and possibly a few top talent agencies. They only screen four pilots because lets face it, could you really sit through a days worth of half hour comedies? One person can only laugh so much. Comedy is hard genre, if your looking for talent or advice; this is place for you silly. Throw down ten dollars and show up for a few laughs and some networking.

When: July 20th

Where: 78 E. Washington St. Chicago’s Cultural Center Theater

Website: www.witsendshorts.com

Midwest International Film Festival

Chicagoans have the advantage of being in the big city where festivals come a bit more annually than other locations in the Midwest. This festival represents Independent low budget films for your up and comers to find an audience. There’s always a chance to get your film screened at Midwest, because you have countless opportunities to submit to the festival. Again, this is another festival with tons of networking possibilities that show talent from neighboring states. Contacts are key to a young filmmakers career, this festival is the bridge between moving up from amateur to talking with the big leagues. It’s always a win if you just love watching movies too.

When: Monthly

Where: 2828 N. Clark St. Landmarks Centre Cinema

Website: www.midwestfilm.com

Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival

Interested in more Independent features? Check out Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival (the H in Whiskey is silent). Their objective compiles films that encompass story and characters above all else leaving big budget films aside for equal opportunity. Unlike the other festivals mentioned so far, Blue Whisky takes place once every year over the course of six days of screenings. Thirty films are shown that vary from short to feature length films displaying a variety of genre’s. I don’t think it’ll be a problem finding something that’ll interest you. Blue Whiskey is one of the top festivals in Illinois from amateur to professional mixes of talent. Check out their website listed above to see what’s playing this year.

When: July 24th – 29th

Where: Cutting Hall 150 E. Wood St., Palatine Il.

Website: www.bwiff.com

Chicago InternationalFilm Festival

The Chicago International Film Festival is the biggest festival in Illinois. Chances are you’ve heard of it before. Entries come in from all around the world spreading interesting stories and characters that get away from the big Hollywood motion pictures. This festival is truly for the film dork within that gets to geek out every October in the city of Chicago. Since the festival is huge, it comes with a cost. You must pay to get into every screening or a package ranging $90 up to $120 for multiple days. For student filmmakers, I believe its worth putting forth the money to get a chance to view and discuss with the filmmakers in attendance that do Q & A’s after screenings. Who knows, maybe they’ll take you up on that drink offer after the screening. It doesn’t hurt to ask.

When: October 11th – 25th

Where: Chicago area

Website: www.chicagofilmfestival.com

Final Thoughts

As a student filmmaker in Chicago I’m trying to take advantage of everything this city has to offer in terms of film and entertainment. I’ve seen many great films at festivals like these and met some really insightful individuals in the industry. Networking is key to move forward in this business. Film festivals above all else represent the chance for movie lovers in general the opportunity to see different types of films you might never see in your local theater. Film is an art and deserves to be seen as such. Local filmmakers draw from what they know; it plays a big part for the city and culture they group up in to share with friends, family, and everyone else that gives them a chance. Student filmmakers should look to expand their knowledge not only by watching festival films but talking to the people that made them.

Resources

Images used from:

www.Gawker.comwww.Collider.com

www.movietheaterlocations.org

www.marcustheaters.com