The 17th Chicago Underground Film Festival (CUFF), presented by IFP /Chicago, kicked off on Thursday, June 24, showcasing a savvy program of film and video exploring the many definitions and interpretations of the ‘underground’ concept. All films were screened at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 North State Street. The shorts winners for this year’s festival were announced on Sunday, June 27 after the festival’s closing film and the feature winners were announced on Friday, July 2.
Each year, CUFF reveals a unique programming niche of films that ignore limitations of genre and are made with passion and drive. Audiences this year were again captivated by an array of films that include two World Premieres, five Midwest Premieres, four Chicago Premieres, question and answer sessions with many of the featured filmmakers, and a journey into the world of underground film.
Competitions were held in a variety of categories and winners were presented with handmade art pieces designed by Chicago artist Luke Breckon.
This year’s Audience Award, as chosen by festival attendees, was awarded to Scrappers (USA) directed by Ben Kolak, Brian Ashby and Courtney Prokopas.
The Feature Film Competition Winners included:
• Best Documentary Feature – Scrappers, Dir. Ben Kolak, Brian Ashby and Courtney Prokopas
• Best Narrative Feature – Stay the Same, Never Change, Dir. Laurel Nakadate
• Honorable Mention – Modus Operandi, Dir. Frankie Latina
The Short Film Competition Winners included:
• Made in Chicago Award – Fantasy Suite, Dir. Kent Lambert
• Best Animation – Everybody, Dir. Steve Reinke and Jesse Mott
• Best Experimental Film – L’Internationale, Dir. Marianna Milhorat
• Best Documentary Short – Sincerity: The Character of Ronald Reagan, Dir. Chris Royalty
• Best Narrative Short – Home Movie, Dir. Braden King
• Honorable Mentions – Golden Hour, Dir. Robert Todd; This Is My Show, Dir. Lori Felker; Voice on the Line, Dir. Kelly Sears.
About the Festival Jury
Ross Nugent hails from the wilds of Western Pennsylvania. He earned a BA in Film Studies at the University of Pittsburgh and studied film and video production at Pittsburgh Filmmakers, where he began working in media exhibition in 2003. Ross served as the Exhibition Coordinator from 2005-2008, and matriculated to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to pursue an MFA in Film. He is also the Program Manager of the UWM Union Theatre, the Faculty Advisor for the Milwaukee Underground Film Festival, and an instructor in the Film Dept.
Spencer Parsons is a filmmaker based in Chicago and he teaches media production at Northwestern University. He has made such award-winning short films as “Resolution” (2002) and “Once and Future Asshole” (2005), and his feature film, “I’ll Come Running,” will soon be available on DVD from IFC. From 2000-2004, he was senior programmer for the late and lamented Cinematexas International Short Film Festival in Austin, TX.
Brigid Reagan is the Assistant Director of Video Data Bank, the country’s largest archive and distributor of video art and artist interviews. As AD, Brigid manages submissions, acquisitions, public programs, marketing and promotion for the organization. She was VDB’s Distribution Manager prior to her current appointment and previously worked in both programming and educational outreach for Cinema/Chicago, presenter of the Chicago International Film Festival. Brigid has presented VDB work at festivals and conferences throughout the world, and has sat on various panels and juries in the media arts field. She holds a BA in Film and Television from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in Arts Management from Columbia College Chicago, where she was a Dwight Follet Fellow.
