The 18th Annual Chicago Underground Film Festival Call for Submissions is open. CUFF 2011 will take place June 2-9, 2011 at The Gene Siskel Film Center. To find out more visit cuff.org

Chicago premiere!
LOVERS OF HATE
2010, Bryan Poyser, USA, 93 min.
With Chris Doubek, Alex Karpovsky

“Witty…a riveting sense of spontaneity.”—Rob Nelson, Variety

“A thrillingly emotional roller coaster ride–a cinematic achievement that few directors and actors have pulled off as successfully.”—Don Simpson, Smells Like Screen Spirit

“Do unto brothers…” might be the perverse motto of this quasi-comic thriller of a sibling rivalry taken to the height of absurdity. Rudy (Doubek), a would-be writer and perennial loser soon to be divorced from Diana (Heather Kafka), harbors a snarling resentment of younger brother Paul, the acclaimed and wildly successful author of a Harry Potter-like series of kids’ books. With Rudy out of the picture, Paul and Diana succumb to a long-simmering attraction, and Paul whisks her off to his palatial winter retreat in trendy Park City. Bringing up the rear in his beater car is a vengeful Rudy, turned stalker, home invader, and diabolical trickster. Let the games begin. HDCAM video. (BS)

Visit the Gene Siskel Film Center website to watch the trailer, get showtimes, and purchase tickets!!

First Tuesdays with The Midwest Independent Film Festival continue on Tuesday, August 3rd at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, 2828 North Clark beginning at 6 p.m. A post-screening reception will be held immediately following the film at Forno Diablo, 433 West Diversey. The Midwest Independent Film Festival is the nation’s only film festival solely dedicated to the Midwest filmmaker, presenting audiences with regionally produced independent cinema every first Tuesday of the month at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, 2828 North Clark in Chicago. This year-round film festival sits proudly at the center of the independent film scene in Chicago and the Midwest and is dedicated to celebrating and strengthening that community. More information can be found on the Festival website: www.MidwestFilm.org.

Part sequel, part variation on his acclaimed and controversial HAPPINESS, the newest film from celebrated director Todd Solondz (WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE, PALINDROMES) assembles an amazing ensemble cast including Allison Janney, Shirley Henderson, Paul Reubens, Michael Kenneth Williams, Ally Sheedy, Charlotte Rampling, and Ciáran Hinds in an utterly hilarious exploration of the boundaries of forgiveness, family, and love.

Ten years have passed since shocking revelations shattered the world of the Jordan family, and now sisters Joy (Henderson), Trish (Janney), and Helen (Sheedy), each embroiled in their own unique dilemmas, struggle to find their place in an unpredictable and volatile world. The past now haunts their family both literally and otherwise, and jeopardizes the future. Alternately hilarious and tragic, outrageous and poignant, LIFE DURING WARTIME is an audacious comedy with unexpected resonance.

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
7:30pm
AMC River East 21
322 East Illinois Street
Chicago, IL 60611

The Winning entry receives cash prize and will premiere at the 2010 Chicago International Film Festival!

The Illinois Film Office today launched its third annual Shortcuts contest. Shortcuts is a statewide short film competition designed to encourage growth in Illinois’ film industry. The competition is open to all Illinois residents over the age of 18 and students over the age of 18 who attend Illinois colleges and universities. The winning entry will receive a cash prize and the winning film will screen during the Chicago International Film Festival.

“Shortcuts is another avenue for up-and-coming Illinois filmmakers to showcase their talent and gain greater exposure. At the same time, it provides the film office with another great tool for promoting Illinois’ exceptional film industry,” said Illinois Film Office Managing Director Betsy Steinberg. “I encourage filmmakers of all levels of experience to participate in this year’s competition, which we anticipate will be bigger and better than ever.”

Participants may use any format – film, video, graphics and/or animation – to tell a narrative story, a documentary or free form visual expression of ideas. Submissions must be 15 minutes or less in running time. Entries will be judged by a panel of film industry professionals. Submissions must be postmarked by August 31st, 2010.

Additional contest rules and details can be found at www.illinoisfilm.biz.

Over the last few years, Illinois’ film industry has enjoyed record spending in the state with such films as “The Dark Knight,” “Public Enemies,” and “The Informant.” The state is already seeing positive momentum in 2010 with a number of TV pilots and movies in the works.

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is dedicated to advancing Illinois’ reputation as a world-class film destination. The Illinois Film Office (IFO), a division of DCEO, promotes and markets the state as an ideal shooting location for films, television shows and commercials. The IFO also promotes and encourages the training and hiring of Illinois residents who represent the diversity of the state’s population.

It’s time for our annual Comedic Shorts Program!
Sundance, SXSW, LA Comedy Fest picks highlight lineup

First Tuesdays with The Midwest Independent Film Festival continue with the festival’s annual Comedic Shorts Program on Tuesday, June 1st at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, 2828 North Clark beginning at 6 p.m. This laugh-loaded lineup includes selections from this year’s Sundance and South by Southwest Film Festivals and hilarious performances from comedic talents Brian Boland, Andy St. Clair, Toby Jones, Greg Hess and T.J. Miller (She’s Out of Your League). Filmmakers will be in attendance for a post-screening discussion with the audience.

JUST ADDED: The June 1st First Tuesday festivities are being presented by Abel Cine Tech and Sony and will include an exclusive pre-show presentation of the latest and great filmmaking technology from Sony and Abel Cine Tech. More info later this week!

Click here for the long-awaited lineup of Comedic Shorts!

Screening Information: Tuesday, June 1, 2010 — screening begins with a Pre-Show Cocktail Reception (sponsored by Heineken and Candid Wines) at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema (2828 North Clark) at 6 p.m. Our exclusive presentation from Sony and Abel Cine Tech will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the theater. Our annual Comedic Shorts Program screens promptly at 7:30 p.m. A post-screening reception will be held immediately following the film at Forno Diablo, 433 West Diversey.

ABOUT THE MIDWEST INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
The Midwest Independent Film Festival is the nation’s only film festival solely dedicated to the Midwest filmmaker, presenting audiences with regionally produced independent cinema every first Tuesday of the month at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, 2828 North Clark in Chicago. This year-round film festival sits proudly at the center of the independent film scene in Chicago and the Midwest and is dedicated to celebrating and strengthening that community. More information can be found on the Festival website: www.MidwestFilm.org.

IFP/Chicago is thrilled to bring you The 17th Chicago Underground Film Festival (CUFF), presented by DePaul University – School of Cinema and Interactive Media, and will showcase a savvy program of film and video exploring the many definitions and interpretations of the ‘underground’ concept at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 North State Street, June 24 – July 1.

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 will again be captivated by an array of films that include two World Premieres, five Midwest Premieres, four Chicago Premieres, as well as a tribute to Jonas Mekas who is often referred to as “the godfather of American avant-garde cinema,” question and answer sessions with many of the featured filmmakers, and a journey into the world of underground film. Over a thousand submissions were received for a program of 20 films including features, documentaries, and shorts.

“For the past 17 years, the Chicago Underground Film Festival has been bringing some of the most unique films to Chicago,” said Bryan Wendorf, Programmer and Artistic Director for CUFF. “This year we are thrilled to present a lineup showcasing the defiantly independent visions of some of today’s most cutting-edge filmmakers. Not only do the films reflect and comment on the times we live in today, but they will also take viewers through fantasy and comedic journeys. Presenting CUFF with the help of the Gene Siskel Film Center and IFP/Chicago has enabled us to reach out to even more film fanatics, media, and industries alike who have a passion for the underground film world.”

For more information about this year’s festival go here!

For press inquiries, please contact Laura Silverman at The Silverman Group

Monday, May 3, 2010
5 PM (Reception)
6 PM (Screening)
Columbia College Chicago’s Film Row Cinema (1104 S Wabash)
Free and open to the public!
Register NOW!

We asked you to be radically creative and show the world what democracy — making it & sustaining it– means to you and you answered!

Join us as our Looking for Democracy Film Contest winners are unveiled.

The winning films are:

American Flag by Theophilius Jamal
Hungry for Change by Free Spirit Media & Umoja Student Development Corporation
Democracy 2 by The Theatre of Social Justice Project


Join us for a special screening of our winning short films, a conversation with the filmmakers, and a panel discussion entitled “Art Hurts, Art Urges Voyages” with local artists. Panelist include Xan Aranda, filmmaker and founder of the Short Film Brigade; Tara Malik, photographer and Program Director at Beyondmedia Education; and A. Zell Williams, playwright and recipient of a Steppenwolf Theatre Company fellowship. This celebration will be emceed by touring poet Robbie Q. Telfer, and feature youth poetry performances.

Teachers are encouraged to bring students to this intergenerational event. Email cak@prairie.org with your phone, email, school name, and number of students that will be attending.

This event is presented by The Public Square, a program of the Illinois Humanities Council; Independent Television Service (ITVS); Kartemquin Films; Independent Feature Project Chicago; Columbia College Television & Film Departments, Chicago Access Network Television; Chicago Short Film Brigade; Critical Encounters: Fact & Faith; and Reeltime Independent Film and Video Forum.

WBEZ-Chicago Public Radio is the media sponsor for this contest.

Cinema/Chicago, parent organization of the 46th Chicago International Film Festival, proudly presents the 2010 CineYouth Festival. CineYouth, held May 6-8, 2010 at Columbia College Chicago (1104 South Wabash), showcases the work of filmmakers from across the country under the age of 20 and holds numerous filmmaking workshops. CineYouth kicks off with its Opening Night Celebration on Thursday, May 6, 2010 at 6PM. CineYouth will welcome 2009 Student Academy Award winners Joaquin Baldwin (Sebastian’s Voodoo) and Brendan Bellomo (Bohemibot) to screen their winning films, present their early student work, and share advice with young filmmakers. The night will wrap up with a reception where audience members will have the chance to speak one-on-one with the featured filmmakers.

This year’s Festival features 100 student films, with screenings and workshops held on May 7 and 8 at Columbia College Chicago. All screenings and workshops are free to the public. Please RSVP to rfons@chicagofilmfestival.com. Workshops include:

Set Design/Costume with Emmy Award-winning set designer Mary Margaret Bartley
Special Effects with producer Julian Grant
Storyboard with local filmmakers Jack Newell and Rudra Banerji
Story development with Columbia College Chicago Film & Video Professor Dan Rybicky
Editing with independent filmmaker Steven Delisi
Acting/Casting with local casting director Cheryl Graeff

CineYouth will conclude with an Awards Ceremony on Saturday, May 8 at 3PM. Winning films are chosen from each category and awards are presented to winners. Winning films will also be shown at the 46th Chicago International Film Festival, October 7-21.

Admission to the CineYouth Festival is free and open to the public with RSVP to Festival Director Rebecca Fons at rfons@chicagofilmfestival.com. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to theater capacity.

For a full CineYouth screenings and workshop schedule, please visit www.cinemachicago.org/cineyouth or call the Cinema/Chicago offices at 312-683-0121 x112.