First Tuesdays with The Midwest Independent Film Festival continue with the inaugural Female Filmmakers Night on Tuesday, March 2nd at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, 2828 North Clark beginning at 6 p.m. This historic lineup of short films is being co-presented by SAGIndie, Women In Film Chicago and the Midwest Independent Film Festival. All filmmakers, along with select cast and crew, will be in attendance for a post-screening discussion with the audience. The inaugural Female Filmmakers 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. For more information, please visit www.MidwestFilm.org.

Yes, you can afford to use professional actors in your film!
There is a Screen Actors Guild contract for every budget - and we’ll show you how to use them.

Join us as SAG Indie Director Darrien Michele Gipson walks indie filmmakers of all experience levels through the process of signing SAG Low Budget Agreements from start to finish.

WHERE: Kaufherr Members Resource Center
One East Erie, Suite 660, Chicago

WHEN: 8:30 - 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 2

WHY: This free workshop is provided as a service to educate and strengthen Chicago’s filmmaking community and to highlight the benefits and ease of casting professional SAG actors.

SPACE IS LIMITED!
Please RSVP by Friday, Feb. 26 to lwagner@aftra.com.

Questions? 312/573-8081

And last but not least, congratulations to Lizzy Donius (former IFP/Chicago Executive Director) and Amy C. Elliott for their film World’s Largest being accepted into the 2010 SXSW Film Festival in the Emerging Visions Section!

Please head over to our Fiscal Sponsorship page NOW for information about the program, requirements, and to download the application.

•Applicant must be a Member of IFP/Chicago in good standing;
•The project must be noncommercial in nature;
•The individual media artist must sign a contract with IFP/Chicago which states the artist guarantees grant monies received will be used for the purpose intended; that artist will be responsible for fines, return of grant monies, etc. if grant is rescinded or the IRS questions the accounting for the grant monies; and that artist will be responsible for any final reports and accounting to the granting agency.
•Artist agrees to credit IFP/Chicago on project being served.

Once the IFP/Chicago Fiscal Sponsorship Program accepts your project, donors may make tax-deductible contributions to IFP/Chicago, requesting that the funds be applied toward your project. IFP/Chicago will make its various programs available to you, monitor your project to ensure that the project advances IFP/Chicago’s charitable and educational purposes and disburse the contributions received, minus the fee. You will be responsible for providing IFP/Chicago with periodic reports of the status of your project and the use of the funds.

IFP/Chicago does not control the content of the project and is not connected, in any way, to the actual production of your project. All right, title and interest in and to the completed project belongs to the filmmaker allowing them complete artistic and creative control.

Download the Fiscal Sponsorship Application!

Questions about Fiscal Sponsorship? Email us!

Early Deadline is March 1 2010, Final Deadline March 15.

For entry forms and guidelines please visit http://www.cuff.org

Since 1994, the Chicago Underground Film Festival has presented the finest in new underground, experimental and documentary film and video. In 2008 the festival entered into a partnership with IFP/Chicago and in 2009 the festival moved to the state of the art Gene Siskel Film Center. 2010 will mark another major change for thefestival as we move from our traditional fall dates to the summer.
What kinds of movies are we looking for? Our mission is to promote films and videos that dissent radically in form, technique, or content from the ‘indie’ mainstream and to present adventurous works that challenge and transcend commercial and audience expectations…if you suspect your film is ‘underground,’ it probably is…

Education. Competition. Inspiration.

Young visionaries let their voices be heard at Cinema/Chicago’s CineYouth Festival. Celebrating its sixth year in 2010, the CineYouth festival showcases and celebrates filmmakers 20 years old and younger.

During the three day Festival, CineYouth provides young filmmakers the opportunity to attend numerous workshops (past workshops include: Screenwriting 101, Bach or Beyonce – Soundtracking Your Film, Am I Gonna Get Sued for This?, Final Cut Editing), film school panels and discussions, and access to industry professionals, all at Columbia College Chicago, the country’s biggest film school.

CineYouth brings filmmakers of all ages and from around the country together to share their work, learn together, and be inspired by each other.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: May 15, 2010
Visit the website for more information!

Something for everyone at this shindig!
*Open bar from 8-9pm!
*FREE Appetizers
*DJ
*FREE raffle prizes
*Networking with lots of your peers

Prepay online and save $$$

WIFC, IPA & IFP Members
$5.00 Online
$10.00 At the door

Non-Members
$15.00 Online
$20.00 At the door

For more information, visit:
www.wifchicago.org

Film Synopsis: The fates of an aging hitman (Frank Vincent, The Sopranos, Casino) and a washed up detective (Chicago theatre veteran Danny Goldring) become entwined when one last job leads to one last chance to settle an old score.

Twenty years ago, Lou Marazano (Frank Vincent, The Sopranos, Casino) was the deadliest triggerman in the notorious Chicago Outfit. When Lou’s jailed boss (four-time Golden Globe nominee Armand Assante) orders a wave of hits to cover up a conspiracy between city officials and the mob, Lou sees a chance to finance his retirement and relive his glory days. But does he still have what it takes? This neo-noir crime drama is an accomplished debut from first-time local filmmakers.

Screening Information: Tuesday, February 2, 2010 — screening begins with a Pre-Show Cocktail Reception (sponsored by Heineken, Candid Wines, Death’s Door Spirits and Templeton Rye) at Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema (2828 North Clark) at 6 p.m. The evening’s Producers Panel will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the theater. Chicago Overcoat screens promptly at 7:30 p.m. A post-screening reception will be held immediately following the film at Forno Diablo, 433 West Diversey. For more information, please visit www.MidwestFilm.org.

Regarded as a hero by many and a renegade by some in the Catholic Church hierarchy, Michael Pfleger, longtime pastor of Chicago’s St. Sabina Parish, has consistently used the power of his pulpit to battle social inequity, engaging in high-profile political activism to end drug-dealing, prostitution, and exploitation by liquor and tobacco companies in his community. Director Bob Hercules captures the charisma of the crusading priest and his “gospel of the streets” while exploring the larger issues of tensions between the Church and its African American flock.

The screening will be followed by a discussion with Bob hercules, Thom Clark of the Community Media Workshop, and Father Michael Pfleger, moderated by Jeff Spitz. Co-sponsored by the Community Media Workshop.