MAJOR EVENTS
MIDWEST FILMMAKERS SUMMIT
Each year, IFP/Chicago hosts the Midwest Filmmakers Summit, an essential gathering of the regional filmmaking community to address our particular challenges and to celebrate our successes. The Summit is an educational forum comprised of panels, screenings and networking opportunities for Midwestern filmmakers. The Summit was formerly known as the Independent Filmmakers Conference, which has always been the largest and most popular of the IFP/Chicago’s programs, and this will be its 15th year. The Summit is comprised of five panels, three break-out sessions, three major screenings with ‘case study’ workshops, a work-in-progress screening, The Flyover Zone Short Film Festival, evening receptions and an ‘Indie Expo’.
The primary goal of the Summit is to support the vision of regional filmmakers and to foster and strengthen the regional filmmaking community by: providing a forum for the discussion of issues and challenges particular to Midwest filmmakers; providing an opportunity to meet and learn from film professionals of national status; providing educational sessions addressing an array of aesthetic and business concerns; screening Midwestern-made works; creating networking opportunities that encourage new relationships and projects.
Past panelists included Harold Ramis (Ice Harvest), Steve James (Hoop Dreams), Academy-Award nominated Chicago documentarians Tod Lending and Bill Seigel, producers Laurel Ward (Ice Harvest) and Steve Jones (Drunkboat), and independent film distribution executives Erin Heidenreich (Cinetic Media) and Ryan Werner (IFC Films).
GRANTS AND AWARDS
THE PRODUCTION FUND
The IFP/Chicago is now in its 6th year of awarding a Production Fund in-kind grant of equipment and services (now valued at $100,000) to one short film project. This program is supported by over 20 regional and national in-kind sponsors, and has been an unqualified success. Winning filmmakers are able to take advantage of an array of services donated by local Chicago companies such as Fletcher Chicago and i^3, as well film stock from Kodak and a Panavision camera package. All past winners have had solid festival runs. The 2002 winner, Bruce Terris’ FLYING, was one of 11 shorts internationally selected for competition in the Cannes Film Festival; the 2003 winner, Ben Meyer’s WHAT ARE YOU HAVING?, received the best short film prize at the prestigious Deauville Film Festival in France, which was presented to him by Roman Polanski.
ONSTAGE WITH CHICAGO SCRIPTWORKS SCREENPLAY COMPETITION
An annual competition for IFP/Chicago members. The winner has their script produced by Chicago ScriptWorks. This year’s reading will take place at the Chicago Cultural Center.
MENTORSHIP AND OUTREACH
SUMMER PRODUCTION MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
An IFP/Chicago Producer John Mossman and Chicago Vocational Career Academy Radio/TV Teacher Roger Badesch led15 students through the script-to-screen process of producing a short film and a ‘making of’ documentary. This program seeks to address the chronic lack of diversity in independent film and the larger entertainment industry by drawing on the rich knowledge and experience of our professional community to provide guidance, support, real-life experience and connections to the next generation.
2005 Mentorship Success: SCREAM AT ME
During the six weeks of the program, our 14 high school juniors and seniors created a 20-minute short film, a 20-mintute making-of documentary, several trailers a bloopers reel, the website and all of the promotional materials including DVD covers and DVD menus. SCREAM AT ME and THE MAKING OF SCREAM AT ME were ENTIRELY student-staffed production of a student-written screenplay.
SCREENING SERIES
IFP/CHICAGO - FACETS 'MEET THE FILMMAKER' SERIES
Each month the IFP/Chicago-Facets ‘Meet the Filmmaker’ Film Series hosts a screening of a new independent film, attended by the filmmaker, producer or other key talent. The film is preceded by a workshop and followed by an audience ‘Q and A’ session. The series screens both documentaries and narratives, and includes several locally-made or locally-focused films each year. Important and under-seen independent releases are also annual features. Recent screenings: Gus Van Sant’s Last Days with producer Dany Wolf, Chumscrubber with director Arie Posin and producer Bonnie Curtis, and The Saddest Music In The World with director Guy Maddin.
IFP/CHICAGO – ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE CINÈ CLUB
Designed to expand the Chicago and French film communities, Cinè Club providing screenings, workshops and discussion for independent filmmakers, Francophiles and enthusiasts. Held every other Wednesday, program discussions are led by film critic Gabe Klinger at the Alliance.
ROUGH CUTS / SHORT CUTS
This new monthly event is held at Rodan and provides a forum and audience for the screening of member works. Each month the program contains several member-made shorts and one work-in-progress feature. The screening of the work-in-progress is followed by a constructive discussion of the pieces’ strengths and possible areas of improvement.
SPECIAL SCREENINGS AND EVENTS
Throughout the year IFP/Chicago also hosts special screenings and events, often partnering with other organizations. Recent events included screenings of Motorcycle Diaries, The Assassination of Richard Nixon, Millions and the legendary Wim Wenders’ Land Of Plenty, all with director-attended Q and A sessions.
WORKSHOPS
INTENSIVE PRODUCER'S WORKSHOP SERIES
In 2005, we refashioned our Legal Series into a 5-part Producer’s series that covers every major aspect of producing a narrative feature film. All-day intensive workshops are led by experienced producers and entertainment lawyers, and combine classroom style instruction, panel discussions and case studies. Each evening an independent film screened with a case-study Q and A session about the film's production. This program was developed by the lawyers who have run our legal series, in conjunction with several independent producers from our Board. A tremendous success, this first year drew more than 200 participants. Key panelists included Producers Ruth Leitman (Lipstick and Dynamite), Kirkland Tibbels (Adam and Steve), Lily Bright (The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things) an IFC Films Senior VP Caroline Kaplan.
MEMBER WORKSHOPS
On a monthly basis, IFP/Chicago hosts member workshops, which feature an in-depth treatment of different aspects of the filmmaking process. Recent workshops include: a‘teach in’ on the different low-budget agreements filmmakers can make with the Screen Actors Guild, and an Assistant Director master class led by A.D. Michael Lerman (Stranger Than Fiction, Finding Neverland, Monster’s Ball, Garden State, You Can Count On Me).
CONSULTATION AND E-PUBLICATIONS
CONSULTATION AND ASSISTANCE
IFP/Chicago members, Columbia College students, and many, many others draw on the resources of the IFP/Chicago every day. Our Board, comprised of industry professionals, regularly advise and instruct, facilitate introductions and help provide opportunities for emerging talent. E.D. Elizabeth Donius and Outreach Coordinator Molly Hansen provide these services daily, drawing on their own experience, the IFP/Chicago resource library and the organization’s store of goodwill with the members of the Chicago film community.
E-PUBLICATIONS
IFP/Chicago publishes a bi-weekly e-newsletter (circ. 3,200 and growing), and hosts a listserv (circ. 700 and growing) as part of our effort to foster communication and opportunities within the Chicago film community. Both are used by filmmakers and community members who need affordable ways of ‘getting the word out’ about their projects, crew needs and small screenings. The newsletter covers events around Chicago as well as opportunities available to Chicago area filmmakers.
