THE POOL
2007 Sundance favorite by Milwaukee's own Chris Smith to open this year's Midwest Filmmakers Summit!
Screening and Reception October 19th, 7:30 pm

The Pool is the story of Venkatesh, a "room boy" working at a hotel in Panjim, Goa, who sees from his perch in a mango tree a luxuriant garden and shimmering pool hidden behind a wall. In making whatever efforts he can to better himself, Venkatesh offers his services to the wealthy owner of the home. Not content simply to dream about a different life, Venkatesh is inquisitive about the home's inhabitants, and his curiosity changes the shape of his future.

Remarkably cogent and affecting, this is inspired storytelling distinctive for its ability to transmit a complete worldview in just a phrase or brief conversation. Working in Hindi with young actors in a country obviously not his own, Smith has nevertheless created a superbly incisive portrait that will take its place on a global stage.
— Geoffrey Gilmore, 2007 Sundnace Film Festival

INDIVIDUAL PITCH AND MENTOR SESSIONS AVAILABLE FOR PASS HOLDERS.
Registration for these sessions opens Wednesday and is for pass-holders only.

Friday Pitch Sesssions Available with:
Laurel Ward, producer, Ocean Pictures/ICE HARVEST
Rebecca Green, Tic Tock Studios/Michigan Film Fund
Hopwood Dupree, Tic Tock Studios/Michigan Film Fund
John Fromstein, Fulton Market Films
Michael Nehs, Frontsight Productions

Friday Mentor Sessions with:
Michelle Amor, writer, OF BOYS AND MEN
Amy Cargill, Normal Pictures, editor ORCHARD VALE/NICE BOMBS
Dana Kupper, DP, Kartemquin Films
Mark Messing, Composer, Maestro-Matic, Mucca Pazza
Gary Sherman, director, DEATH LINE, DEAD AND BURIED
Ron Lazeretti, writer, THE MERRY GENTLEMEN
Ericka Frederick, Kodak
Sharon Zurek, Black Cat Productions (Post Production/Editing)

Saturday Mentor Sessions with:
Carrie Holt de Lama, UPM, DIMINISHED CAPACITY
Ray Pride, journalist, New City, Filmmaker Magazine
Hank Sartin, film editor, TIME OUT CHICAGO
Jennifer Jobst, costumer supervisor, THE LAKE HOUSE/ICE HARVEST
Davd 'Big' Krause, production designer, UP ON A ROPE, Redmoon Theater
Pemon Rami, producer, OF BOYS AND MEN
Carl Seaton, director, OF BOYS AND MEN
Paul Leuer, director, EDEN COURT (SUNDAY) **************************************

CHICAGO'S PREMIER INDIE FILM EVENT!!
Join dozens of top industry pro's from the Midwest and the coasts to celebrate the art and craft of independent filmmaking.  The weekend will feature sneak previews, workshops and panels with top directors/writers/cinematographers/editors and other industry professionals, networking with festival programmers and journalists, PARTIES, individual pitch and mentor sessions and much more! 

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PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE
Download the program book at http://chi.ifp.org for full details

Friday, October 19th

10:00 am
What Can The Film Offices Do For You?
Betsy Steinberg, Managing Director, Illinois Film Office, Rich Moskal, Chicago Film Office; Scott Robbe, Film Wisconsin. Moderator: Ruth Ratney

11:00 am
Cinematography and the Low Budget Filmmaker
David Blood (5-25-77/THE TROUBLE WITH DEE DEE); Dana Kupper (STEVIE/5 GIRLS); Tom Fletcher, Fletcher Chicago; Joe 'Jody' Williams (OF BOYS AND MEN). Moderator: Ericka Frederick, Kodak
 
12:30 pm
Writers Sound Off
Michelle Amor (OF BOYS AND MEN), Jonathan Eliot (CRIME FICTION), Ron Lazzeretti (THE MERRY GENTLEMEN), Gary Sherman (DEATH LINE, VICE SQUAD, DEAD AND BURIED). Moderator: Laurel Ward, Ocean Pictures
 
1:45-2:30 pm - LUNCH BREAK
 
2:30 pm
The Finishing Touch
Amy Cargill (editor, ORCHARD VALE), Mike Matusek (colorist, Nolo Digital), Mark Messing (composer, Maestro Matic), Mike Nehs (Front Sight Productions). Moderator: Sharon Zurek, Black Cat Productions

3:30 pm
Adobe Creative Suite Workshop
Jacob Rosenberg, Formika Films

5:00 pm
Meet the Programmers Panel and Reception
Charles Coleman (Facets Cinematique), Hopwood Dupree (Waterfront Film Festival), Jonathan Jackson, (Milwaukee Film Festival); David Kwok (Tribeca Film Festival), David Wilson (True/False Film Festival), Bryan Wendorf (Chicago Underground Film Festival). Moderator: Anthony Kaufman (indiewire, Variety)

Just Announced!
Chris Smith's THE POOL
Opens the Midwest Filmmakers Summit!
Milwaukee's own Chris Smith in attendance!!
Screening and Reception October 19th, 7:30 pm

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Saturday, October 20th 

10:00 am
Indie Film Today
IFP/Chicago turns our favorite film writers loose on the topic of today’s Indie Film World, and on each other.  Sparks will fly! Enjoy.
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune; Ray Pride, New City; Hank Sartin, Time Out Chicago. Moderator: Anthony Kaufman, Variety, indiewire

11:30 am
Alternative Distribution for Independent Filmmakers
David Sikich, (Columbia College); Kris Swanberg (HANNAH TAKES THE STAIRS, BATHWATER); Ryan Werner (IFC Films). Moderator: Anthony Kaufman, Variety, indiewire
12:45-1:30 pm – LUNCH BREAK 

1:30 pm
Perfecting the Look
Jennifer Rudnicke (TPR Casting), Mono Wilborn (Locations Manager, RORY’S FIRST KISS), Jennifer Jobst (costume supervisor, THE LAKE HOUSE), David 'Big' Krause (UP ON A ROPE, Redmoon Theater).  moderator: Steven A Jones (producer, QUEBEC)

3:00 pm
Directing A Feature
Ruth Leitman (LIPSTICK AND DYNAMITE), Paul Leuer (EDEN COURT),Carl Seaton (OF BOYS AND MEN). Moderator: Gary Sherman (DEATH LINE, VICE SQUAD, DEAD AND BURIED)

5:00 pm
OF BOYS AND MEN Case Study
Michelle Amor, writer; Pemon Rami, producer, Carl Seaton, director; Joe 'Jody' Williams, Cinematographer. Moderator: Carrie Holt de Lama, IFP/Chicgo Board President and UPM for OF BOYS AND MEN

Learn from the experiences of the OF BOYS AND MEN team, who made their film this year in Chicago. This discussion will include clips from the film, in which Robert Townsend stars as the patriarch of a family devastated when his wife (Angela Bassett) is killed in a senseless auto accident. Reeling with grief, each family member must find the courage and vision to carry on, ultimately eager to do the mother proud. Victoria Rowell stars as Robert's sister who moves in to help the family adjust to their loss.

7:00 pm
Flyover Zone Short Film Festival and Party
including the PREMIERE of HOLLYWOOD JEROME, 2007 IFP/Chicago Production Fund Winner and announcement of the 2008 winner.

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Sunday, October 21st

11:00 am
Tribeca All-Access Program Workshop
Come learn about Tribeca All Access, the Tribeca Film Institute’s one-of-a-kind networking and career development forum for directors and screenwriters from underrepresented communities, from programmer David Kwok.  Tribeca All Access is now accepting submissions for its fifth year. The program offers both established and neophyte filmmakers access to scions of the film industry each year during the Tribeca Film Festival, in addition to a host of panels and workshops, and year-round networking events in New York and Los Angeles.

David Kwok, Tribeca Film Festival
 
12:15 pm
ITVS Workshop
Join ITVS Representative Naomi Walker to learn about the Independent Television Serivce, which funds, presents and promotes award-winning documentaries and dramas on public television and cable, innovative new media projects on the Web and the Emmy Award-winning weekly series Independent Lens Tuesday nights at 10:00 PM on PBS.

Naomi Walker, ITVS

1:30 pm
Meet The Unions
Representatives of the DGA, SAG and others discuss the ins and outs of how they work with indies and how to join.

Dan Moore, DGA and Kit Woods, SAG

3:00 pm
EDEN COURT
Director Paul Leuer in attendance!

Eden Court, a Chicago production by Chicago Filmmaker Paul Leuer,  is a coming of age dramatic comedy about a washed up baseball star searching for a more meaningful life than his trailer park existence has to offer. It stars Thomas Lennon (Reno 911; Miami) and Kimberly Williams-Paisley (Father of the Bride, We are Marshall).