Chicago FEEDBACK Film Festival
Toronto, Los Angeles…..and now CHICAGO. LOGAN Cinemas in midtown Chicago.
TRANSMIGRATIONS, 6min., USA, Experimental/Drama
Directed by William Harper
Shot over Lake Michigan near Chicago, this film is an expression of my engagement with line and the contrapuntal movement of multiple lines in music and imagery. The visual lines here are traces of the motion of air and lake traffic against the apparent motion of the stars and moon.
JILBAB, 4min., USA, Bahrain, Drama/Family
Directed by Jaan Albalushi
Sometimes we should see life under the robes.
EPHEMERA, 20min., USA, Drama
Directed by Chelses Venkadathu
The story is about a young couple that have been married for ten years. They have a five year old daughter who bonds the family despite the mundanity of their marriage. But a new lifestyle that pushes boundaries might be the unexpected resolution to keep this family bound.
OURS TO TELL, 17min., USA, Documentary
Directed by Rayka Zehtabchi
Without shame and without fear “Ours to Tell” depicts four people who share their stories and walk in their truth. By owning the lives they choose, what unfolds is an unfiltered and poetic demonstration of how the right to access abortion acts as a dynamic turning point in an individual’s journey to freedom and self love. Each with different perspectives and experiences, the film’s subjects — Brittany, Hannah, Nick and Ylonda — take us inside their worlds, their families, their souls and boldly illustrate the beauty and power of bodily autonomy. As we watch, listen and love each storyteller, we also bear witness to a chilling reality: The fundamental freedom to own our body and future has never been more uncertain than it is today.
KENYA’S SYMPHONY, 5min., USA, Animation/Drama
Directed by Carlos Douglas Jr.
A bold, five year old girl reluctantly attends her very first symphony concert with her mother. Being dragged against her will into the auditorium room, Kenya (the young girl) is not content being there. As the conductor lays a downbeat and the orchestra begins playing, this young rascal finds a new way of entertaining herself. She pulls out a straw and begins blowing spitballs at the attentive patrons.
COLLAPSE, 6min., USA, Thriller/Drama
Directed by Josiah Holroyd
Kyle, a 17-year-old with PTSD goes through a rough therapy session talking about his friends who he witnessed get murdered. During the therapy session, the therapist pushes a little too hard into Kyle’s head and finds himself revealing that Kyle is indeed the murderer of his best friends.
ANNA, 15min., Ukraine, History/Drama
Directed by Dekel Berenson
Living in war-torn Eastern Ukraine, Anna is an aging single mother who is desperate for a change. Lured by a radio advertisement, she goes to party with a group of American men who are touring the country, searching for love. Nominated for a short Palme d’Or, TIFF, AFI Fest + dozens of selections and awards. Currently, BAFTA shortlisted. BIFA award for Best British Short Film.
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS:
BEST FILM: OURS TO TELL
BEST PERFORMERS: EPHEMERA
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: FALL TO FAME
BEST SOUND & MUSIC: TRANSMIGRATIONS
Theme of night: Unique Courtships
NOTE: Festival took place during the COVID-19 virus lockdown so all screenings were held in private.
Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Videos:
The beginning of a (temporary) new era.
See you at the festivals. Whenever that happens!
– Matthew Toffolo
Jaan AlBalushi Bahraini Artist, director and photographer, who specializes in filming short movies and commercials, began his career in photography almost 10 years ago, then opened his own studio (Jaan Click Media) for imaging Profile and photographing weddings and makeup advertisements, commercial and Art Videos and concerts. Jaan recently moved to photograph cars and aspires to be a photographer specialist for cars in addition to taking out short movies and videoclips. He took part in the exhibition through the public institution for youth and sport and many exhibitions outside Bahrain such as Oman Exhibition Gallery through Photography Association.
Jaan AlBalushi has won numerous awards, has won the several international awards for his short films and photography, recently his feature Award winning film “Zaraab” screened in Bahrain cinemas also in several international festivals and nominated for best feature film in PIFF and won the best film in Bahrain Cinema Club competition as it’s the first Balochi feature film screened in cinemas.
ANNA, 15min., Ukraine, History/Drama
TRANSMIGRATIONS, 6min., USA, Experimental/Drama
COLLAPSE, 6min., USA, Thriller/Drama
FALL TO FAME, 9min., USA, Relationship/Drama
KENYA’S SYMPHONY, 5min., USA, Animation/Drama
OURS TO TELL, 17min., USA, Documentary
EPHEMERA, 20min., USA, Drama
JILBAB, 4min., USA, Bahrain, Drama/Family
LE COUP, 7min., USA, Romance/Drama
THE TRANSACTION 3min., France, Romance
FLORENCE, 16min., USA, Romance
LIT, 5min., USA, Romance
Chicago FEEDBACK Film Festival 
