Tag: Chicago Film Festival

HIGHLIGHTS: May 2024 CHICAGO Film Festival

Showcase of the best FILMS in the world today.

Audience Award Winners:
Best Feature Film: COOKIES 4 JANE
Best Short Film: CIAO, BELLA
Best Story: THE LONELY PORTRAIT
Best Direction: HIDDEN CURRENTS
Best Student Film: TRUCKSTOP
Best Performances: GRACE
Best Comedy: LITTLE ISSUES
Best Micro-Short: NO TIME
Best Documentary: EMBRACE THE MONSTER
Best New Media Film: THE WINDY CITY BLOWS

See info for each film:

COOKIES 4 JANE, 62min., USA
Directed by Mary Elle Alexander
Ten years in the making, “Cookies 4 Jane” recounts the final chapters of the life of a beloved matriarch, Jane, as she battles Alzheimer’s Disease. Filmed, edited, and directed by Jane’s granddaughter, Mary, this intimate documentary condenses four years of raw footage into an hour-long, heart-rending, inspirational, and delightfully educational piece.

https://vimeo.com/maryellealexander

Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.

TRUCKSTOP, 16min., USA
Directed by Molly Karna

https://instagram.com/truckstopfilm

Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.

THE LONELY PORTRAIT, 17min., USA
Directed by Marc Marashi
An AirBnB guest stumbles upon a hidden piece of art that, once hung up, has an unexpected and unsettling effect on the home.

https://instagram.com/thelonelyportraitfilm
https://instagram.com/mna_film_company

Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.

LITTLE ISSUES, 4min., USA
Directed by Jerah Milligan
When Andy discovers mid-coitus that her new beaux has a micro-penis, she rushes to her roommates who remind her that he’s thoughtful, adventurous, and way too hot to let go of. Besides, he’s had this Little Issue his whole life: he must know how to use it!

Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.

CIAO, BELLA, 8min., USA
Directed by William Quinn Dover
In this modern film noir romance, a young stalker can’t seem to get over his ex lover, until finding out the double meaning of “Ciao Bella”.

Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.

NO TIME, 4min,. USA
Directed by Engin Altintas

https://www.facebook.com/engin.altintas.90
https://www.instagram.com/enginaltintass/

Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.

EMBRACE THE MONSTER, 5min., USA
Directed by Austin Hamilton Le
Short documentary following a painter using his art to heal his trauma.

Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.

GRACE, 5min,. USA
Directed by Jason Ivy
Originally created during the SAG-AFTRA strike as part of the SAG-AFTRA Short Film Series, the film “Grace” features a crew of actors working together for the first time to navigate the tale of a young woman dealing with the powerful manifestation of grief following a tumultuous family situation. The title, “Grace,” implies slow, intentional movement, the space in between stages of life, the room you give to someone finding themselves again. Not every story has a happy or sad ending, but we feel it is important to have a message. We are delighted for you to experience Grace through your own lens and let us know what you feel.

https://gracefilm.squarespace.com/

Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.

HIDDEN CURRENTS, 8min,. USA
Directed by T.E. Hirschler

https://gracefilm.squarespace.com/

Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.

THE WINDY CITY BLOWS, 2min., USA
Directed by Nick Luna
My Alien Friend and I discuss about the Dating scene in the Icy and unforgiving Chicago winds. however things term scary and potentially violent when some good advice goes bad.

http://nicklunafilms.com/https://www.instagram.com/nicklunaproductions/

Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.

Deadline Today to Submit: CHICAGO Feedback Film Festival

I was very moved and excited by watching the feedback video. It’s so amazing to see how people react. 
– Erich Steiner, (Short Film, In the Still of the Night)

Submit exclusively via FilmFreeway:

The fastest growing film festival in the world today:

Your film will get screened in front of a large, broad audience.

– We are a feedback festival and you will actually hear what people and film lovers think of your film.

– Your film is screened and then talked about with the audience, lead by a Professional Industry moderator. (NOTE: Screenings are now held in private to maximize the audience feedback video you will receive.)

– We then post the audience feedback video online right after the festival for you to watch.

NEW Showcase: Submit your FEATURE FILM and receive an audience feedback promotional/testimonial video of your film. Great video to use to get into more festivals and/or promote your film. All submissions receive feedback on their film no matter what.

Awards & Prizes

Screenplay winners get their work performed by professional actor and made into a film.

Accepted films get their film shown at a guarantee full house crowd. Then we turn the cameras on the audience after the film is screened and they’ll receive an Audience FEEDBACK Video of your film.

Watch 100s of Recent Audience FEEDBACK Festival Videos for Examples:

– As you can see watching past event videos, this is NOT a thumbs up/thumbs down film critic festival. It’s a positive discussion of each film talking about what the movie is about. We never venture into one of those easy negative discussions.

– The Chicago FEEDBACK Festival is proud to be a credited festival with IMDB.com. After you film is screened at our festival, you can add your film and cast/crew to their site.

And no matter what happens, every film receives FULL FEEDBACK of their submitted film and we tell you honestly why we made our decisions.

No other film festival in the world does what we do!

The RULES are simple:

1. Make a film. We screen SHORT FILMS of any genre. Length of films screened are from 10 seconds to 3 hours!

2. Send in your film link and press kit to chicago@wildsoundfestival.com

NOTE: If you don’t have a press kit, no problem. Just email in the:

Title of the Film
Length
Genre
Country of Origin
Director’s Name (and BIO if you can)
1-3 Line Synopsis of the Film

Submit exclusively via FilmFreeway:

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Wildsound FEEDBACK Film Festival is a monthly festival that prides itself on making sure the filmmaker not only gets their film screened in front of a large audience, but also benefits from gaining feedback during the Q&A from our moderator who discusses each film with the audience. This film festival enables you, the filmmaker, to actually obtain honest feedback about what people think of your film.

HIGHLIGHTS: March 2024 CHICAGO Film Festival

Showcase of the best FILMS in the world today.

Audience Award Winners:
Best Short Film: THE CAPSULE
Best Story: LIKE MOTHER
Best Direction: HALCYON
Best Sound & Music: ASHES – CHAPTER 0
Best Mini-Short: WEEK 11: SLAPSTICK
Best Animation: WEEK 2: THRILLER
Best Documentary: PUREBRED PASSION

See info for each film:

HALCYON, 7min,. Australia
Directed by Brenton McNally
David looks for his missing wife but struggles to get out of his own way.

Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.

WEEK 2: THRILLER, 1min., USA
Directed by Genus Griggs
Two brothers explore what appears to be an abandoned building. The older brother goes missing and the younger searches for him. He find’s his older brother bleeding out. The younger brother is then also captured.

https://twitter.com/genus_art
https://www.instagram.com/genus.entertainment/

Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.

ASHES – CHAPTER 0, 4min., USA
Directed by Isaiah Matthew Griggs
In a mysterious facility, David, a captive, engineers his escape by tricking a guard. He evades pursuit through the building, discovering a lab and learning about his metahuman status. Outside the facility, he is captured by guards who mention his destructive potential. David wakes up in the lab, where his powers intensify and cause a powerful explosion. The short ends with David metaphysically floating in space, undergoing a transformative experience before unleashing a surge of energy.

https://twitter.com/genus_art
https://www.instagram.com/genus.entertainment/

Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.

LIKE MOTHER, 8min., Canada
Directed by Lisa Drupsteen
A young woman navigates her romantic life while trying her best to dodge her mother’s demons. Will she have the strength to break the cycle of manipulation? Or simply fall victim to the old adage: “Like Mother, Like Daughter”…

https://www.instagram.com/creativeexpressionmtl

Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.

THE CAPSULE, 20min,. Poland
Directed by Kamil Keenan, Agnieszka Żaglewska
Two astronauts in a space capsule realize that they won’t have enough oxygen until help arrives. In this extreme situation, they suddenly have to face the ultimate questions. Accompanying the characters on their final journey, viewers begin to wonder what their answers would be.

http://kamilkeenan.com/https://www.instagram.com/kamilkeenan

Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.

PUREBRED PASSION, 22min,. USA
Directed by Sam Powell
A documentary profiling two teams of competitors during the 2023 Great American Dog Show in Chicago.

https://www.samnpowell.com/http://vimeo.com/sampowell

Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.

WEEK 11: SLAPSTICK, 2min., USA
Directed by William (Sharp) Walker
After a little boy loses his ball on a roof, he tries increasingly outlandish strategies to get it back.

Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.

HIGHLIGHTS: February 2024 Chicago Film Festival

Showcase of the best FILMS in the world today.

Audience Award Winners:

Best Short Form Short Film: REGENERATION
Best Long Form Short Film: STORK
Best Story: TAKE ALL OF ME
Best Animation: SPLIT ENDS

Best Student Film: WOULD’VE, COULD’VE, SHOULD’VE

SPLIT ENDS, 4min., USA
Directed by Aida Elkerdany
A haircut and its consequences.

https://elkerdany.wixsite.com/portfolio
https://instagram.com/addakart

WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!

REGENERATION, 3min., Brazil
Directed by Mario Fernandes
A sci-fi 3-minute short film with an artificial intelligence interaction.

WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!

WOULD’VE, COULD’VE, SHOULD’VE, 10min., USA
Directed by Nick Sansone
A young woman returns to her hometown in order to testify against the former teacher that groomed her. Inspired by true events.

https://www.instagram.com/nsansone97

WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!

STORK, 31min., USA
Directed by Khiray Tyrell Richards
A woman must navigate an anti-abortion America after her surrogate family reneges on their agreement.

https://www.instagram.com/thestorkfilm

WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!

TAKE ALL OF ME, 4min., USA
Directed by Declan Franey
A woman must make a choice to overcome her pain.

WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!

HIGHLIGHTS: January 2024 Chicago Film Festival

Showcase of the best FILMS in the world today.

Audience Award Winners:

Best Short Form Short Film: TILLIE
Best Long Form Short Film: FIELD DAY
Best Direction: BAPTISM
Best Performances: YOLKS
Best Story: DEEPFAKE
Best Documentary: MR. BULLOCH: CHICAGO’S DONUT KING

DEEPFAKE, 6min., USA
Directed by Nate Zegue
A scammer uses deepfake technology to disguise her voice.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30834524/?ref_=nm_knf_i_1

WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!

TILLIE, 5min., USA
Directed by Noelle P. Wilson, D Andrew Hartfield
An 8 year old girl adopted from China leads her father to a deeper understanding of what she faces in a new culture and what she longs for from her home country.

http://tillietuesday.com/https://www.instagram.com/tillietuesday

WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!

MR. BULLOCH: CHICAGO’S DONUT KING, 5min., USA
Directed by Claude Edward Fethiere
This short film celebrates Mr. Buritt Bulloch the successful owner of Old Fashioned Donuts Incorporated, a business which has thrived in the financially blighted Chicago south side neighborhood of Roseland for over 50 years.

WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!

BAPTISM, 8min, USA
Directed by Alex Alexander
The relief, the rest that comes from truth.

WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!

YOLKS, 4min,. USA
Directed by Jesse Womack
John struggles with his relationship with food and body image in the form of his own subconscious.

https://www.facebook.com/jesse.womack.10
https://www.instagram.com/jessewoooooomack/

WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!

FIELD DAY, 22min., USA
Directed by Kevin Hart
Tom is a lonely widower who awakens one day…

WATCH HERE – The audience feedback video of the film!

Chicago Festival: February 2023 Feature Film Festival

A showcase of the winning feature film in 2023 from the DIVERSITY festival.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE CANARIES, 110min., Spain, Drama
Directed by Armando Ravelo
Nola, a girl of Senegalese origin, arrives in the Canary Islands in a canoe. Then begins an epic through the most defining corners of the Canary Islands in search of a Canarian father whom he never knew.

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://youtu.be/BJSC426P0Yo

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt21028142/
https://www.instagram.com/eraseunavezencanarias/

Director Biography – Armando Ravelo

He has directed several shortfilms and a feature films with great critical and public acclaim. His cinematographic work (Bentejuí Project), takes the History of the Canary Islands to the screens.
Ravelo, who has won several awards at national and international festivals, started this project with ‘Ansite’ in 2012.

In early 2021, his first feature film ‘La piel del volcán’ premiered, becoming the most watched Canarian film in theaters so far this century.

With ‘Once upon a time in the Canaries’, the author moves away from the historical genre to make a social chronicle with the hope of raising awareness of the problem of continental African migration to the Canary Islands.

Director Statement:

This film is the result of the effort of many people dedicated to tell a story about the migratory movements from Africa to the Spanish islands. Many people start the journey and only a few finish it.

Director Biography – Rachel Knoll (LET THE BLONDE SING)

Rachel works on a range of video and interactive projects with an emphasis on finding new and innovative ways to capture and tell human-centric stories. Combining her interest in emerging technologies and know-how of traditional disciplines, Rachel has been recognized internationally for her perspective by Wired Magazine, Vimeo Staff Picks, The National Film Board of Canada, The Atlantic, Vice, Adweek, and Fast Company.

Short Film: LET THE BLONDE SING, 13min., USA Documentary

An intimate look into a small community in Alaska through the eyes of Beverly Sue Waltz, the bartender of the only bar open all-year-round.

Born in Texas, Beverly had dreams of becoming a country singer and traveled around the US performing at a young age. Pregnant at 15 and escaping a troublesome relationship, Beverly found herself in a small Alaskan town where she cares for her community that gathers in the Anchor Inn bar, occasionally singing on the bar’s stage that was built for her.Director Biography – Rachel Knoll

Director Biography – Samantha Sanders (BALLHAWKS)

Samantha began her career in film by working for some of her favorite filmmakers including Jim Jarmusch, and Barbara Kopple. She returned to school to study film and video at Columbia College Chicago and received her MFA in June 2001. Her films and screenplays have won awards internationally. A feature film she produced, entitled Chicago Boricua, premiered at the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival and is released on home video by Screen Media/Universal. She has written/produced television for the series American Justice and Biography on the A&E network and produced the pilot episode of When Forensics Fail for MSNBC. In the summer of 2006 she produced the Weather Channel’s first HD special Storm Stories: A Hurricane Katrina Anniversary Special. She produced Witness: GI Homecoming and Witness: Joplin Tornado which both aired on the National Geographic Channel May 2012. An indie fiction feature she co-produced entitled American Folk – a contemporary musical road movie set in the backdrop of 9/11 – premiered theatrically and on demand on Hulu January 2018. She loves anything that takes her out of her comfort zone – which this summer was a beginning attempt at hang gliding. Miraculously unscathed, she plans to continue that pursuit although her fear of heights may work against her.

Short Film: BALLHAWKS, 10min., USA, Documentary

Outside of Wrigley Field, a group of die-hard Cubs fans have attended years of games and only rarely entered the park. They spend the innings on the corner of Waveland and Kenmore in the hopes of catching home runs in what they call the far outfield. Their shared passion has led to lifelong friendships and a community spirit that hearkens back to the early days of the game. In the fall of 2016, after a 100-year dry spell, the Cubs will play in the World Series and these Ballhawks have a chance they’ve only dreamed of – to catch a World Series home run ball.

  • Film Type:Documentary
  • Runtime:10 minutes
  • Completion Date:April 30, 2019
  • Production Budget:4,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:United States
  • Country of Filming:United States
  • Film Language:English
  • Shooting Format:Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:16:9
  • Film Color:Color