Illinois Premiere of Award-Winning Lifelike, 5-25-77 Preview

At The Midwest Indie Tuesday, August 2nd

 

The Illinois premiere of the award-winning Lifelike and a preview of the feature 5-25-77 headline another outstanding program as the Midwest Independent Film Festival presents the fourth installment of its 2005 season.  On Tuesday, August 2^nd at 6 p.m. the festivities will be hosted by Chicago’s beautiful Landmark Century Centre Cinema, 2828 North Clark.

 

Lifelike was named Best Dramatic Short at the 2005 Wisconsin Film Festival was awarded the Platinum Remi in the Dramatic Short Film Category at the 38^th Annual Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival.  Lifelike is the directorial debut of John Besmer and was produced through Double Dutch Films, a Chicago-based production company run by Leigh Jones and Kodak’s Ericka Frederick and Besmer’s P Star Pictures, based in Madison, Wisconsin.  The film features acclaimed Chicago actors Rob Riley, Annabel Armour, Brian Hamman and Steppenwolf ensemble member Bob Brueler as well as award winning cinematographer David Blood.

 

5-25-77 is an autobiographical, coming-of-age story from writer/director Patrick Read Johnson (director of Angus).  It tells the true story of Johnson’s final, life-changing senior year in high school as the only science-fiction-obsessed teen filmmaker in his rural hometown of Wadsworth, Illinois on the day Star Wars opened…May 25^th, 1977.  The Chicago Premiere of the 30-minute preview will be presented by Johnson and producer Leigh Jones.

 

Elizabeth Donius and Ericka Frederick will be the featured speakers at our pre-show seminar, which will cover the application process for the IFP Production Fund.  The 2006 IFP/Chicago Production Fund is a grant of equipment, film stock, donated post production services and discounted equipment and services valued upwards of $100,000 for the production of a short film shot by an IFP/Chicago member in the Midwest.  Application deadline is September 15^th.  The seminar begins promptly at 6:30 p.m.

 

On Tuesday, August 2^nd, the pre-show reception begins at the Landmark Theater, 2828 North Clark, at 6 pm.  Elizabeth Donius and IFP take the stage at 6:30 p.m.  Then join host Mike McNamara as our program begins promptly at 7:30 pm.  High definition projection is made possible by Resolution Digital Studios, Fletcher Chicago and Chicago HD.  The post-screening reception will be held at Monsoon, 2813 N Broadway.

 

The Midwest Independent Film Festival.  The best films of the Midwest.  The first Tuesday of the month.  For more information, please visit http://www.midwestfilm.com.

 

Presenting the August lineup for The Midwest Independent Film Festival…

 

HEADLINER: LIFELIKE.  Lifelike is a story of life, death and taxidermy.  Small and simple, it’s about personal loss and one man’s long process of recovery.  The 18-minute short is based on director John Besmer’s feature script “Not Birds, Airplanes” which is currently seeking financing.

 

PREVIEW: 5-25-77.  Ain’t It Cool News comments, “5-25-77 could be a cult classic. It’s all there: love, hate, high school, death, comedy, sex, friendship, family, confrontations, growing up and life decisions--not to mention a fresh soundtrack (finally, a 70s-set story without "Disco Inferno," "I Will Survive" or “YMCA”) and, of course, STAR WARS.” 

 

FILMMAKER INTERVIEW: ANDREW DAVIS.  This month’s featured filmmaker is Andrew Davis, director of The Fugitive, A Perfect Murder and Chain Reaction.  From D.P. Carlson’s Chicago Filmmakers on the Chicago River.

 

WORLD PREMIERE: NAKED WITHOUT ME.  This sharp, fast-paced music video was produced by Niteskool Productions of Northwestern University and directed by Robert Cosnahan, who will be attending the event.

 

IFP SELECTION OF THE MONTH: ASSASSIN.  This ingenious short was shot by Chicago newcomer David Buchanan and was provided to MWFF by Elizabeth Donius and IFP/Chicago.