First Tuesdays with The Midwest Independent Film Festival…

Zacuto, Sundance Docs Take Center Stage August 1^st!

 

There will be two notable “firsts” at The Midwest Independent Film Festival on Tuesday, August 1^st.  Our friends at Zacuto will be presenting their first hands-on demonstration of Their Zacuto products including the Zacuto HVX200 Studio Camera Package.  Meanwhile, we will be presenting our first ever Midwest Documentary Shorts Program, which will feature Chicago Premieres of two Sundance films, Range from Wisconsin native Bill Basquin and No Umbrella – Election Day in the City from Cleveland filmmaker Laura Paglin.

 

Zacuto has now stepped into the manufacturing ring as well and will be unveiling its new universal studio base plate system at the August event.  The rental business has just changed with Zacuto's HVX200 rent-to-own camera package program where you take delivery of a camera package immediately and make 24 easy monthly payments to own it.   

 

From 6 – 8 pm on Tuesday, August 1^st, Zacuto will have all of their amazing camera packages on display, featuring the new HVX200 HD camera.  Play with the buttons, ask the questions and shoot some footage!  Meanwhile, in our screening theater, films and music videos shot with the HVX200 will be showcased on the big screen in true high definition.  Films include the World Premieres of the music video for Raised on Zenith’s wall-shaker, “Black Hole,” as well as the trailer for the Mike Houlihan feature, Tapioca, which was filmed in Chicago this spring.

 

Panasonic’s Ned Johnston will be on hand along with reps from Zacuto to answer any question you can think of about HVX200 or Zacuto’s configurations of that camera. 

 

On Tuesday, August 1^st, the Pre-Show Social, sponsored by Goose Island Brewing Company, begins at the Landmark Theater, 2828 North Clark, at 6 p.m.  As doors open, you will enjoy a unique hands-on look at the Panasonic HVX200, presented by Zacuto (www.zacuto.com).  Our first ever Midwest Documentary Shorts Program begins promptly at 7:30 p.m.  Projection services are provided by sponsors Resolution Digital Studios, Mimi Productions and Zacuto.  Post-screening reception will be held at Sausalito, 543 West Diversey. For more information, please visit www.midwestfilm.com.

 

Get to know the films in this month’s Midwest Documentary Shorts Program…

 

CHICAGO PREMIERE!  NO UMBRELLA – ELECTION DAY IN THE CITY.  An unblinking look at the 2004 US Election Day failures in one of Ohio's poorest neighborhoods. In the most hotly contested state in the country, gridlock at inner city polls ignites tempers and sets off charges of conspiracy. No Umbrella drops us squarely into the chaos as we watch the irascible octogenarian councilwoman (Ms. Fannie Lewis) take on polling place breakdowns, an unresponsive bureaucracy and an increasingly agitated electorate.  Directed by Cleveland filmmaker Laura Paglin.

 

CHICAGO PREMIERE!  RANGE.  The final film in a triptych. A portrait of quiet reckoning about family relationships and farming. Received a Personal Works Grant from the Film Arts Foundation in 2004.  16mm b/w 8 min experimental documentary.

 

STUDENT SELECTION OF THE MONTH: TAMPICO.  Tampico chronicles the struggle of a woman to survive by playing street music in the subways of Chicago.  The film follows Tampico’s daily life to reveal the extraordinary aspects in her everyday experiences.  Director and Columbia College MFA Suree Towfighnia was awarded the annual Studs Terkel Scholarship for her work on this powerful piece of filmmaking.

 

HURRICANE KATRINA.  This award-winning short was made by high school student Julia Panayiotou.  A touching look at one high school’s efforts to combat this national disaster.

 

WORLD PREMIERE MUSIC VIDEO!  BLACK HOLE.  Produced and Directed by Michael Kwielford.  Filmed in 24p HD with the Panasonic HVX200 camera by Directors of Photography Jean-Baptiste LeConte and Joey Domaracki.  Producers Cannon Kinnard, Rocco Cataldo, Josh Fields, and Scott Knudson.  Produced by Scofflaw Films and Open Road Productions in association with Stockyard Films, Smiling Toad Productions and Filmbranch. 

 

NEXT MONTH!  On Tuesday, September 5th, The Midwest Independent Film Festival will be presenting the Midwest Premiere of the dramatic feature, Repetition.  Director Zachary Zises as well as representative cast and crew will be in attendance.  See you at the Landmark!