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Audience atmosphere during the 'Eternal You" student screening at the Rose Wagner Center in Salt Lake City.

Sundance Institute x Chicago Community Partner Events

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Monday, June 24

Midwest PRIDE: A Night of Celebration through Cinema

6:30 PM – 11:30 PM

Gene Siskel Film Center

Join us on Monday, June 24th, at The Gene Siskel Film Center for a vibrant Pride Month celebration hosted by The Midwest Film Festival.

The evening commences at 6:30 pm with a lively networking reception, offering an unparalleled opportunity for attendees to mingle with fellow cinephiles, distinguished filmmakers, and vibrant community members. Post-reception, we will transition into a compelling panel discussion featuring Cassidy Dimon from The Film Event Accessibility Working (FEAW) Group, along with leaders from The Legacy Project. This conversation, moderated by our Operations Director, NK Gutiérrez, promises to be an invaluable exchange of insights and inspiration.

The apex of the evening is the Midwest premiere of “Screams From The Tower”, a poignant narrative written and directed by Cory Wexler Grant. Cory, along with his extraordinary cast and crew will be gracing the event with a red carpet appearance followed by a post-screening Q&A moderated by Scott Lundius of The Legacy Project. The festivities continue into the night with an after-party at the Emerald Loop Bar & Grill. This is your chance to extend discussions, forge new connections, and unwind after an evening of stimulating cinema. Enjoy food and beverages while you rub shoulders with fellow movie buffs, filmmakers, and community members.

Whether you’re a local Midwesterner or just visiting, this event is an extraordinary opportunity to experience the camaraderie and creativity that define our local film community.

Please note: The introduction, panel discussion, and Q&A will be facilitated with Live Captioning
(CART), and the film will be screened with Open Captions.

RSVP now

Friday, June 28

Chicago ‘Xquid 2.0 Happy Hour: Film + Tech Mashup

2:30 PM – 5:30 PM

WORKBOX River North, 306 W. Erie St, Chicago, IL

Featured as one of the Sundance Institute x Chicago community partner events, co-hosted by Pixquid® and WORKBOX, and to celebrate an upcoming launch of Pixquid® 2.0 beta version in August, this event brings different communities together including, but not limited to, independent film, art, tech, business, and marketing.

Event Details and Activities:
2:45pm – Opening Remarks
3:00pm – Panel Discussion: “Latest Tech Trends and How They Shape Independent Film Funding and Distribution” moderated by Elaine Wyder-Harshman with panelists including John Klein, Chris Adams, and Rujanee Mahakanjana
3:45pm – A Short Film screening (presented by Shortcut 100 International Film Festival)
4:00pm – Panel Discussion: “The State of Genre Filmmaking” moderated by Raul Benitez and Curtis Matzke with panelists including Missy Hernandez, Jim Vendiola, and Le Le Park
4:45pm – Open Networking (food provided / drinks tickets must be purchased in advance)
5:15pm – Raffle Drawing and Silent Auction of “Whales” the latest painting series by Pixquid Founder/CEO Rujanee Mahakanjana
5:20pm – Closing Remarks
Come meet new people, make new friends, expand your network, watch independent movies from around the world, and learn a thing or two, all in one place. The event will be part of the “Work from Summertime Chi” co-working space program with key collaborators such as P33, Choose Chicago, and World Business Chicago, which runs from May 28 through August 30.

Pixquid is an ecosystem that combines streaming, community, and a marketplace platform for filmmakers and creatives to connect, collaborate, and grow with partners. We enable filmmakers and creatives to extend their reach, visibility, and the longevity of their work so that they can contribute to the field and support their careers as creative entrepreneurs.

Workbox Holdings, Inc. is a national workspace operator that provides professionals with a platform to connect. In addition to traditional office space and coworking solutions, it offers access to a range of investors, a vetted network of professional specialists, and powerful interactions through a heavy concentration of high growth businesses across its entire portfolio.

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ELECTRIQSOUL HIDEOUT STUDIOS

June 28 – June 30

Reva And David Logan Center For The Arts

Have the opportunity to step into this satellite location of our West Loop Studio and peruse a hand crafted and curated art selection by Obisoulstar to highlight the premiere screening of Sundance Institute x Chicago 2024. Beyond opening night, enjoy this exhibit throughout your weekend experience. https://www.electriqsoulhideoutstudios.com/

Free and open to the public.

Saturday, June 29

Chicago Media Coalition Presents: Fueling the Future Brunch

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sisters in Cinema Media Arts
Center

(Private event) Join us for an exclusive, invite-only brunch as we officially launch the Chicago Media Coalition, a groundbreaking initiative — powered by Full Spectrum Features, Mezcla Media Collective, Sisters in Cinema and Open Television — aimed at uniting and empowering independent voices in the Windy City’s media landscape. Be part of history as we unveil our first pilot initiative, marking a significant step towards fostering collaboration and amplifying diverse perspectives through sustainability and partnership. Let’s raise a toast to over two years of dedicated research and the promise of building collective power to shape the future of Black, Indigenous and POC storytelling in Chicago! Learn more at https://chicagomediacoalition.org/

Chicago Media Coalition Presents: Lights, Camera, Collaboration! The Art of Filmmaker and Funder Partnerships

12:15 PM – 3:00 PM

Sisters in Cinema Media Arts
Center

Ever wonder how your favorite films get made? Join us behind the screens for real discussions that dive deep into the innovative relationships between filmmakers, funders, and organizations who help bring those visions to life. Get ready for an insightful and inspiring exploration of the business relationships that make movie magic happen!

Convo #1 (12:15pm – 1:00pm) Individual Investors Partnering With Filmmakers
Convo #2 (1:15pm – 2:00pm) Public Funders Partnering With Filmmakers
Convo #3 ( 2:15pm – 3:00pm) Emerging and Youth Filmmakers Partnering with Universities and Youth Supporting Organizations

Hosted by four dynamic artist-centered organizations: Full Spectrum Features, Mezcla Media Collective, Sisters in Cinema, and Open Television, as we launch the Chicago Media Coalition.

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Chicago Media Coalition presents THE GROOVE HOUR

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Sisters in Cinema Media Arts
Center

Welcome to The Groove Hour! Get ready to immerse yourself in an afternoon of rhythm, laughter, and pure exhilaration at the Sisters in Cinema Media Arts Center. Our electrifying DJs and dynamic community will activate the best of vibes before continuing your journey through Sundance x Chicago 2024.

Join us for a lively evening happy hour, open to all, hosted by four dynamic artist-centered organizations: Full Spectrum Features, Mezcla Media Collective, Sisters in Cinema, and Open Television, as we launch the Chicago Media Coalition. Filmmakers and industry professionals alike are invited to socialize and connect before heading to Playing for Keeps: How Development Labs could be the investment that leads to local artistic sustainability taking place at the Logan Center for the Arts between 5-6:30pm.

Whether you’re a dance floor veteran or simply eager to let loose, this event promises something for everyone. Don’t miss out on this epic opportunity to groove with friends and create unforgettable memories. Let’s raise our glasses to the power of collaboration and community-building as we pave the way for a brighter future in the independent media landscape of Chicago.

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Indigenous Community Roundtable: Where Art Meets Advocacy

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Logan Center, Performance Hall

Members of the indigenous community, allies, and anyone interested in arts advocacy are all invited to listen and join a conversation in which speakers will expand on their respective organizations and film projects, share information about support avenues for Indigenous art and exhibition, and elaborate on the intersection of art and advocacy. Speakers will share their insights and pathways into this vital work where personal experiences, communal histories, art, and storytelling intersect to bring attention and calls to action to matters affecting this community. This is a free event, open to the public.

We will be joined by:
Prairie Rose Seminole, Co-director, We Ride For Her
Lorna Cuny, Co-Chair/Co-Founder, Medicine Wheel Riders
Emily Kassie, Co-director, Sugarcane

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We Ride For Her Screening and Red Dress Exhibition

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

American Indian Center

In partnership with Sundance Institute x Chicago 2024 and the American Indian Center, we will be screening our film WE RIDE FOR HER on Saturday at 6pm. ⁣ A community discussion about the film, the MMIW/R/P epidemic, and ways to take action will follow the screening. Co-directors Prairie Rose Seminole and Katrina Sorrentino, Medicine Wheel Rider Lorna Cuny, and American Indian Center Board President Nataka Moore will join the discussion panel. ⁣ Following the film and discussion, please stay for the opening of the WE RIDE FOR HER Red Dress Exhibition. We are exhibiting red dresses to represent the thousands of Indigenous people who go missing or are murdered in the United States each year. The exhibition runs through July 13. ⁣This event is free and open to the public.

No registration is required. We hope to see you there!

The Black Aura: A Weekend of Liberation & The Arts

7:30 PM – 11:30 PM

Kehrein Center for the Arts

The Kehrein Center for the Arts Foundation is pleased to introduce The Black Aura: A Weekend of Liberation and the Arts. The Black Aura is a response to Chicago’s need to develop a greater sense of identity and clarity around the values associated with Juneteenth. Scheduled to take place June 28-29, 2024, the weekend between Juneteenth and Independence Day, this artistic experience leverages the arts to illuminate the tensions in our histories and struggles, and the resiliency that has emerged. Promising a broad array of experiences, (performances, documentaries, workshops) the weekend will highlight the aura of “Blackness” and reflect the resilience & humanity of Black people in the arts. The weekend is designed to feature local artists, intentionally building upon and strengthening our collective sense of community in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood and beyond.

With an emphasis on Black liberation, on the 28th, we will curate a documentary screening, workshops, and panel discussions on topics that include the impact of Black culture on the liberation of Black people in Chicago. Then, on the evening of the 29th, various artistic performances focused on narrative sharing and musical performance will be comprised by the evening celebration of resilience, hosting and connecting with hundreds of participants during the course of The Black Aura weekend. The Black Aura will cultivate immersive interaction among artists and community residents, unearthing opportunities to unleash new artistic talents, as well as a deeper and wider understanding of our shared history, narratives, and identities at the intersection of struggle and resilience, resulting in a stronger sense of community and belonging.

RSVP now

Sunday, June 30

Film Girlz Brunch

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Chicago Athletic Association

Film Girlz Brunch is a communal space for femme folks in the film industry to come together and meet.

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I Want To Start My Own Production Company, Now What?

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Chicago Athletic Association

Featuring Ramo Law, Mezcla Media Collective, and IFA Chicago, this event features a panel of experts who will tackle valuable and key operating elements in a guided discussion about the creative, business, and legal sides of filmmaking and production. The event is a community partnered event of Sundance Institute x Chicago 2024.

Attendees will hear from Mary Trier of Ramo Law; Naeema Torres of Mezcla Media Collective; and Wesley Julian of Independent Film Alliance (IFA) Chicago. You won’t want to miss this distinctive and engaging session, open to anyone interested in film.

Following the approximately one-hour panel discussion will be a brief Q&A, with light refreshments and social networking after.

Panelists:
Mary Trier, Ramo Law
Jackie Ward, Ramo Law
Production Company Lead (To Be Announced)
Production Company Lead (To Be Announced)
Elena Valentine, Skill Scout
Brittani Ward, 521 Films

Moderator:
Naeema Torres, Mezcla Media Collective
Emcee:
Wesley Julian, IFA Chicago

RSVP now

(Must login or create a free account to register.)

Indie Film In Chicago

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Chicago Athletic Association

What makes Chicago unique when it comes to filmmaking? “Indie Film In Chicago” will explore filmmaking in our beloved city from the perspective of writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, and sound engineers who fuel Chicago’s independent film ecosystem by actively making content. Resources and information will be shared from the Illinois Film Office and SAG/AFTRA Chicago. This panel is free with RSVP.

Moderated by: David Leonard, DGA

Panelists:
Chris Adams, Cinematographer, Founder Impakt Studios
Kathy Byrne, SAG-AFTRA
Lou Ferrara, Illinois Film Office
Shahari Moore, Writer/Director
Kayo Williams, Composer, Founder Kayquarii Productions
Dashawna Wright, Producer

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Future Filmmaking: Sustainable Innovation Across Departments

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Chicago Athletic Association

Ecofixr proudly presents a must-attend event as part of the esteemed Championing Creative Independence – Community Programming at Sundance Institute x Chicago 2024. Join us for an exhilarating panel discussion delving into cutting-edge strategies for integrating sustainability across every department of filmmaking. Our esteemed speakers will share invaluable insights and expertise. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to gain actionable knowledge and network with industry leaders at the forefront of cinematic sustainability. Reserve your seat now for an event that promises to inspire and empower!

Panelists:
FX’s The Bear & Sunbelt Rentals
Thomas Hamaker; Rigger Gaffer for FX’s The Bear
Fabian Lara, Sunbelt’s Strategic Account Manager/Entertainment
Sarah Adkin, Sunbelt’s National Sales Manager-BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems)
Learn about their sustainable power setups on the set of FX’s The Bear and the many benefits they discovered with their innovative solutions. FX’s The Bear returns for its third season with 10 new episodes June 27, exclusively on Hulu. Seasons one and two now streaming.

Local 600 (International Cinematographers Guild) Sustainability Committee:
Stephanie Dufford, Chicago-Area Chair
Discover how the skilled technicians and artisans who create visual images for screens big and small can contribute to a more sustainable future.

Big City Sets
Charles Grendys III, Owner
Big City Sets’ unique techniques for set building save cost and recover valuable resources. Charles Grendys III will share how his team naturally incorporates sustainability into their processes.

Moderated by Ecofixr
Founder, Ellen Domonkos White

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Distribution Roundtable

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Chicago Cultural Center, Learning Lab

This will be a filmmaker round-table where filmmakers with films from 2023, or 2024 will discuss their experiences with distribution. The goal is to share and suggest distribution ideas and actualities. Distribution is a black hole with respect to what happens once a movie is acquired. Filmmakers will have a forum to discuss their experiences and answer questions about distribution.Further topics will discuss why certain films are acquired and others are not, talk about experiences getting financing, and try to come up with a best practices approach to sales and distribution. Hosted by Elevated Films.

Time permitting we can discuss navigating the festival circuit.

Moderated by: Jennifer Reeder

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They’ll Fix It In Post: A Candid Conversation with Post-Production
Professionals

7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Chicago Cultural Center, Learning Lab

“You really write three movies. The script everybody signs on for, the movie you shoot, and then the one you create in the editing room.” – Francis Ford Coppola

These days, the “third movie” is created in the expanding world of post-production. This candid conversation with Chicago post-production professionals: Composer, Sound Designer, Music Supervisor, Sound Mixer, Editor and VFX/Colorist will discuss the collaborative process that gets your project to the finish line. What should you know beforehand? How early should you start thinking about post? What CAN actually be fixed in post and how did this even become a meme? After the panel join your fellow professionals at a mixer for ongoing discussion and networking.

RSVP now