Both aspiring and professional film industry aficionados recently descended up on Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood for the 4th annual Englewood International Film Festival. The four day event featured networking, interactive workshops, and screenings of films from across the country and abroad from places as far away as France.
“It’s amazing how it just keeps growing and growing,” says EIFF visionary and cofunder Mark Harris. “This by far was our best year ever!”
A first for the festival this year was the creation of EIFF Career Day. Actors, models, set-designers, marketers, and lawyers spoke to more than 300 students in Englewood schools. Speakers volunteered to speak to youth in grades 5-8 about career and life decisions. “The EIFF Career Day was exciting,” says EIFF cofounder Alisa Inez. “We had excellent professionals visit several schools, share their experience, and inform youth of careers behind and in-front of the camera. The children were engaged and inspired.”
In addition to the Career Day, the festival also featured an opening night panel hosted by popular radio personality Teefa of Power 92 FM with renowned filmmaker Christopher Nolen at Englewood’s KuSanya Café. Mr. Nolen shared his knowledge and experience with an eager to listen audience of filmmakers, community leaders and residents. There was also a red carpet screening of Englewood, an award winning film by William L. Cochran, along with workshops such as Balancing Your Acting Career, Music & Movies, Cinematography, and the Youth Green Screen Experience. The festival drew to a close on a special Q&A with Chris Adams of Impakt Studio, who is putting the finishing touches its first short film, EXO.
For more info on the Englewood International Film Festival please visit www.eiff.org
Check out photos from the festival in the gallery below.
