Chicago-made short film CHOKE will make its hometown premiere at the 62nd Chicago International Film Festival, bringing the work of its local cast and crew to Chicago audiences following its world premiere at HollyShorts.
Reel Chicago previously covered the Sparkly Productions film ahead of its HollyShorts screening. According to the filmmakers, that premiere played to a sold-out audience at the TCL Chinese Theatre. The Chicago selection marks CHOKE’s second appearance at an Oscar-qualifying festival.
“This movie was made in Chicago, by Chicago artists, and to debut it at Chicago’s most storied festival is an honor we don’t take lightly,” said co-creator Joelle Velez. “We made this film to start conversations about complicity and using your voice when it matters most. We’re so grateful to CIFF for giving us the platform to share this message, which feels more urgent now than ever.”
CHOKE takes place in the fictional Very Nice Town, where residents must undergo a disturbing loyalty test that leaves them unable to speak for 24 hours. Its colorful setting provides the backdrop for a dystopian story about complicity and the consequences of speaking up.
Velez describes the film as “an episode of Black Mirror, if it were written by Dr. Seuss and set in Barbie Land.”
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Made on a microbudget, CHOKE was co-created by Velez and Kemi Mayomi, a Local 476 member who also served as director of photography and co-director, with Cee Pham directing. Its entirely Chicago-based cast and crew includes John Mossman, Jennifer Jelsema, Elena Victoria Feliz and Carlo Aparo.
Production took place in Albany Park, Humboldt Park and on Chicago’s South Side. Velez’s Chicago-based Sparkly Productions produced the film, with post-production completed locally through editor Angie Panganiban, Quicksilver Color and Argonaut Audio.
Chicago screenings
CHOKE will screen in the festival’s City & State Shorts: Journey Within program on Thursday, October 15, at 5:45 p.m. at AMC NEWCITY, and Saturday, October 24, at noon at the Chicago History Museum.
The filmmakers also announced that CHOKE will appear in City & State Shorts: Homegrown Talent, a free public screening on Saturday, October 17, at noon at the Harold Washington Library. Presented in partnership with Loop Arts Fest, the showcase highlights Chicago filmmakers as part of the festival’s Community Cinema programming.
The 62nd Chicago International Film Festival runs October 14–25. Tickets and additional information are available at chicagofilmfestival.com. Follow CHOKE’s festival journey on Instagram at @sparkly_productions.
