USAMA ALSHAIBI’S in-progress documentary “Nice Bombs,” about returning to his native Baghdad during the U.S. occupation, has been selected as one of 29 projects to participate in the Tribeca All Access Connects program, a showcase for emerging filmmakers. It runs concurrently with the Tribeca Film Festival, April 19-May 1.
“Nice Bombs” will compete with seven other docs for a $10,000 Tribeca All Access Creative Promise Award. Alshaibi’s wife Kristie Alshaibi is producing “Nice Bombs” through their Artvamp LLC, along with Ben Berkowitz and Ben Redgrave of Benzfilm Group. Executive Producer is Studs Terkel. See www.iraqipassport.com.
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| T-Scar and Jean-Claude in “Rhyme Spitters” |
RICH SENG is releasing his doc “Rhyme Spitters” as the April edition of his free, advertising-supported DVD series “Cherry Bomb.” “Rhyme Spitters” chronicles the battle rap tournament he organized last July in Wicker Park and at The Note. The release party is at Innjoy, 2051 W. Division St., Wednesday, April 13 at 8 p.m.; screening at 9 p.m. The “Rhyme Spitters” DVD will be available from sponsoring businesses beginning May 1. Seng shoots “Rhyme Spitters II” in Wicker Park July 16. See www.rhymespitters.com.
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| Juan Manuel Paz and Tatiana Tien in “In Search of Leti” |
DALIA TAPIA withdrew her feature “Buscando a Leti” (“In Search of Leti”) from the Chicago Latino Film Festival, which opens April 8, in order to keep the drama eligible for a local premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival this October. The CIFF announces its lineup in September. “I’m grateful for the opportunity the Chicago Latino Film Festival is giving my film,” Tapia said. “While I am taking a risk in submitting to the Chicago International Festival instead, I feel the possible exposure far outweighs the risk.” See www.daliatapia.com.
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| 2004 Challenge 2.0 Audience Choice winner “Dodging le Draft” |
SPLIT PILLOW kicks off its annual speed filmmaking event, “Challenge 3.0,” with a signup party Thursday, April 14 at 6 p.m. at Improv Kitchen, 3419 N. Clark St. Teams can register for the Challenge at half the normal $50 signup fee. Over Memorial Day weekend, each team writes a short script, shoots another team’s script, and edits another team’s film. All the shorts screen June 3. $10 suggested donation. See www.splitpillow.com.
90/94 PICTURES’ new fake reality show “The Rubber Room,” a comedy about six suicidal strangers living in a loft together, has three screenings this month: Saturday, April 9 at the Canopy Club in Urbana; Saturday, April 23 at 7 p.m. at the Claudia Cassidy Theatre, Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Washington, 2nd Floor; and Saturday, April 29 at the Black Point Film Festival in Lake Geneva, Wis. See www.90-94.com.
CAN TV presents nightly coverage of the Version 05 festival of art, media, technology and politics, April 22-May 1 at 11 p.m. on cable channel CAN TV21. Films from School of the Art Institute students run Sundays through July 17 at 10:30 p.m. on “ExTV,” CAN TV19. See www.cantv.org.
YASMINA CADIZ’ short “Mama Said” screens in the Chicago Latino Film Festival’s “Latino Concentrate” program, Saturday, April 9 at 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 10 at 7 p.m., at Facets Multi-Media, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave. $10. See www.latinoculturalcenter.org/filmfest.
CHICAGO SCRIPTWORKS presents a staged reading of K.A. Unger’s screenplay “The Moment of Truth,” “a dark comedy about a woman who spends her adult life rejecting her privileged upbringing.” Wednesday, April 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph. Free. See www.chicagoscriptworks.org.
CHICAGO FILMMAKERS presents locally-made shorts in “Chicago’s Own: New Experimental Work.” Featuring Bruce Wood’s “New Kisses,” Jessie Stead’s “Left Behind by Runaway Mutants” and other works, Karen Johannesen’s “Pink Opaque” and “Light Quanta,” Jennifer Walters’ “Songs and No Reason to be Still,” Wenhwa Ts’ao’s “Disunion with the Union of Suffering,” David Weathersby’s “Hearing Phillip,” Kyle Harris’ “Moonsong for Dave Grant,” Sabine Gruffat’s “And So Sings Our Mechanical Bride,” and Charlie Chaplin’s “His New Job” (shot here in 1915, screening to celebrate the 116th anniversary of Chaplin’s birth). Saturday, April 16 at 8 p.m. at Chicago Filmmakers, 5243 N. Clark, 2nd Floor. See www.chicagofilmmakers.org.
Email info to edk@homesickblues.com.
