One of Chicago’s famous four star directors will highlight this weekend’s welcome revival of the Independent Feature Project’s 20th annual Filmmakers Conference when it returns to its former long-time meeting space at Columbia College’s Film Row Theatre, Oct. 10-11.
Steve James, acclaimed producer/director of Roger Ebert’s memoire “Life Itself,” “The Interrupters,” “Hoop Dreams,” and many more award-winners, be the subject of “75 Minutes With …” interviewed by Nina Metz of the Chicago Tribune, on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 3:30-5 p.m.
Organizing the Conference’s 40 speakers and 13 programs (to date) began last summer. It was initiated by a dedicated, new 16-member board, headed by feature producer Carrie Holt de Lama and effectuated by Julie Mynatt, the newly-appointed executive director.
Registration both days is 9-10 a.m. Full Conference passes are $75 for IFP members (a good reason to sign up for IFP membership); $150 for non-members, $25 for students, $50 for student non-members.
Here’s the current event rundown, scheduled speakers and moderators. Additional guests and a preview feature film screening to be announced:
FRIDAY, OCT. 9
CASE STUDY: “THE NEW BLACK,” 10-11:15 a.m. Speaker: producer and outreach director Yvonne Welborn.
PANEL: FAIR USE & COPYRIGHT FOR FILMMAKERS, Panelists, Gordon Quinn & Justine Nagan, Kartemquin Films; Robert Labate, Holland & Knight.
PANEL: “BREAKING IN AND MAKING IT: STARTING UP AND GETTING AHEAD IN THE ILLINOIS PRODUCTION INDUSTRY,” 11:30-1 p.m. Panelists, Raul Esparza, Illinois Film Office; Brenda Webb, Chicago Filmmakers; Christina Varotsis, independent producer; Jonah Zeiger, DePaul University. Moderator, filmmaker Craig Harris.
PANEL: TRANSMEDIA STORYTELLING, 2:15-3:30 p.m. Panelists, Joe Steiff, Jim Rohn, Michael Niederman, Columbia College; Anuradha Rana, Doris Rusch, DePaul University.
DISCUSSION: “THE BEST TOOL FOR THE JOB: CINEMATOGRAPHERS TALK CAMERAS,” 2:15-3:30 p.m. Cinematographers Pete Biagi and Lawrence Daufenbach and Jonah Rubash, Magnanimous Media Rentals.
PANEL: “MORE THAN ONE: PRODUCING THE DOCUMENTARY SERIES,” 3:34-5:15 p.m. Mike Schmiedeler, The Michael Group; Maggie Bowman, Kartemquin Films for Al Jazeera America; Bob Hercules, Media Process; Justine Nagan, Kartemquin; Greg Jacobs, Siskel/Jacobs.
CASE STUDY: “FINDING HOPE,” – 3:45-5:15 p.m. Writer/Director Julian Grant, Producers & Stars Shannon & Suzette Brown; David Adler, Adler Law Group.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
PANEL: “MEET THE PROGRAMMERS,” 10-11:15 A.M. Cara Cusumano, Tribeca Film Festival; Alexandra Ensign, Reeling; Jonathan Jackson, Milwaukee Film Festival; Bryan Wendorf, Chicago Underground Film Festival.
DISCUSSION: “SHOW ME THE MONEY: FILMMAKERS TALK FINANCING,” 10-11:15 a.m. Bob Hercules, Yvonne Welbon, Tim Evans, Angie Gaffney.
PANEL: “FROM THE INTERNET TO THE NETWORK: WEB SERIES PRODUCTION,” 11:30-12:45 p.m. PJ Fishwick, Kenneth Yoder, Wendy Jo Carlton. Moderator, Troy Pryor.
PANEL: “IMPACT, OUTREACH, AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT,” 2-3:15 p.m. Danny Alpert, Kindling Group; L. Anton Seals, Jr., Seals360group; Naomi Walker, ITVS; Andy Spyrison, Populous
PANEL: “WOMEN AT THE HELM,” 2-3:15 p.m. Xan Aranda, Natasha Parker, Kimberly Conner. Moderator, Ruth L Ratny
“75 MINUTES WITH STEVE JAMES,” 3:30-5 p.m., interviewed by Nina Metz of the Chicago Tribune.
See a detailed description of Filmmaker Conference topics and speakers here.
