At its Dec. 15 Annual Christmas Party, the Central Illinois Film Commission will present its first-ever “Man of the Year Award” to the mayor of Springfield, James O. Langfelder for his dedication to the CIFC.
“Mayor Langfelder makes everything happen seamlessly for us,” said CIFC President Dean Williams, one of the CIFC founders in 2005. “It takes just one phone call to his office and everything we need is taken care of.”
The party / award night will be held at the Hope Presbyterian Church, 2211 Wabash Ave. 7 p.m. in the state capital. Admission is free; food and soft drinks, coffee and tea are complimentary.
The event is being sponsored by Paramount Studio Group, Dana Williams Productions, KEL Equine Productions, Heroic Age Studios and Dean Williams Photography. Williams will present the award to the mayor.
CIFC’s mission is to promote the historical, film-friendly central region for visual media production. Through the work of the nonprofit organization, Williams said, “The film industry has infused $14.7 million in revenue in local communities over the past 11 years.”
In addition to movies (“Lincoln,” “The Informant,” “Legally Blond 2”) the CIFC also brings TV and reality shows (“Throw Down with Bobby Flay,” “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives,” Travel Channel, Food Network and Animal Planet shows) to the region.”
One of Central Illinois big film attractions is Dr. Karl Luthin’s KEL Equine Productions that has provided horses, carriages, props and set dressings to the motion picture industry since 1978.
