IFP/Chicago’s annual Filmmaker Conference will return to its longtime home at Columbia College’s Film Row Cinema on Oct. 10-11 after being dormant for several years, before returning last year for an event at the Chicago Cultural Center.
This year’s conference will be “a multi-day event of networking events, screenings, panels, case-studies and guest speakers addressing topics important to the industry in 2014,” says IFP/Chicago board president Carrie Holt de Lama.
In July, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded IFP/Chicago a $7,500 grant toward the revival of the group’s annual fall Filmmakers Conference.
Producer/production Holt de Lama, became board president last summer, succeeding Dan Moore, who has since retired as DGA Midwest executive director. Moore is IFP/Chicago’s treasurer, VP is Nicole Bernardi-Reis and secretary is Lisa Swanson.
Mynatt named IFP managing director
In July, the organization hired Julie Mynatt as its new managing director. She replaces Dawn Dewald, who served from November until July. Mynatt is a Columbia College writing and producing instructor, a writer/producer for Amusing Company and former Screen editor.
“We are confident that Julie can help lead us to even greater programming, event planning and fundraising,” Holt de Lama says.
“We want to build on Dawn’s strong work and continue advancing the organization’s mission to support the independent film community in the Midwest.
“Dawn was instrumental in helping IFP/Chicago get back on its feet last November,” Holt de Lama says. “We are grateful for her hard work in helping us relaunch our organization and appreciate her energy, her enthusiasm and her significant contribution to IFP/Chicago’s recent success.”
Dewald is outreach coordinator for the documentaries @home from the Kindling Group and The Homestretch from Kartemquin Films.
Chicago Underground Film Festival cofounder and artistic director Bryan Wendorf continues as IFP/Chicago’s longest-running staffer. Oct. 1 is the early submission deadline for the CUFF, which runs next April.
“75 Minutes With” Joe Swanberg, Sept. 23
IFP/Chicago’s “75 Minutes With” series continues with Tribune columnist Nina Metz moderating a discussion with filmmaker Joe Swanberg (Happy Christmas), Sept. 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Chicago Cultural Center’s Claudia Cassidy Theater, 78 E. Washington St.
“We try to focus on directors and provide behind-the-scene reflections and personal insights about the filmmaking process,” Holt de Lama said about the “75 Minutes” series.
Past “75 Minutes With” guests have included Dylan Baker, Harold Ramis, Neil LaBute, John McNaughton and Chicago Fire EP Joe Chappelle.
IFP/Chicago is currently offering a membership promotion. Members who join or renew by Aug. 31 will see their membership last through December 2015; member discounts will to apply to the next two Filmmaker Conferences, among other benefits.
To read more about IFP/Chicago’s revival, click here.
