CHICAGO, May 4, 2015 – The CineYouth Festival, presented by Cinema/Chicago and the 51st Chicago International Film Festival, celebrates its 11th year May 7-9, 2015. The three-day festival showcases n short films made by talented young filmmakers, age 21 and younger. This year’s program includes films from around the country as well as Canada, Singapore, Iran, India and the UK. The festival also presents a hands-on Film Challenge, welcoming forty participants age 12-21 who will work in teams to make short films in less than seven hours. CineYouth kicks off on Thursday, May 7 with an advance screening of Shaun The Sheep – The Movie, followed by a reception courtesy of Connie’s Pizza and featuring KIND Healthy Snacks, Vita Coco, Action Booth and a button-making bar from Hometown Button Co.
All screenings and events at CineYouth take place at Columbia College Chicago, 1104 South Wabash and admission to all events is free.
“CineYouth just keeps growing,” says Cinema/Chicago Education Director Rebecca Fons. “Each year we not only see the number of submissions increasing, but we also see the quality of filmmaking advancing in leaps and bounds. Our youngest filmmaker this year is a four-year-old animator, and we are presenting his film right next to incredible work from Chicago filmmakers, students from around the city, and stories from around the world. From start to finish, CineYouth 2015 is going to be a blast.”
The Film Challenge will be guided by adult mentors from Columbia College Chicago and Adobe Youth Voices. Participants will film for four hours on Saturday, May 9 and edited in the afternoon.
Completed Film Challenge films as well as fourteen awards will be given to the “Best of the Fest” during the CineYouth Awards Ceremony on Saturday, May 9 at 6:30PM. Award winning films were chosen by Cinema/Chicago’s Student Film Council – made up of Chicagoland high school students. Winning films are screened at the 51st Chicago International Film Festival in October. This year, cash prizes – underwritten by local organizations and businesses and Cinema/Chicago Governing Board and Junior Board members – are also being presented to winners. Award partners include The Second City Training Center, Magnanimous Media, Women in Film Chicago and Haunted Houses Chicago.
Additional details and the full schedule can be found here.
CineYouth is supported by Presenting Partner Columbia College Chicago, Lead Partners KIND Healthy Snacks and Connie’s Pizza and Supporting Partner Action Booth.
ABOUT CINEMA/CHICAGO
Cinema/Chicago is a not-for-profit cultural and education organization dedicated to encouraging better understanding between cultures and to making a positive contribution to the art form of the moving image. CineYouth is part of the year-round programs presented by Cinema/Chicago, which also include the Chicago International Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival Television Awards Ceremony, Intercom Competition, International Summer Screenings Program, and Education Program.
Contact:
Rebecca Fons
Education Director
30 E Adams St, Suite 800
Chicago, IL 60603
312.683.0121 x112
rfons@chicagofilmfestival.com
212 W Van Buren St., Suite 400
