Elgin Short Film Festival an international event

The Elgin Short Film Festival has technically reached the ranks of an international event. One of the submissions came all the way from Russia.

Joe Vassallo is the co-chairman for the third annual event, which will start at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. A red carpet arrival will give attendees the feel of a big-name film fest and will be followed by the screening of the six finalists at 7 p.m.

Vassallo said there was a large range between the 46 submitted films, more notably in the size of the filmmakers’ budgets. Some submit from California, Florida or even Chicago with plenty of money to spend on filming and production.

“It’s a big difference between the medium level or people who have absolutely no budget,” Vassalo said. “But it’s not that the people with no budgets aren’t making good films.”

Two comedies and four dramas will be screened Saturday with winners selected from a panel of judges, including Daily Herald film critic Dann Gire and Frank Maugeri, the artistic director of Redmoon Theater.

Each film is supposed to be less than 20 minutes and following the screening, an after party will be held on the Hemmens stage starting at 9 p.m. Tickets for the festival itself are $5, but for $25, guests can stay for the after party and enjoy food from In The Neighborhood Deli as well as a cash bar.

Vassallo said the audience grew from the first year to the second and he hopes numbers will continue increasing in this third year. He said planning the festival has been an opportunity to bring different parts of the Elgin arts community together.

Many of the films that were not chosen as finalists participated in The Next Wave Art Salon in Elgin last weekend. One will be announced at the film festival as the winner of the People’s Choice Award.

Working together across the arts community has been able to add strength to a collaborative voice, Vassallo said.

“With the (Elgin Symphony Orchestra) and other things going on, we have a huge arts community,” Vassallo said. “The addition of the film festival helps expand that.”

There are already plans for expanding and improving the film festival next year — when the event may draw even more widespread submissions.

If you go

What: Third annual Elgin Short Film Festival

When: 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, with a red carpet arrival at 6:30 p.m.

Where: The Hemmens, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin

How much? $5 general admission; $40 VIP package; $25 admission and after-party

Details: hemmens.org; (847) 931-5900