Elk Grove man wins Elgin Short Film Festival

Submitted by Hemmens

Chicago area filmmakers were well represented at the fourth annual Elgin Short Film Festival, which took place Sept. 22 at The Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin. Four of the top five finalists were from Chicago and the suburbs.

Rocco Cataldo of Elk Grove Village won first prize and $1,000 for his film “Wednesday’s Child,” a dark comedy about 9-year-old Kelly Marble, who states at the beginning of the film, “I didn’t mean to kill my parents.”

This film short also won the People’s Choice Award. For a peek at the trailer, visit vimeo.com/19313306.

“Tattoo Underground,” a film that explores the emotional connections between three real people and their tattoos by Minnesota director Barry Kimm, won second prize and $500.

“Your Milkman,” about a playboy milkman and an ignored and unloved housewife from his route, won third prize and $300 for Chicago director Daniel Skubal.

Thirty films from across the country were submitted to the festival. Of those submissions, five finalists were chosen by a committee of area residents involved in the arts.

Two of these films were directed by Hoffman Estates filmmaker Andrew Papke, “Memoirs of a Parapsychologist,” a psychological thriller, and “Toolshed,” a semi-autobiographical story about a boy and his father.

This year’s festival drew the biggest crowd ever with nearly 700 people in attendance. Event host comedian Mike Toomey received rave reviews and will be returning as master of ceremonies next year.

Entries for next year’s film fest, which will take place Sept. 21, 2013, will be accepted beginning March 1, 2013, and must be postmarked no later than Aug. 16, 2013.

For information on film submission or sponsoring the event, visit www.hemmens.org and click on Elgin Short Film Fest.