Imago Film Festival returns to Judson
Judson University will host its 11th annual Imago Film Festival March 24 to 28 at its Elgin campus.
The festival showcases independent films dealing with faith issues, emphasizing images and stories about the spiritual journey of the human experience through any genre. There also will be music for entertainment nightly.
Events begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday in Thulin Performance Hall in the Thompson Center, 1151 N. State St. On Saturday, a red carpet celebration begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by evening events at 7 p.m.
The festival will feature original short films and a feature-length special screening, and actor Doug Jones as a special guest and speaker. It opens March 24 with screenings of new films in the festival competition. The grand prize award is $1,000.
"Believe Me," a film featuring Alex Russell, Zachary Knighton, and Nick Offerman, will be shown at 7 p.m. March 25. Writer and director Will Bakke will introduce and lead a question-and-answer session for his comedy about four broke college seniors who start a charity to embezzle money for tuition. Judson student band Mass Anthem also will perform.
More films will be shown at 7 p.m. March 26.
Matt Bilen, a cinematographer, editor, and composer, will discuss his journey as a filmmaker and the upcoming Wanderlust project that is his directorial debut at 7 p.m. March 27. The evening also will include the final films in this year's competition.
The red carpet celebration on the final day of the festival will be a masquerade ball featuring food and live music by the winner of Judson's Battle of the Bands. Jones, who acted in "The Fantastic Four," "Pan's Labyrinth" and "Hellboy," will give the keynote address.
The second recipient of the Imago Lifetime Achievement Award, and the award-winning films will be announced and screened.
A panel of local university film professors and professionals in the field will choose the winning films. The prizes for the winning films are: Best of Show - $1,000; First Prize (1-15 min.) - $400; First Prize (15-30 min.) - $400; Audience Choice Award - $200.
Festival tickets are $6 Tuesday through Friday, and $10 Saturday, and $20 for a full event pass. For Judson students and faculty, tickets are $3 Tuesday through Friday, $5 Saturday, and $12 for a full event pass. To reserve tickets, call (847) 628-1131 or email to filmfestival@judsonu.edu.
For more information, visit imagofilmfestival.com. For specific questions, email festival director Terrence Wandtke at filmfestival@judsonu.edu.