Geneva fest looking for a few good films

Do you fancy yourself as talented as the Coen brothers? Is there a "Citizen Kane" in you?

Geneva is seeking filmmakers to show works during a film festival Nov. 10.

And to inspire you, it's showing a work by a local filmmaker this weekend.

"Prairie Rose: A Civil War Journey" by Rebecca Sutera Tulloch will be shown at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Geneva History Center, 113 S. Third St. This historical drama tells the story of a woman's attempt to rescue her husband from a Civil War prison camp in Chicago. Parts were filmed along the Fox River. The production company is based out of Wayne.

In addition, there will be documentary and short film screenings at 2 p.m. Oct. 21 and 27 at the history center.

The film festival is a first for Geneva, and is the brainchild of the year-old Geneva Cultural Arts Commission, charged with making art accessible in Geneva by having the government, business, education and arts communities collaborate.

Why a film festival?

"Because there really isn't one in the western suburbs," said Kim Warren, a city administrative analyst and liaison to the commission.

Screening the full-length "Prairie Rose" this weekend will give people a taste of independent films, she said.

For the November festival, 18 films in six categories will be shown.

The categories are short documentary, short film, student film (college age), animation, high school film and music video.

There will be a filmmaking workshop to start the day, then the movies will be shown at city hall and the history center. There will be an awards banquet that night.

Details on how to submit a film, including format specifications, are available online at www.genevarts.org.

Entries are due Sept. 30. For more information, call Warren at (630) 232-8171.