Local Film Festival Hosts Fundraiser at Smith Street Station on Nov 14
The Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival (BWiFF) will be hosting their "Let's Drink to That!" fundraiser mixer on Saturday, November 14 at the Smith Street Station (180 N. Smith Street) in Palatine. The doors will open at 7:00 p.m. with appetizers and a cash bar. Tickets are $20 and all proceeds from the event will go to support the seventh annual week-long festival to be held July 24 - 31, 2016.
BWiFF is always seeking new ways to enhance the festival experience for both traveling filmmakers and the community audience. Since the festival's inaugural event in 2010, the primary screening venue has been the Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center in Palatine. "It's a beautiful historic space," says Festival Director Michael Noens. "However, it's a performing arts center and the time has come for us to move to a cinema." In 2016, BWiFF will be moving to a theater equipped with high definition digital projection, 5.1 surround sound, and luxury seating for all guests. "Making this move is a huge step for Blue Whiskey," says Operations Coordinator Therese Dean-Myrda. "It will provide an enhanced experience for our audience and allow the festival to continue to grow."
At the fundraiser event, guests will be able to participate in a variety of fun games, including a Hungry Hungry Hippos tournament. "No need to be a wallflower at this event," says Community Relations Coordinator Ashley Schiavone. "What better way to meet new friends than Cards Against Humanity or a competitive game of Hungry Hungry Hippos?"
Additionally, there will be a variety of exciting raffle prizes to give away. "The Chicagoland community has been extremely generous to us by donating gift certificates, autographs, event tickets and so much more than we could have imagined," says Dean-Myrda. "It has been incredible to see this kind of support for the festival and the arts in our community." Prizes include baseball and football tickets, wine tastings, restaurant gift certificates, a craft beer basket and more.
Tickets to the event are available in advance online at www.bwiff.com, as well as at the door. The mission of the Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival is to seek out bold and innovative films that utilize story elements in a new and exciting way, presenting character-driven independent cinema that is fueled by the filmmaker's passion for the art without large studio support. For more information, visit the festival website at www.bwiff.com.