Elgin Short Film Fest winners announced
Chicago area and national filmmakers took the top prizes at the 16th annual Elgin Short Film Festival held Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Hemmens Cultural Center.
Film lovers arrived early to enjoy the red-carpet reception, with entertainment and filmmaker interviews. Once the screening started, master of ceremonies Daryl Nitz kept the audience laughing with his “supper club era” comedic talents and celebrity impressions.
The big winner of the night, receiving the first-place trophy and $1,000, as well as the People’s Choice Award (based solely on audience votes), went to “The Bullfighter,” directed by Giselle Bonilla. In this farcical comedy, an ex-bullfighter gets a job as a flag-waving parking attendant to stage a redemptive final bullfight.
“Little Pink House” by Chicago directors Rachel E Dohner and Olivia Comai won $500 and the second-place trophy. “Little Pink House” is an animated film that emphasizes the importance of curating a home environment that provides an escape from the constant performance of living in a heteronormative world. How do queer people transform their surroundings to build realities that are softer, safer, and focused on radical joy?
The third place trophy and $300 went to director George Ellzey Jr. for “Cottage Grove.” This film is about a young man’s struggle to communicate with his stroke-afflicted father, and at the same time, stay true to himself.
Other finalists at this year’s festival included “Stain” by director Antonio Arias, “Chasing June” directed by Shelby Slager and Alana Areyzaga, and the animated short by director Alisdair Zhang, “Into the Reds Tale.”
The Elgin Short Film Festival Committee congratulates the 2024 winners and finalists, and thanks all the film lovers that continue to come out each year to make this unique event such a success
Next year’s festival is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025.
The committee encourages filmmaker participation and looks forward to receiving film submissions for the 2025 Elgin Short Film Festival. Films may be submitted in every genre and subject matter within the scope of the official rules. Submit films starting in April 2025 via filmfreeway.com/ElginShortFilmFestival.
Please follow regular updates on Facebook at Elgin Short Film Festival, facebook.com/hemmens or go to our website at hemmens.org/annualfilmfestival.