'Oculus' Filmmaker Comes to Cutting Hall on October 22
Writer/director Mike Flanagan's original short film, "Oculus" screened at the Palatine Park District's Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center back in 2006, during the run of the late Microcinema Fest. The short film went on to win Best of Fest that year beating out various feature-length films for the top prize. Eight years later, the Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival is proud to be bringing the filmmaker himself to the historic Palatine auditorium to accept the 2014 Independent Filmmaker Achievement Award.
"We don't offer a lifetime achievement award," says Blue Whiskey Executive Director Michael Noens. "Instead we select one filmmaker who has screened at our festival in the past and has since gone off to accomplish a truly admirable undertaking in the independent film community." The Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival (BWiFF), an annual week-long event that runs the last week of July, began just five years ago. In 2011, Flanagan's indie feature "Absentia" screened at the festival and took home the Blue Glass Award for Best Sound. "Only after a filmmaker's work has been accepted as an official selection can they be eligible for this achievement award. And we're very proud to be honoring Mike Flanagan on October 22."
The evening will begin with a screening of the original 40-minute short film that inevitably matured in character and concept with the critically-acclaimed feature that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2013. Following the screening of the short, the festival will welcome Flanagan to the stage to accept his achievement award. Daily Herald Film Critic Dann Gire will moderate a Q&A with the up-and-coming Hollywood director, as well as facilitating questions from the audience.
Since the wildly successful release of "Oculus" in theaters early this year, Flanagan has become a hot commodity in the suspense/horror world. Early next year, his new feature "Somnia", starring Kate Bosworth and Thomas Jane will hit theaters. Flanagan is also currently writing and directing the adaptation of Stephen King's "Gerald's Game", and has been hired to pen the reboot of "I Know What You Did Last Summer".
Join us at the Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center (150 East Wood Street in Palatine) on Wednesday, October 22 at 7:00 p.m. for this exclusive, one night only event. Tickets are $10 each and available through the Cutting Hall Box Office at CuttingHall.org or by phone at 847-202-5222. For more information about the Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival, visit bwiff.com.