Geneva Film Festival kicks off with party and movie previews

The 2010 Geneva Film Festival begins Thursday, April 15, with a kickoff gala party at Wildwood restaurant, 477 S. Third St., Geneva. The event is a preview to the festival and will feature film clips, live music and an opportunity to meet film festival judges, industry professionals, workshop presenters, vendors and sponsors. Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns will emcee.

Cocktails begin at 7 p.m. There will be a cash bar and appetizers. The first 100 guests will receive a swag bag filled with Geneva merchandise. All guests will be entered into a raffle for drawings on select merchandise and services.

Tickets are $30 per person and include a 50-percent discount on an all-festival pass.

For information, or to purchase tickets, visit genevafilmfestival.org or call Wildwood at (630) 377-8325. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

The film festival will run through Sunday, April 18, with the following events at venues throughout downtown Geneva:

• Friday, April 16: Film screenings from 3 to 9:30 p.m. at Riverside Receptions, 35 N. River Lane, and 3 to 10 p.m. at Mill Race Inn, 4 E. State St. The screening of "Bled White" by Geneva filmmaker Jose Gomez will be from 10 p.m. to midnight at Mill Race Inn.

• Saturday, April 17: There will be workshops from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Riverside Receptions. A screening of "Typeface" by Chicago's Kartemquin Films will begin at 9 a.m. at Herrington Inn, 15 S. River Lane, with a Q&A with the director after the movie. At noon, the movie, "Chicago Overcoat," will be shown at Riverside Receptions, with a Q&A with the director after the movie. There will be film screenings from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Riverside Receptions, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Mill Race Inn. An awards reception will begin at 6 p.m. at Mill Race Inn.

• Sunday, April 18: There will be film screenings from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Wildwood, 477 S. Third St.

Ticket prices are: $20, festival pass; $12, one-day festival pass; $8 for the screening of "Typeface"; and $3 for one film screening.

The Geneva Film Festival is presented by the Geneva Cultural Arts Commission and is sponsored by Stella Artois.

For a complete schedule of events and films, visit genevafilmfestival.org.