Judson to host Imago Film Festival

The sixth annual Imago Film Festival will be Monday through Friday, April 5-9, at Judson University in Elgin. The Imago Film Festival showcases faith-based indie film that emphasizes image and story.

This year's film festival will screen original films and feature nationally known speakers. Speakers will include Gaye Williams Ortiz, author of "Theology and Film: Challenging the Sacred/Secular Divide" and professor at Augusta State University; Darren Wilson, director of "Finger of God" and head of Wanderlust Productions; and Paul Nethercott, missionary and filmmaker.

In addition to original short films, the following feature-length films will be screened and discussed: "Purple State of Mind," a film by Craig Detwieler about his attempt to find middle ground with journalist John Marks in our religiously and politically divisive culture and "Furious Love," the new film by Darren Wilson about the some of the darkest places on the globe and God's love in the midst of it all.

Original films shown at the festival will be judged by a panel of local university film professors as well as other professionals in the field. The prizes for the winning films are as follows: Best of Show $1,000; first prize, 1 to 15 minutes, $250; first prize, 15 to 30 minutes, $250; and Audience Choice Award, $100. An awards ceremony will be held on the final night.

Tickets for the festival are $3 for Monday through Thursday and $8 for Friday's award ceremony; a full-event pass is $10. For Judson students and faculty there are special ticket prices. Events begin at 7 p.m. each night, excepting Friday, the awards ceremony night, which begins at 6 p.m.

For detailed information about scheduled events, visit imagofilmfestival.com.