2016 Elgin Short Film Festival finalists announced
As part of the Elgin Fringe Festival, the community is invited to come out to vote for the last two finalists of the upcoming Elgin Short Film Festival. On Thursday, Sept. 15, and Friday, Sept. 16, six films will be shown at 6 p.m. at the Blue Box Café, 176 E. Chicago St., Elgin. The top films in each category, based solely on audience votes will win their chance to compete in the finals for the top prize.
The six finalists will consist of the top three films from each of the two categories, live action and animation, going head to head for the top prize of $1,000 and trophies from R.S. Owens, the same company that makes the Oscars.
The Elgin Short Film Festival consistently draws high-quality film entries from professional and semiprofessional filmmakers both nationally and internationally. This year the festival received films from Cyprus, Spain, Turkey, and the United States.
Filmmakers will begin arriving on the red carpet at 6:15 p.m. Preshow entertainment includes musicians, interviews with the finalists, strolling characters and more. Film screening of the six chosen films begins at 7 p.m.
This year's finalists are:
• "The Escape" directed by Carter Boyce. Die Flucht follows the story of a lonely figurine, traveling on a fixed track, trying to catch a red balloon. When the machine breaks down, the boy comes to life, and attempts to finish the cycle he was originally destined to be on forever.
• "Remnants" directed by Al Plancher. An elderly successful writer struggles to reveal his dark and troubled past while suffering from Alzheimer's.
• "Burnt" directed by Devin Bell. In a scorched desert forest, three plant-like creatures try to cope with being physically and mentally burned. They encounter something green for the first time in memory, and it challenges them to view life differently.
• "Dear Brother" directed by Daniel Skubal. Two estranged siblings arrive at the funeral of their brother with two wildly varied eulogies prepared, and the surviving kin must face their differences as they decide which version of the truth will be read aloud.
Go to www.elginfringefestival.com for tickets and information.
Tickets to the finals on Sept. 24 are $7 and may be purchased in person at the box office, online at www.hemmens.org or by phone at (847) 931-5900.
Please follow us on Facebook. For information, call the box office at (847) 931-5900.
The Hemmens Cultural Center, located at the corner of Symphony Way and North Grove Avenue in Elgin, is easily accessible from I-90. Parking is free.