After traditionally hosting the Chicago Southland International Film Festival in fall, Governors State University presents the sixth annual event April 4-6 in University Park.
“We decided that it would be best to move to the spring so we weren’t competing with some of those larger international film festivals that are happening in Chicago and also so that we weren’t competing with so much that’s going on on campus,” said Joshua E. Young, festival director.
Feature Film Showcases include “Provo” at 8:10 p.m. April 4 followed by a question and answer session with director, writer and actor Emma Thatcher and producer Sarah Franke of Chicago and “Bike Vessel” at 8 p.m. April 5 followed by a Q&A with director and editor Eric D. Seals and his father, Donnie Seals Sr.
Thatcher, who was born in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, lived in the city’s Uptown community while working on “Provo,” which is described as: “A self-destructive ex-Mormon finds out her estranged father is on his deathbed and road-trips to Utah to reckon with her past.”
“What we loved about it is it’s a true independent film. It was crowdfunded. It had a very small crew. It was awesome to feature a film that had such a guerilla production process to it and to support such a small group of filmmakers,” said Young, who co-founded the festival with Suzanne Patterson.
“Bike Vessel” follows Seals, a Wheaton native who lives in Chicago, and his dad as they bicycle from St. Louis to Chicago. Filming locations included Aurora, Bloomington, Glen Ellyn, Joliet, Naperville, Springfield and Wheaton.
“It’s a story about health and health disparities especially in Black and brown communities and also making sure people take care of themselves and take a look at what they’re eating. We wanted to highlight a film that we felt our audience directly would identify with,” said Young of Monee.
International Short Film Competition, which includes an inaugural family-friendly block for ages 12 and older, features 31 selections from Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“We have a lot of different films and a lot of different genres this year,” Young said.
Shorts include “Contentment” written and produced by LaToya Johnson of Chicago’s South Side, directed by Skyy Dade of the Southland and produced by the Chicago State University Cinema program; “Gotta Have It!” produced by Weston Auburn of Flossmoor; and “The Pencil” written, produced and directed by Thomas Schultz of Oak Park and produced and written by his wife, Madina Baimakhanova.
Shorts with work by Chicago residents include “Between the Silence” with a story by Mina Patel and produced by Chicago-based Full Spectrum Features; “Brother” written, co-produced and directed by Aleksei Borovikov; “One for My Baby” written, produced and directed by Shiloh Tumo Washington; “Treasure Haunt” written, produced and directed by Carlos Lerma; and “Where the Orchid Grows” directed by Mykhailo Bogdanov and featuring Chicago Police Officer Mamadou Diarra.
“The 2024 Chicago Southland International Film Festival is proud to feature more Black, Indigenous and people of color and female filmmakers than ever before,” Young said.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Chicago Southland International Film Festival
When: April 4-6
Where: Governors State University’s Lecture Hall F1622, 1 University Parkway, University Park
Tickets: $15 per screening; $90-$200 passes
Information: 708-534-4393; govst.edu/csiff
