It has been a good year for local Northwest Illinois independent filmmakers. This year saw three World Premieres (with one more scheduled for November 12, 2022); numerous invitations to prominent Film Festivals; several nominations and wins for Industry Awards.
World Premieres and Red Carpets in 2022
The 2022 world premieres for our local filmmakers started in March with Dashford Media’s “The Blacklight.” The film, produced by Don Hatton of Rockford, IL, is described as “a dark, fun, genre-bending ride, led by an incredible ensemble of character actors, merging elements of crime, mystery, fantasy, and horror, tying it all together with a bow of dark humor.” Matt Cichella and Never Submit Entertainment’s feature films “Without Grace” and “God’s Not Here” followed, with premieres in May and July, respectively.
Fourth Wall Films has scheduled Saturday, November 12, for their premiere of episode 4 of its “Hero Street: A Historical Documentary Series.” Episode 4, entitled “An Infantryman from Hero Street,” tells the true story of Pvt. Joseph Sandoval, who was born in a boxcar to Mexican immigrants, in the Silvis, IL, rail yard. In 1944, Joe–married with two young sons–was drafted and shipped to Britain with the 41st Armored Infantry Regiment. His unit helped fight the second stage of the Normandy Invasion in France. The film premieres during Veterans Day weekend at 2:00 p.m., in the National Geographic Giant Screen Theater at the Putnam Museum and Science Center, 1717 W. 12th Street, in Davenport, IA.
Northwest Illinois Filmmakers Getting Noticed
The Film Festival circuit was alive with Northwest Illinois Filmmakers’ projects this year. Fourth Wall Films (Moline, IL,) no stranger to the Film Festival circuit, screened projects at the 2022 Borrego Springs Film Festival and the 2022 Raindance Film Festival. Never Submit Entertainment (Rockford, IL,) has been to the Christian Family Film Festival New York, The Texas Family & Faith Film Festival 2022, London International Film Festival 2022, Indie Film Festival 2022, New York International Film Awards (Honorable Mention “God’s Not Here” – Best Director and Best Actress), Georgia Christian Film Festival 2022 (Winner – “God’s Not Here.”)
Dashford Media’s “The Blacklight” participated in the Septimius Awards in the Netherlands. It was nominated for “Best American Film” and “Best American Actor” (Grant Lancaster); “Award of Excellence” Winner for a Feature Film in IndieFest Film Awards; “Award of Excellence” Winner for Lead Actor (Grant Lancaster) in IndieFest Film Awards; “Award of Merit” Winner for Lead Actress (Samantha Aneson) in IndieFest Film; nominated for “Best Feature Film” in the New York City Independent Film Festival.
Independent documentary filmmaker Fourth Wall Films received two 2022 Mid-America Emmy nominations for their historical documentary films, “Jean Seberg: Actress Activist Icon,” a feature-length film co-produced with Garry McGee, and “Remembering Forest Grove,” a short museum film. Kelly and Tammy Rundle, owners and operators of Fourth Wall Films, are no strangers to the Mid-America Emmys, having won in 2021 for their environmental short “Over and Under: Wildlife Crossings.”
Why This Matters
Film production has been a growing part of Illinois’ economy, with a record-high of $630 million in economic impact in 2021. The Northwest Illinois Film Office seeks to support and promote its local filmmakers, as well attract film projects–and the outside dollars that they can bring to Northwest Illinois communities. In addition to the growing local filmmaker community, outside productions have been showing interest in the Northwest Illinois region, as a location for film production. October Films recently completed principal photography for a true crime documentary in Whiteside County. Several completed projects have made it to release, including Netflix’s “The Now” and HBO’s “Lovecraft County.” Additionally, a few major studios have started location scouting for projects in development.
Film productions can contribute locally to employment opportunities, increased spending for local businesses such as lodging, equipment rentals, catering, security, and other suppliers.
Gary Camarano, Executive Director of the Northwest Illinois Film Office said, “Film production can have a positive impact on the local economy. Outside dollars being spent here, employment opportunities, and creating awareness for the Region are our goal. We just want to get a little slice of that $630 million being spent in Illinois.”