Los Angeles, CA — Sundance Institute invites filmmakers to participate in ShortsLab: Chicago, a day-long filmmaking workshop to be held at Columbia College Chicago on May 7. ShortsLab: Chicago will feature filmmakers and experts from the Sundance Institute community and Chicago’s respected film critics and industry professionals. Panelists include representatives from Sundance Film Festival, as well as SAG, Topspin Media, Kickstarter, Lawyers for the Creative Arts, Shorts International, Movieola, Chicago Short Film Brigade, Chicago International Film Festival, and Chicago Underground Film Festival. Acclaimed filmmakers and Sundance Alumni Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite), Kyle Henry (Room) and Academy Award Winner Aaron Schneider (Get Low, Two Soldiers) will provide insight into working in the short form.
Following last year’s successful, sold out ShortsLab in Los Angeles, Sundance Institute is presenting ShortsLabs in three cities — Chicago, New York and once again in Los Angeles. All three ShortsLabs will be day-long workshops aimed at filmmakers looking to improve their storytelling techniques, learn about the world of production, and explore platforms to showcase their work. ShortsLabs give filmmakers the opportunity to learn from established Sundance Institute alumni and industry representatives in an environment that celebrates and fosters individual voices and also addresses the realities of producing and marketing short films.
For information or to purchase tickets visit: www.sundance.org/shortslab
ShortsLab: Chicago – Presented by Sundance Institute
Saturday, May 7, 2011, 10 a.m.
Columbia College Chicago, 33 E Congress Pkwy, Chicago, IL
Tickets: $150
Tickets available online only: www.sundance.org/shortslab
Story: An in-depth conversation with Jared Hess, director of Napoleon Dynamite (2004 Sundance Film Festival) and Aaron Schneider, director of Get Low (2010 Sundance Film Festival) and the 2003 Academy Award-winning short film, Two Soldiers. Hess and Schneider will candidly share lessons they learned while conceiving and developing the short films that launched their directing careers.
Production: Ilyssa Fradin (SAG), Marci Rolnik (Lawyers for the Creative Arts), Yancey Strickler (Kickstarter), Pete Biagi (Director of Photography), and Kyle Henry (Filmmaker) will offer their expertise into the production process – from securing financing to working with cast and key crew to overcoming legal hurdles.
Distribution: Bob Moczydlowsky (Topspin Media), Linda Olszewski (Shorts International), and Romen Podzyhun (Movieola) will discuss the constantly changing world of short film distribution. Moderated by Todd Lillethun (Chicago Filmmakers).
Programmers Panel: Kim Yutani (Sundance Film Festival, Outfest), Todd Luoto (Sundance Film Festival), Xan Aranda (Chicago Short Film Brigade), Mimi Plauché (Chicago International Film Festival), Bryan Wendorf (Chicago Underground Film Festival) will discuss what film festivals look for and how they find films. Moderated by Ed M. Koziarski (Filmmaker, Chicago Reader, Filmmaker Magazine).
Cocktails Reception & Screening: includes a screening of Short Film Highlights from the 2011 Sundance Film Festival
About Sundance Institute
Sundance Institute is a global nonprofit organization founded by Robert Redford in 1981. Through its artistic development programs for directors, screenwriters, producers, composers and playwrights, the Institute seeks to discover and support independent film and theatre artists from the United States and around the world, and to introduce audiences to their new work. The Institute promotes independent storytelling to inform, inspire, and unite diverse populations around the globe. Internationally recognized for its annual Sundance Film Festival, Sundance Institute has nurtured such projects as Born into Brothels, Trouble the Water, Son of Babylon, Amreeka, An Inconvenient Truth, Spring Awakening, Light in the Piazza and Angels in America.
