We are now accepting submissions for the 15th Chicago Underground Film Festival. Entry Forms and complete guidelines for submission are available now at http://www.cuff.org
The CHICAGO UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL is dedicated to the work of film and video makers with defiantly independent visions. As Roger Ebert said, "What you get for your money is not just admission to the films, but admission to a subculture."
Radical beyond independent, the "underground" culture supports films that go beyond expectations and genre, to include a menu of films made with passion, obsession, and drive. In addition, CUFF has consistently honored the history of underground and independent cinema by presenting tributes and retrospectives of filmmakers such as Tom Palozzolo, Richard Kern, Kenneth Anger, George Kuchar, John Waters, and Paul Morrissey.
Panels and workshops augment the diverse programming, and every evening of screenings is followed by a great night of parties, events and concerts. Jury awards are presented in the following categories: Narrative Feature, Narrative Short, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short, Experimental, Animation, and "Made in Chicago" - along with an Audience Choice award.
Past success stories include filmmaker Sarah Jacobson, who debuted her film MARY JANE'S NOT A VIRGIN ANYMORE (six months before it screened at Sundance). Some other CUFF films that have received national theatrical distribution include: THE MANSON FAMILY, MEN CRY BULLETS, THE ACID HOUSE, and the Oscar-nominated films WEATHER UNDERGROUND and THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION PART 3.
Chicago Underground Film Festival
presented by IFP/Chicago
October 29 to November 2 2008
UPCOMING DEADLINE
May 15, 2007 - Early Deadline
Entry forms available at http://www.cuff.org
ENTRY FEES
$30 per entry postmarked by May 15,
$35 per entry postmarked by June 16,
$40 per entry received by July 15.
Entry Fees are not required from filmmakers who have screened at CUFF
in the past.
MISSION AND OBJECTIVE
Our mission is to promote films and videos that dissent in form, technique, or content
from the "indie" film/video mainstream and to present adventurous works that challenge and transcend expectations...if you suspect your film is "underground," it probably is.
CUFF TESTIMONIALS
"I like the word 'underground' as in the 'Chicago Underground Film Festival.' The word 'independent' carries a stigma of whininess. 'Underground' means a good time."
- John Waters, receiving the Director's Tribute award at the 1997 Deauville Film Festival
"It oftentimes takes as long as a decade for film festivals to become established with audiences and moviemakers alike, but in just six years, the Chicago Underground Film Festival transformed itself from a hole-in-the-wall operation focusing almost exclusively on local product to the largest underground film fest in the country, with films and tapes being submitted from around the globe. The reasons, of course, are savvy programming and solid marketing."
- John Petrakis, The Chicago Tribune
"I had the best time of my life at this festival. Your lives are so much better than all those people who think they're having a good time in Hollywood."
- Penelope Spheeris, Director, WE SOLD OUR SOULS FOR ROCK AND ROLL
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