DOWNTOWN — The city is trying to boost aspiring filmmakers with a business-oriented, one-day symposium to be held next month at the Cultural Center.
The Chicago Film and Media Summit, set for Oct. 20 at the Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington Blvd., is modeled on the earlier Chicago Music Summit, which took place this month. Both aim to provide aspiring bizzers in the entertainment industry with information and contacts. It's loosely programmed with the Chicago International Film Festival, Oct. 10-24.
Among prominent local figures expected to take part are actor Michael Shannon and director John McNaughton ("Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer").
Running from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the business summit will be organized under various groups and topics such as film financing, production and distribution. The summit is free, but registration is required, limited to the first 500 people who sign up online beginning Monday.
"We have filmmakers who live right here with the same dreams of making their stories come to life on screen, and it’s important that they have the support of the city to help those dreams come true," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
The event is sponsored by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, co-organized by IFP Chicago, CIMMFest and Cinespace.
A program of locally produced film shorts will run during the summit, and that will be open to the public at no charge.
