E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial is both a classic movie for kids and a remarkable portrait of childhood. It is a sci-fi adventure that captures that strange moment in youth when the world is a place of mysterious possibilities (some wonderful, some awful), and the universe seems somehow separate from the one inhabited by grown-ups. Henry Thomas plays Elliott, a young boy living with his single mother (Dee Wallace), his older brother Michael (Robert MacNaughton), and his younger sister Gertie (Drew Barrymore). Elliott often seems lonely and out of sorts, lost in his own world. One day, while looking for something in the back yard, he senses something mysterious in the woods watching him. And he’s right: an alien spacecraft on a scientific mission mistakenly left behind one of their own.  As Elliott tries to keep the alien under wraps and help him figure out a way to get home, he discovers that the creature can communicate with him telepathically. Soon they begin to learn from each other, and Elliott becomes braver and less threatened by life. E.T. rigs up a communication device from junk he finds around the house, but no one knows if he’ll be rescued before a group of government scientists gets hold of him.

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, June 6 and be sure to come out to the Fred P. Hall Amphitheater to re-experience this amazing classic.  In the event of bad weather, the screening will move to the Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center (150 East Wood Street in Palatine).

The Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival is proud to announce that BandCalledCatch will be opening the 2012 festival on Tuesday, July 24!  The band has shared bills with Edward Sharp & the Megnetic Zeros, Crash Kings, Cory Chisel & the Wondering Sons, The Trippin’ Billies, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals and hundreds of other talented musicians.  The group has played all over Chicago, including venues such as: the Cubby Bear, House of Blues, Elbo Room, Hard Rock Cafe and the Congress Theatre to name a few.  They’ve also played in New York, Los Angeles, Jacksonville, St. Louis and many more.

The dynamic, fun rock sound created by BandCalledCatch is best experienced in person.  It’s all about the live show, the connection between the band and the audience and the story of the song.  The music is like Jello; no matter where you are, there’s always room for it.  This year, they are getting ready to release their latest album since 2009.

Opening night at the Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival is free admission, but you will still need a ticket for entry.  Contact the Cutting Hall Box Office to reserve your tickets for BandCalledCatch today.  Call 847-202-5222 or email cuttinghall@palatineparks.org!

Official 2012 Call for Entries! As we begin our third year, we’re very excited to announce that for the first time we will now be accepting submissions through Withoutabox!  This opportunity was made possible by the support of our local community and the generous donations made at the CNGM 2012 Insider this past Saturday, November 12.  From all of us at the festival, we’d like to thank you for all of your help in obtaining our goal.

Attention Local Filmmakers! Please take note of our newest submission category: Illinois Film.  This new category (which also features a discounted submission fee) was developed for works produced in the state of Illinois or made by an Illinois filmmaker.  Films submitted in this category may be of any length, style or genre.  Films selected in this category will be eligible for the Best of Illinois Award (as well as other awards).  If you have any questions regarding this new category, feel free to contact our programming department.

Check out the Q&A video above with Conrad Jackson and Parker Croft of Falling Overnight.  Also, please continue to support our festival year round by attending and participating in our monthly Blue Whiskey Cinema (BWC) series.  Click “BWC” on the menu above or visit BlueWhiskeyCinema.com for screening dates, times and other information.

And the winners are…

Best of Fest
Falling Overnight

Audience Favorite
The Wanteds

Best Narrative Feature
Falling Overnight

Best Documentary
The Wanteds

Best Short Film
Bathing and the Single Girl

Best Music Video
Sadness is a Blessing

Best Experimental
Ghost

Best Animation
The Eagleman Stag

Best Director
Kyle Smith for Turkey Bowl

Best Screenplay
David Dusa, Mike Sens, Raphaelle Maes and Louise Moliere for Fleurs du mal (Flowers of Evil)

Best Actor
Parker Croft for Falling Overnight

Best Actress
Sarah Lassez for The Dead Inside

Best Supporting Actor
Tom DiMenna for Turkey Bowl

Best Supporting Actress
Kerry Bishe for Turkey Bowl

Best Editing
Yannick Coutheron and Nicholas Houver for Fleurs du mal (Flowers of Evil)

Best Sound
Gypsy Sound for Absentia

Best Cinematography
Jean-Phillippe Gossart for Odd Shoe

Best Production Design
Shannon Hourigan for The Dead Inside

Best Original Music
Rob Lane for Odd Shoe

CNGM Pictures and the Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival are proud to present Dennis Florine & the Messengers at the 2011 Opening Night Celebration!  Just this past Saturday, Florine released his new album O’ World, What a Beautiful Tragedy at The Cubby Bear in Chicago.

Born and raised in Palatine, Illinois, Dennis Florine has been touring the world for the past six years.  Florine has shared the stage with Fred Shafer and the LoCash Cowboys, and has had the privilege of working with Grammy winning engineer Rico Lumpkin (Outkast, Monica) and producer Nathan Yaccino (Hanson, Soundgarden).  Performing at music venues and universities across the nation, Dennis crossed the big lake in 2005 and 2007 to tour eight European countries.  This year, Dennis will return to France to perform in the 2011 Fontenay-le-Comte International Music Festival (the sister city of Palatine), upon the request of the Mayor of Palatine.

Dennis has created a unique, hybrid genre of pop by splicing spoken word into his songs, lacing poetic truth into his already catchy melodies.  As he stomps his foot and pumps passion into every strum, the audience comes alive with his contagious energy. O’ World, What a Beautiful Tragedy marks Florine’s debut full-length album, which was recorded at Robert Lang Studios in Seattle, Washington back in November.

Dennis Florine & the Messengers will be performing on Tuesday, July 19 at 7:00 PM, along with the festival’s music video official selections.  The opening night concert will be free admission, courtesy of CNGM Pictures and Theatre Nebula.  Follow the show’s production process right here at BWiFF.com.

Henry’s Crime will be playing on Saturday, July 23 at 9:30 PM.  As a special presentation, the film will be screening out-of-competition, courtesy of ICAP Media.  For tickets and passes to this year’s festival, visit the Cutting Hall Box Office.

Below are the 2011 BWiFF MUSIC VIDEO SELECTIONS:

Anna Sun
Performed by Walk the Moon
Directed by Patrick Meier

Ascension Day
Performed by Turin Brakes
Directed by Phillip Bloom

Before This Ship Goes Down
Performed by The Material
Directed by Matt Silver

Call Me The Fool
Performed by The Bell Beat
Directed by Luke Hartley

From Above
Music by Ben Folds, Lyrics by Nick Hornby
Directed by Julius Preite

Sadness is a Blessing
Performed by Lykke Li
Directed by Tarik Saleh

Take Your Picture
Performed by Gypsyblood
Directed by Christopher Rejano

You Give Me Air
Performed by Jackie Daum
Directed by S. Tyler Wilson

Animal Control
Directed by Kire Paputts

Bathing and the Single Girl
Directed by Christine Elise McCarthy

Diversion
Directed by Chris Folkens

The Eagleman Stag
Directed by Mikey Please

Ex-Sex
Directed by Michael Mohan

The Fourth
Directed by Jared Varava

Ghost
Directed by Tobias G. Boesen

Goldstar, Ohio
Directed by Michael Tisdale

Implants
Directed by Pardis Parker

Keep Watching the Skies!
Directed by James Dastoli & Robert Dastoli

The Last Temptation of Chris
Directed by Marcus Markou

Machines of the Working Class
Directed by James Dastoli & Robert Dastoli

No Names
Directed by Enrico Natale

Odd Shoe
Directed by Paul Cotter

The Oldest Profession
Directed by Lori Bohner

Old Fangs
Directed by Adrien Merigeau

The Seawatchers
Directed by Lizzie Oxby

Undercity
Directed by Andrew Wonder

Yelp: With Apologies to Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl”
Directed by Tiffany Shlain

See below for the complete listing of the 2011 BWiFF FEATURE FILM SELECTIONS:

Absentia
Directed by Mike Flanagan

The Day Carl Sandburg Died
Directed by Paul Bonesteel

The Dead Inside
Directed by Travis Betz

Falling Overnight
Directed by Conrad Jackson

Flowers of Evil
Directed by David Dusa

Happily After
Directed by John Klein

Thespians
Directed by Warren Skeels

Turkey Bowl
Directed by Kyle Smith

The Wanteds
Directed by Stephanie Smith

This new opportunity for interested musicians was designed specifically to help expose the artist’s music to a new crowd of individuals and hopefully find new fans.  Best part is that it’s completely FREE to submit!

For more information on how to submit, download the submission form.

Deadline for submissions is Friday, July 1, 2011.  For questions, please email us at soundtrack@bwiff.com.