The tenth annual Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival (BWiFF) opens this weekend at Chicago Filmmakers (5720 North Ridge Avenue, Chicago, IL), marking the start of a two-week long celebration of character-driven independent films from across the globe as well as from local Illinois filmmakers. After the annual festival’s summer 2020 event was postponed for a full year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival is returning this Friday, July 16 as an in-person event with nightly independent film screenings. Blue Whiskey will exhibit its 2020 Official Selection films nightly from July 16-21 at Chicago Filmmakers, followed by its 2021 Official Selection films running July 24 – 30.
The film festival opens Friday, July 16 at 7:00pm with Five Years North, a documentary feature that shares two compelling stories of unique personal experiences on the issue of immigration. Luis, an undocumented Guatemalan teenager, arrives alone in New York City and struggles to work, study and cope to help support his family back home. Judy, an NYC-based ICE officer, navigates pressures from shifting federal immigration policies and concerns from her own Cuban American and Puerto Rican family. The filmmakers’ impressive and unfiltered access to these subjects sheds new light on the challenges surrounding America’s immigration system.
Other feature-length films headlining the festival include Brindisi (screening July 17 @ 7pm), an Italian-American comedy about three young couples (all played by the same two actors) in the south of Italy whose varied lives intersect on a boat to Greece; a mysterious unlikely love story from Japan, Woman of the Photographs (screening July 20 @ 7pm); and an award-winning documentary When All That’s Left is Love (screening July 18 @ 7pm), in which the filmmaker shares a personal story of his father’s struggle with Alzheimer’s and his mother’s determination and frustration with her difficult role as caregiver.
Nightly sessions include a short film program accompanying each feature film, including live action and animated narrative films, short documentaries, and music videos. Blue Whiskey will also present its popular Short Film Centerpiece on Monday, July 19 at 7:00pm which includes a wide-ranging program of 2020 short film Official Selections, including films from local Illinois filmmakers.
Throughout the event, audiences will have the opportunity to discuss the films with filmmakers attending in-person or virtually during audience Q&As.
The 2020 Official Selection film screenings conclude on Wednesday, July 21 with Resisterhood, a feature documentary following the personal and political journeys of four female activists and the family of former US Congressman Luis Gutiérrez as they organize, march and fight for women’s rights, beginning with the historic 2017 Women’s March to the 2018 midterm elections. Resisterhood was produced, directed, filmed and edited by women.
Festival Director Michael Noens is ready and excited to see the Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival return this summer as an in-person event. “We were very disappointed when we had to postpone our 10th Annual Film Festival last year in response to the pandemic,” Noens explains. “I’m thrilled that we’re now able to return safely for an in-person event and present our 2020 Official Selections to audiences here in Chicago. I’m looking forward to enjoying these films in the theater with a live audience!”
For tickets, event information and a complete schedule of the Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival, visit our events page. Nightly sessions run from 7:00pm – 10:30pm at Chicago Filmmakers, 1326 W Hollywood Ave in Chicago. General admission tickets are $15 and provide entry to all films in the session.
