Film Festival

Eugene O’Neill’s The First Man

Palatine Public Library 700 N North Court, Palatine, IL, United States

A BWiFF 2025 Beyond Competition Presentation
World renowned anthropologist Curtis is consumed by grief over his young daughters' deaths. He finds solace in immersing himself in preparations for his upcoming expedition to Asia, where he aims to unravel the mystery of "The First Man."

Free

Segal + Short Selections

Classic Cinemas Elk Grove XQ 1050 Elk Grove Town Center, IL, Elk Grove Village, IL

Fourth Night of the 2025 Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival, featuring three (3) short films and one (1) feature documentary.

$15

Never Not Yours + Short Selections

Classic Cinemas Elk Grove XQ 1050 Elk Grove Town Center, IL, Elk Grove Village, IL

Fifth Night of the 2025 Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival, featuring three (3) short films and one (1) feature narrative.

$15

Dawn Dusk + Short Selections

Classic Cinemas Elk Grove XQ 1050 Elk Grove Town Center, IL, Elk Grove Village, IL

Closing Night of the 2025 Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival, featuring four (4) short films and one (1) feature documentary.

$15

1925 Cinema Centennial | ‘The Gold Rush’

Virtual Event Virtual Event

A gold prospector in Alaska struggles to survive the elements and win the heart of a dance hall girl. This special virtual presentation will feature music by Gail Gallagher and sound effects by Nicholas White performed live. Sponsored by Foxhole Creative.

Characters Drive Stories | ‘Driver’s Ed Mutiny’ (Part 1)

Virtual Event Virtual Event

Follows three teenagers from Chicago who hijack their driver's ed car and embark on a journey down Route 66 to get to Los Angeles. This special virtual presentation will be a table reading of the screenplay with visual references to the feature film written and directed by Brad Hansen. Driver's Ed Mutiny was an official selection at the inaugural Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival in 2010. Sponsored by Noisefloor Sound Solutions.

Free

Stampila (The Stamp)

Classic Cinemas Tivoli Theatre 5021 Highland Avenue, Downers Grove, IL

A BWiFF 2025 Beyond Competition Presentation
A middle-aged woman plots to overthrow an unelected oligarch controlling her tiny country. Using only her intelligence and a stolen government stamp, she must outsmart the oligarch and his team of American political consultants.

$12

Canceled Traumnovelle

Facets Film Forum 1517 W Fullerton Avenue, Chicago, IL

A BWiFF 2025 Beyond Competition Presentation
A colorful adaptation of Schnitzler's work, in which a woman tells her husband that she has fantasies with other people, triggering his desire for his own adventures. Set in modern kinky Berlin, the film is much more than a mere reboot of Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut".

$12

Taste the Revolution

Music Box Theatre 3733 N Southport Avenue, Chicago, IL, United States

A BWiFF 2025 Beyond Competition Presentation
Two aspiring filmmakers chronicle the story of a charismatic revolutionary, Mac Laslow (Oscar®-Winner Mahershala Ali), and the group of disillusioned college students drawn together one summer to change the world. But without a unifying direction or clear goals, the movement descends into chaos.

$12

2025 Blue Glass Awards

Virtual Event Virtual Event

Tune-in on Wednesday, May 14 at 7pm/c for the 2025 Blue Glass Awards, presented by the Illinois Film Office, where the festival judges will announce the winners of the 15th annual Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival!

2025 Supporting Sponsors

 

Noisefloor Sound Solutions (Logo)

 

Reid Brody's Color Nation - For Your Coloration

 

Foxhole Creative (Logo)

 

Lensrentals.com (Logo)