2025 Festival Schedule & Tickets
Tickets for the 2025 Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival are now available for purchase online. The 15th annual festival will run April 27-May 13 throughout the Chicagoland area, including Classic Cinemas Elk Grove XQ, Facets Film Forum, Music Box Theatre, Palatine Public Library, and Tivoli Theatre.
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Upcoming Events
Never Not Yours + Short Selections
Classic Cinemas Elk Grove XQ 1050 Elk Grove Town Center, IL, Elk Grove Village, ILFifth Night of the 2025 Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival, featuring three (3) short films and one (1) feature narrative.
Dawn Dusk + Short Selections
Classic Cinemas Elk Grove XQ 1050 Elk Grove Town Center, IL, Elk Grove Village, ILClosing Night of the 2025 Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival, featuring four (4) short films and one (1) feature documentary.
1925 Cinema Centennial | ‘The Gold Rush’
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’
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.
Stampila (The Stamp)
Classic Cinemas Tivoli Theatre 5021 Highland Avenue, Downers Grove, ILA 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.
Traumnovelle
Facets Film Forum 1517 W Fullerton Avenue, Chicago, ILA 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".
Taste the Revolution
Music Box Theatre 3733 N Southport Avenue, Chicago, IL, United StatesA 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.
2025 Blue Glass Awards
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!
‘Speed’ | Beer Garden Screening
Pollyanna Brewing Company - Roselare 245 E Main Street, Roselle, ILAn Imbibe Cinema Special Presentation
Los Angeles SWAT cop Jack Traven is up against bomb expert Howard Payne, who’s after major ransom money. First it’s a rigged elevator in a very tall building. Then it’s a rigged bus – if it slows below 50mph, it will blow up. The situation is bad enough anywhere, but in LA traffic: an impossible nightmare.
‘True Lies’ | Beer Garden Screening
Pollyanna Brewing Company - Roselare 245 E Main Street, Roselle, ILAn Imbibe Cinema Special Presentation
A fearless, globe-trotting, terrorist-battling secret agent has his life turned upside down when he discovers his wife might be having an affair with a used car salesman while terrorists smuggle nuclear war heads into the United States.
Filmmaker Testimonals
“The venue was really great and intimate. The quality of the programming was excellent and I felt like our film was in great company.”
“Wonderful festival. Great communication, filmmaker-friendly and overall one of the best festivals I’ve ever had the honor to be a part of.”