Above / The Naperville Independent Film Festival found its spot in the Jaycees Labor Day Parade.
The 9th Annual Naperville Independent Film Festival (NIFF) is set to take place September 10-17 at Hollywood Palms Cinema, located at WestRidge Court, 352 Rte. 59; and September 18-23 at Smith Hall (Old Main), 30 No. Brainard, North Central College.
This year more than 100 filmmakers and 15 screenwriters from all over the globe have entered projects for a chance to complete for the coveted NIFF trophy that will be presented at the Closing Night Awards Ceremony, also held at the Hollywood Palms Cinema.
Thirty-one films will be screened at the Hollywood Palms and 22 films, 17 which are from the ECU, the European Independent Film Festival in Paris, France and 4 NIFF entries will be screened at Smith Hall.
Thirty-four films and 5 screenplays have been nominated to compete in 9 “Best of” categories, including Documentary, Director, Feature Film, Short Film, Actor, Actress, Animation, Student Produced and Screenplay.
‘Kids in Toyland’ features special cast
“Kids in Toyland” will be shown at the Naperville Independent Film Festival at 5PM on Sun., Sept. 11, at the Hollywood Palms Movie Cinema.
Based on the writings of Erin Feeney, a 24-year-old from Naperville, whose cerebral palsy confines her to a wheelchair, unable to speak, the short film is cast entirely by Feeney’s actor-friends and fellow participants in the Artful IMPACT! Special Needs Program, according to Deb Newman, publicist for the film.
This cinematic fairytale infused with current-day anti-bullying messaging is the inaugural release of Artful IMPACT!’s Once Upon a Time Film Project.
Directed and produced in collaboration with Billy Surges of Surging Film and Theatrics, the film was supported by a grant from the City of Naperville Special Events and Cultural Amenities Fund (SECA). It was at a private fundraising event for Artful IMPACT! this past March that NIFF co-founder Glenna Coisson saw “Kids in Toyland” and extended an on-the-spot invitation to Feeney and the film’s directors to showcase their film at the Film Festival.
Immediately following the showing of this film, Feeney, Surges and the cast of “Kids in Toyland” will be invited into the lobby at the theater for an awards ceremony.
One of NIFF’s sponsors, Robert Fieseler from Corridor Law Group, will present Participation Awards to all those involved in this film. The public is invited to come out and support them in this great endeavor.
Hollywood Palms is located in WestRidge Court, 352 Route 59.
Find complete details at www.naperfilmfest.org. See you at the movies!
