Chicago Underground Film Festival and Filmmakers Summit 2008

“Anaconda Targets” presents more or less raw cockpiit footage from a US military plan. The footage comes from Afghanistan in March of 2002....

"Anywhere U.S.A. reduces every audience that sees it into a delighted, giggling mob. The talented cast of non-professionals reminds one of what the word "amateur" really means: to love. As silly, provocative, risky and downright loose-screwed as Mr. Haney-Jardine and his cast are, the sense that they did this movie out of love—love for the weird, love for the unsayable idea, love for the privilege of movie making—proved to be one of the most moving experiences at the Sundance Film Festival. It reminds one of the joy of sitting in an audience of strangers while everyone laughs hysterically." — Quentin Tarantino, Head of Sundance Jury Trailer parks, terrorists, the tooth fairy and a rich man in search of a black friend. Just another day in Anywhere USA. The Chicago Underground Film Festival is proud to present the Midwest Premiere of Anywhere U.S.A. winner of a Dramatic Competition Special Jury Prize at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Anywhere USA is a high-energy and big-hearted romp through the hysteria-fueled landscape of modern America. Told in three loosely connected segments (Penance, Loss, and Ignorance), the film is a dizzying portrait of America inspired by the director's own experiences as both foreigner and citizen of these United States. Featuring a cast of mostly non-professionals, this deeply personal film manages to tread the lines between vulgar and humane, between absurd and tender.

No longer is car armoring limited to the Brinks truck, today we share the highway with many more armored vehicles than we realize due to the advancement in concealed armoring on luxury automobiles. In addition to a few extra layers of steel and glass - these cars can also be equipped with fog machines, tear gas emitters and in some cases, flame throwing devices.Ironically, the popularity of armored sedans is growing tantamount to the 'spread of democracy' as described by a leading manufacturer in a televised interview. Despite their rise in availability - due to lowered costs and advancements in materials and engineering, it is hard for ordinary civilians to learn about the features of these fortresses on wheels for what dealerships refer to as security precautions. These same elusive dealerships have videos tucked away on their web sites showing their employees in camouflaged uniforms performing ballistic tests. 'Protect Yourself' was produced from scavenging through manufacturer's web directories to uncover the the secrets of SUV 'defense.'In addition to ballistic tests, the video collages industry interviews, auto shows and marketing propaganda in a form that traverses corporate trade video and action packed thriller (minus Chuck Norris.)

The visual langage of 'ARTIFICES #1' was constructed using a mechanical device that induces concentric rotations to a super8mm camera. Static and dynamic light sources (such as lampposts, street lights or moving cars) are transformed into a spiraling flux of colors. The resulting motion appearing on the screen swallows the spectator eye and reveal the kinetic potential of the experiment.

Using 1988 Amiga software *a veritable antique, by technological standards), Barrow uses a computer mouse to illustrate and animate his “gratuitously honest: personal manifesto.....

"Long considered lost, Harrington's recently restored first color film follows a mysterious masked figure through the canals of Venice and builds to a splendid climax." - HFA

The Atom Smashers chronicles two gripping races: a forty-year international scientific competition to find the universe's most important subatomic particle and the effort of a massive machine built to find it. Top American physicists search for the tiny 'god particle' using the Tevatron, a four-mile tunnel buried beneath the Illinois prairie. It stumbles, breaks, is repaired, and surges ahead in attempts to find the particle, beat the competition, and claim a Nobel Prize. A new European machine is poised to come online in 2008. The tension is palpable.Meanwhile, scientists protest the Bush Administration's handling of science in all fields. When science budgets are slashed across the board, Fermilab scientists - stunned -learn that the Tevatron will close just as Europe's machine is schedule to activate. Fermilab's scientists warn: 'We're entering into a fantastic era of learning, full of windows of opportunity for understanding the universe. This is not the time to be getting out of the game.'A dramatic exploration of the beautiful truths and frustrating difficulties of high energy particle physics, The Atom Smashers watches its characters work and live in and out of the lab, examining the curious intersection between science, politics, and culture on a national scale. Where will the balance of scientific power shift? Can the United States reverse its course and undo the damage to its scientific community? Two continents, two accelerators, one particle. Who will find it?

From the creators of Film Geek comes THE AUTEUR - a melange of sweet romantic comedy and raunchy, riotous satire. Formerly renowned porn director Arturo Domingo (Melik Malkasian) - the creative genius behind classics like Five Easy Nieces and Requiem for a Wet Dream-- has arrived in Portland, Oregon to receive a Lifetime Achievement award at a film festival. Arturo is delighted at the prospect of reviving his sagging career, yet troubled that fate would lead him to the hometown of his only true love, Fiona (Katherine Flynn). With the reassuring voice of his attentive secretary Doris (Cara Seymour) over his cell phone, he navigates the chaos of a madcap weekend.Encountering crazed fans, former collaborators, bitter enemies, and free-loving hippies, we follow Arturo as he frantically attempts to raise money for the film that could put him back on top: Gang Bangs of New York.Through flashbacks we see his love for Fiona and their tragic breakup on the set of Domingo's ill-fated Vietnam epic, Full Metal Jackoff. We meet Frank E. Normo (John Breen) - Arturo's former Bobby DeNiro - who now has a wildly successful pay-per-view porn show. And, most importantly, we learn the about the dangers of Oregon weed. With a lot of heart, soul, and naked penises, THE AUTEUR is a seriously sexy comedy with a climax that absolutely must be seen to be believed.

Between Something & Nothing is based on filmmaker Todd Verow's experiences at Rhode Island School of Design. After being accepted into a prestigious New England art school, sexy small-town Joe and townie mastermind Jennifer quickly join forces. When Joe eventually falls for enigmatic hustler Ramon, and Jennifer gets mistakenly caught up in a bad drug deal- their little world starts to spin too fast for them to continue to control. The gritty education they are receiving on the city streets is just as important as the intensely focused, competitive training in their classrooms. “Sex, drugs, rich kids, music, sketching, nude models and queer discovery -- this is one true art school confidential. In crafting Between Something & Nothing, Verow drew from his own experiences as student -- and yes, rent boy -- at Rhode Island School of Design.” -- Lawrence Ferber, TLA Video