The Catlow Theater’s third annual short film festival is returning with a new name, at a new time of year with a new mission and a new enticement in the form of cash prizes and other awards.
Known as the Catlow Local Shorts Film Festival (not to be confused with the theater’s annual roundup of Oscar-nominated shorts) when it debuted in November 2014, the fest was initially designed to attract makers of short films from all over the Midwest.
After thinking it over, however, Catlow owner Tim O’Connor and event co-producer and local filmmaker Tim Troemner decided to tighten the focus of the festival to Barrington and the surrounding area. And to reflect that change they changed the name of the event to the Barrington-Area Local Film Fest. They also changed the date from winter to spring, hopefully eliminating weather issues like the foot of snow that chilled the turnout for the 2015 event. (Last year’s fest was canceled.)
“We thought if we made the festival more local, we could get more local filmmakers interested — and there’s a lot of talent in Barrington,” said O’Connor. We wanted to have a festival specifically for their work.
“Also, the Barrington Cultural Commission is interested in this now because it’s a Barrington event. They donated a first prize of $500 and the Catlow is providing the second prize of $250. And we’ll have plaques for other winners, such as the Audience Award.”
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There are no specifications for entries, aside from a maximum length of 30 minutes and “being clean enough to show to a mixed audience,” O’Connor said. The producers have already begun receiving entries (including one from a Barrington native who’s moved to California — and still qualifies). As a result, they don’t know how long the festival will last, though they estimate anywhere from 90 minutes to two and a half hours.
Except for the Audience Award, winners will be determined by a panel of three judges led by film critic Dann Gire of the Daily Herald.
“We’re confident this event is going to grow,” said O’Connor, who is encouraged not only by the strong local talent he’s seen (including students at area high schools) but by the increased popularity of short films for audiences. “I think audiences have discovered the quality of the people making these films and the production quality that’s now available to them. Anyone who owns an iPhone can make a film now if they have the talent. And, again, there seems to be a lot of talent around here in all areas of filmmaking, including the filming, the lighting, the editing, the acting — all of it.”
Barrington-Area Local Film Fest
When: Noon May 20
Where: Catlow Theater, 116 W. Main St., Barrington
Admission: $6
Information: 847-381-0777; www.thecatlow.com