Meet Independent Filmmakers at Festival!

One the best features of a film festival is the opportunity for filmmakers and film lovers to talk to each other. The Naperville Independent Film Festival is delighted to provide these opportunities all week. Filmmakers get to talk about their work and film lovers get to ask their questions.

Below is the list of filmmakers who will be available following the screening of their films to discuss their process and experience. We highly encourage you stay after the closing credits and take full advantage of this chance for a face-to-face discussion.

Many of the filmmakers will also be attending during other screenings during the week and will be at the Awards Gala on Saturday, September 30 as well. By that time, you may be quite well-acquainted -- at least we hope so!

To see previews of these films and to learn more about the festival, please go to www.NaperFilmFest.org.

Sunday, September 24
6:00p Seating
JULIAN FORT, the writer and director of The Midnighters about an aging safecracker who has to do one more job to save his son. Julian is nominated for Best Director at NIFF this year.
Sunday, September 24
8:15p Seating
PATRICK SMITH, the animator behind Pittari a short film nominated for best animation. Ask Patrick how he created his powerful images.
Monday, September 25
6:00p Seating
AUSTIN EVERETT, writer and director, along with CONNIE ALCINO, producer of the touching drama Secondhand Hearts, about a man who falls in love with a woman he meets on a trip only to find out upon returning home that she's his girlfriend's older sister.
Tuesday, September 26
8:15 Seating
To start this session, we'll have a dramatic reading of Recalled to Life by screenwriter Dan Burns, one of our Best screenplay nominees.
Wednesday, September 27
6:00p Seating
A jam-packed session of films and Q&A here! DAN PAL, the filmmaker behind Counting will be here. We're excited to welcome back CHRISTINE WEATHERUP, a past winner in our film festival, to talk about her film Killed in Action. Plus, SEAN PATRICK LEONARD who made the powerful Rockabye and NICK ZACHAR, who filmed the beautiful Saba, the Unspoiled Queen.
Wednesday, September 27
8:15p Seating
Meet GRANT GARRY, actor and producer, and PETER PARDINI, writer and director of BLACK CAT.
Thursday, September 28
6:00p Seating
Another full schedule of filmmakers who you really must meet! From the documentary Operation: The Power of Play, the man who created the famous game "Operation," John Spinello, will be with us. John sold the rights for $500, then later in life when he needed funds for an operation, he received many donations from people, some of whom said the game inspired them to be doctors and surgeons! This is his story and TIM WALSH and PEGGY BROWN who made the film will be with John. And that's just one of the films!
JOSHUA YOUNG and NIKKI DAILY who produced the film Searching for Lady Day about the famous sculptor Mark di Suvero will talk to us about their film. As will TANNER CUSUMANO director of CALIBER, along with his actor CHRISTOPHER WATSON.
Thursday, September 28
8:15p Seating
DANIEL JOHN HARRIS, nominated for Best Director for his 10-minute neo-noir thriller Hey Blue Eyes.
Friday, September 29
6:00p Seating
RUDOLF HAVLIK, the filmmaker behind the lovely FAIRYTALES FOR EMMA will be here for Q&A.
Friday, September 29
8:15p Seating
CHRIS GOODWIN, who wrote and directed ON THE 7TH DATE will be here for a Q&A session after watching his film.

Saturday, September 30
Awards Gala
Cocktails 6:00p, Awards Show 7:00p
Who will bring home the coveted NIFFTY, the beautiful trophy of the Naperville Independent FIlm Festival? It's just like a night in Hollywood! We have a great many filmmakers attending, so this may be your time to hobnob and watch your favorites win!
Here's who is scheduled to attend:
JACQUELYN PIETT from One Per Person; ANDREAS SCHAAP and ANNA FISCHER from The Last Compartment; EDINA KISHONTHY from In a Dream; NICK ZACHAR from Saba, the Unspoiled Queen; GRANT GARRY from Black Cat; TIM WALSH, PEGGY BROWN and JOHN SPINELLO from Operation: The Power of Play; TANNER CUSUMANO and CHRISTOPHER WATSON from Caliber; DANIEL JOHN HARRIS from Hey Blue Eyes; RUDOLF HAVLIK from Fairytales for Emma; CHRIS GOODWIN from On the 7th Date; GRAHAM STREETER, screenwriter of I May Regret; ALEX LABOSQ, screenwriter of Normal Folk; and DAN BURNS, screenwriter for Recalled To Live.

We look forward to meeting you all at the upcoming Naperville independent Film Festival!