Midwest Film Festival Explained

The Midwest Film Festival is the USA's only film festival solely dedicated to Midwest films. Only films from the eight-state Midwest region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin are considered for screening.

The festival was originally hosted every first Tuesday of the month at Chicago's Landmark Century Centre Cinema but is presently held on the final Monday of the month at the Gene Siskel Film Center. Originally named the Midwest Independent Film Festival in 2004, the festival formally changed its name to the Midwest Film Festival in 2020 in a rebranding strategy spearheaded by festival director Erica Duffy.^[1]

Festival Highlights

• The World Premiere of the comedy Osso Bucco, starring Illeana Douglas and Mike Starr opened the 2008 festival^[2]
• The Midwest Premiere of Sundance Film Festival doc Wordplay, directed by Patrick Creadon, featuring Will Shortz^[3]
• The Midwest Premiere of Cinequest Film Festival Best Documentary winner Indestructible, directed by Ben Byer^[4]
• Controversial thriller Death of a President, winner of the International Film Critics Award at the Toronto International Film Festival^[5]
• Sundance Film Festival favorite Steel City, written and directed by Alton, IL native Brian Jun, starring Tom Guiry, America Ferrera and Steppenwolf ensemble member Laurie Metcalf^[6]
• Acclaimed documentary Rock the Bells, which chronicled the final stage performance of all nine original members of the Wu-Tang Clan, four months before Ol' Dirty Bastard's death.^[7]
• The Midwest Premiere of Sugar Mountain, directed by Aaron Himelstein^[8]
• The World Premiere of Following Paula, starring Justina Machado^[9]
• The Festival Premiere of Dirty Work, directed by Bruce Terris, starring Lance Reddick, Michael McGlone and Austin Pendleton^[10]
• The Chicago Premiere of The Godfather of Green Bay, starring Tony Goldwyn, Lauren Holly, Mark Borchardt, Lance Barber and Pete Schwaba, who also wrote and directed the film.^[11]
• The Midwest Premiere of Relative, starring Wendy Robie and Francis Guinan in 2022^[12]

History

The film festival was founded by Chicago actor Mike McNamara and filmmaker Michael Kwielford in 2004.^[13] In November 2017 McNamara stepped down as director "due to personal reasons" and was replaced by Kwielford as interim director.^[14] In July 2018, Amy Guth was named the new executive director of the festival.^[15] In December 2019, Erica Duffy was named the festival's new executive director.^[16]

External links

• Festival website
• Festival Director Mike McNamara at the Internet Movie Database
• Feature Profile of Festival Director Mike McNamara in Chicago Reader

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2020-01-20 . Erica Duffy describes her Midwest Film Fest vision . 2022-08-16 . Reel Chicago - At the intersection of Chicago Advertising, Entertainment, Media and Production . en-US.
2. Web site: 2008-01-30 . "Osso Bucco" star Mike Starr to appear at Midwest Indie FilmFestival screening . 2022-08-16 . Reel Chicago - At the intersection of Chicago Advertising, Entertainment, Media and Production . en-US.
3. Web site: Flair . Justus . 2018-10-02 . Chicago festival Shows Love To Midwest Films - Far Out Midwest Highlighting Art, Music, and Culture in the Midwest . 2022-08-16 . Far Out Midwest . en.
4. Web site: INDESTRUCTIBLE a film by Ben Byer . 2022-08-16 . indestructiblefilm.com. en-US.
5. Web site: Kartemquin on Development . 2022-08-16 . Kartemquin Films . en.
6. Web site: Steel City . 2022-08-16 . www.reelchicago.com . 12 December 2007 . en.
7. Web site: 2007-12-12 . Brian Jun's "Steel City" wins 2007 Best Film at MWFF; Malik Bader wins for best director . 2022-08-16 . Reel Chicago - At the intersection of Chicago Advertising, Entertainment, Media and Production . en-US.
8. Web site: 2005-12-09 . Aaron Himelstein's "Sugar Mountain" leads winners at MWFF's Inaugural Best of the Midwest Awards . 2022-08-16 . Reel Chicago - At the intersection of Chicago Advertising, Entertainment, Media and Production . en-US.
9. Web site: A film festival that lasts year-round . 2022-08-16 . Chicago Tribune.
10. Web site: GET JUICED . 2022-08-16 . Chicago Tribune.
11. Web site: 2006-02-23 . "Godfather of Green Bay" to open March 24 . 2022-08-16 . OnMilwaukee.
12. Web site: Magazine . Screen . 2022-03-26 . Midwest Film Festival Presents Chicago Indie 'Relative' . 2023-07-15 . Screen Magazine . en-US.
13. Web site: Mike McNamara & Mike Kwielford - Founders of the Midwest Independent Film Festival. https://web.archive.org/web/20070927181709/http://chicagoist.com/2005/12/04/mike_mcnamara_mike_kwielford_founders_of_the_midwest_independent_film_festival.php. 2007-09-27.
14. News: Metz . Nina . Midwest Independent Film Fest executive director steps down . 3 February 2020 . Chicago Tribune . 10 November 2017.
15. News: Metz . Nina . Amy Guth named new head of the Midwest Independent Film Festival . 3 February 2020 . Chicago Tribune . 2 July 2018.
16. News: Costello . Colin . Erica Duffy is MIFF's new executive director . 3 February 2020 . Reel Chicago . 8 December 2019.