CHICAGO SEEN VOLUME 17 Trailer - Screening January 19th at CHICAGO FILMMAKERS

Trailer by Ashley North

Programmed by Ainsley Mallory and Ashley North, interns at Chicago Filmmakers, along with former intern and guest programmer Grace K. Schuler, this initiative by Chicago Filmmakers gives our intern and volunteer teams an opportunity to fully curate and produce a screening of local film.

The programming team describes this eclectic selection as "an exploration of what makes us who we are, the legacies we leave for others, and the connection that we strive to find with those around us. Each of these works deals in some way with identity and the the ways in which we understand ourselves. Whether it's through our actions, our creative work, or our relationships with others, this selection of films illustrates the critical points in our lives that provide a foundation for who we are. The program title, ‘What Do You Carry?’ references not only physical items, but the emotional weights and interpersonal connections that we pick up and put down throughout our lives. We're excited to share a selection of work that could only come from the vibrant Chicago landscape." 

FULL PROGRAM:

CHROMA WHEEL (Dir. Zechen Li) 2023

Chroma Wheel is an animated film made with digitally hand-drawn animation and composited in Adobe’s After Effects. It explores the filmmaker's personal experience of making art and the various emotions that come with it.

PERFECT FLOWERS OF THE SCUM GENERATION (Dir. Wilde Davis) 2023

A queer triptych following a clan of revolutionary femmes inspired to cause chaos by their shared hatred for a butch hustler named Hollywood. It's an experiment in degradation; a ritual of magick.

TO LIE IN A FIELD AND GROW OLD (Dir. Haydon Mayer) 2023

Through the night a girl wanders her apartment haunted by visions of the past.

ROSE TINTED (Dir. Jay Casillas) 2023

Lilly, a trans woman, slowly turns into a rose after taking her estrogen pills. Meanwhile, a bee suddenly appears in her room and tries to pollinate her. She must try to avoid this bee while coming to terms with the violent changes to her body.

PUMP (Dir. Charles Cadkin) 2022

On the Northwest side of Chicago large swaths of people have been gathering for decades to fill their containers with water from a magical water pump.

SOME SWEET DAY (Dir. Rasheed Peters) 2023

Some Sweet Day is an intimate exploration of the question: "When flesh and heart fail, what remains?” This heartfelt story follows the filmmaker and his mother, Camille, as they navigate life after the loss of their father and husband.

A SWEETNESS OF LAPSE (Dir. Bashir Aden) 2023

When two friends, Ava & Mina, are introduced to the internet phenomenon of “timeline shifting,” they decide to try it one night. The result tests their friendship and grasp of reality.


As Chicago Filmmakers celebrates its 50th anniversary, we are committed to special programming that activates our community. Submissions to Chicago Seen are open year-round, free of charge, and give emerging filmmakers and curators a chance to showcase their talents. Visit www.chicagofilmmakers.org/

Click here to see the past programming, trailers, and events from Chicago Seen Volume 16.

About Chicago Filmmakers
Chicago Filmmakers is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1973. We serve the Chicago filmmaking community by providing low-cost film classes and youth camps, workforce training, and fiscal sponsorship, as well as professional development and networking opportunities. We also serve Chicago audiences with regular screenings of independent films and two annual film festivals: Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival and The Onion City Experimental Film Festival.