The Movieside Film Festival, which is a not-for-profit organization, has reached brand-name status in a relatively short time. It started with filmmaker Rusty Nails creating a showcase for video and film artists, both local and worldwide. Rusty later joined with local filmmaker Jonathan Buchanan, who would become the Assistant Director for the festival. The organizers were able to bring in graphic and musical artists, and attract sufficient patronage to break even after expenses. Future venues would include the Biograph Theater, Center of Contemporary Arts, Museum of Contemporary Art, Heaven Gallery, Chicago Filmmakers. With each successive staging, the audience and reputation of Movieside Film Festival has grown.

This November/early December at the Biograph Theater in Chicago, Movieside Film Festival is having their two year anniversary celebration and are looking for submissions. The Deadline is October 15, 2003. They are interested in animation, independent, experimental, underground, funny, international, national, and local films and videos. They tend to show pieces shorter than 15 minutes in length but make occasional exceptions - and from time to time they show features.

Do NOT send in: Sexist, Racist, or Homophobic films, Movieside is not interested in these.

Entry Fees is $9 for as many films/videos as you can fit on one tape (VHS or miniDV) - Please include an additional $2 postage fee if you would like your tape returned. Make sure you tape is clearly labeled with your name, phone number, address, and e-mail, a one sentence description for each film on a USED piece of paper - include phone, name, number, e-mail on the tape/miniDV

Movieside asks that you please use a previously used package - example: used padded envelopes, pizza boxes, cereal boxes - to send your films/videos (Recycle!).

Again the deadline is October 15, 2003.

Make checks payable to:

Lucas Brown at Movieside Film Festival
1400 W. Devon Ave.
#409, Chicago, IL 60660

Last March Movieside had a premiere of “Toxic Avenger 4 - Citizen Toxic,” with as a special guest the Troma President Lloyd Kaufman. The word this time is Movieside will not disappoint and will have a special guest again for the upcoming Film Festival.