Columbia @ The 47th Chicago International Film Festival

Columbia College Chicago is proud to partner with the Chicago International Film Festival to bring the best of world cinema and emerging filmmakers to the city. Columbia College has the nation’s largest and most comprehensive film program, grounded in a rigorous liberal arts and sciences curriculum that provides depth and context to the creative voice. Opened for classes in January 2010, the college’s new Media Production Center provides an ideal academic environment for interdisciplinary collaboration among students in all the media arts.

Recap of Columbia Night 2011:  

A near-capacity group of alumni, students, donors, and other friends of the college attended Columbia Night at the Chicago International Film Festival on October 11. An annual event where Columbia celebrates our alumni’s achievements in filmmaking, Columbia Night 2011 featured a private screening of The Return of Joe Rich, written and directed by Columbia alum Sam Auster, and starring Chicago local Sam Witwer, Armande Assante, Talia Shire, Tim Kazurinsky, and Joe Minoso. The Chicago-based film, which had its world premiere at the festival as part of the New Directors Series, is about a man who attempts to persuade his aging mobster uncle to take him into the “business.” Also viewed at the event was the winning short film from the Alumni Film Competition – Lenny Morris vs. The Universe, by Evan Powers (‘10). A private reception with the filmmakers was followed by the film screenings and a Q&A moderated by Bruce Sheridan, chair of the Film & Video Department. See the photos!

Recap of Columbia Night 2010:  

Columbia night 2010 featured the winning films from the first annual Alumni Film Competition. Shown were Naveen Chathappuram’s ('00) film CA$H, starring Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings) and Chris Hemsworth (THOR). CA$H is a quirky psychological dramedy that explores the power money wields over people. Also shown was Michael David Lynch’s ('05) winning short film, Swerve. A Q&A with the filmmakers, cast, and crew followed the screening. 

Recap of Columbia Night 2009:

The first-ever Columbia Night at the Chicago International Film Festival featured a Private Sneak Preview of Chicago Overcoat, which went on to have its world premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival. Chicago Overcoat was written, directed, and produced by Beverly Ridge Pictures, a Chicago-based company started by several young Columbia College alumni. The feature film, a gangster story about an aging mob hitman with a chance to reclaim lost glory, stars Frank Vincent, Kathrine Narducci, Mike Starr, Danny Goldring, Stacy Keach, and Armand Assante.

Watch the Columbia Night 2009 video

NBC 5’s coverage of Columbia Night 

Our film & video students describe their own work Culture of Production – Love What You Do – Choose Your Path – Collaboration – Discovery.