IFP/Chicago held its third Annual Independent Film Gala September 25th at the WIT Hotel in Chicago. It was the most successful gala yet proving the third time is a charm. All proceeds will go to expand IFP/Chicago’s services and programs serving filmmakers and the filmmaking community throughout the Midwest including a mentorship program. For the past five years the IFP/Chicago mentorship program has produced an entirely student-created film each year with underserved students at Chicago Vocational Career Academy. IFP/Chicago’s Mentorship films have won two Student National Emmy Award’s making CVCA only the second school in history to be awarded a national Emmy two years in succession. The added success of this year’s gala enables IFP/Chicago to continue with their valuable mission. Kicking off the evening was a small VIP gathering screening a montage of the many accomplishments of this year’s honoree Towers Productions International. TPI has produced over one thousand hours of factual and entertaining programs to the U.S. and international television networks including A&E Animal Planet The Biography Channel CNN Discovery Channel and History Channel. At the main event emcee LeAnne Trotter local NBC entertainment reporter guided guests through gala festivities. The guest host of the evening producer Effie T. Brown shared her experience with IFP’s mentorship program recognizing the program helped her get where she is today. Her credits include such films as Real Woman Have Curves Stranger Inside Rocket Science and many more. One of Brown’s most recent projects Polish Bar was filmed in Chicago. Pictured: Colleen O'Neill director of development for IFP/Chicago Amy Dorris-Hulth president of Two Muses Media & Entertainment Ryan Jewell director of IFP/Chicago and Stephanie Rabiola of IFP/Chicago. Photo by Eugene Feygen. IFP/Chicago www.ifpchicago.org
