Sept. 4, 2024 - Tickets are on sale now for the first Oak Park, Illinois Film Festival (OPILFF), set for Sept. 12 and 14. The event features a screening of "The Abyss" and a showcase of new projects with local influence.
This exciting event on the Village’s calendar begins on Thurs., Sept. 12 with a celebration of Oak Park’s connection to Hollywood. The evening at The Lake Theatre (1022 Lake St.) features a red carpet and gala event to go along with a film co-starring Oak Park River Forest High School alumna Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio.
On Sat., Sept. 14, the festival will showcase local talent with a full slate of special screenings and a panel discussion at the Madison Street Theater (1010 Madison St.). Beginning at 10 a.m., there will be screenings including shorts, animations, documentaries, student films and more. The festival is open to movies of a variety of genres and lengths, each with a local connection, including cast or crew members from Oak Park or a setting or shooting location within the Village. Awards will be distributed across multiple categories, as well.
The OPILFF is a celebration of local movie making talent, with all festival films having a connection to the western suburb through setting, cast, crew or filming location.
Opening night at the Lake Theatre features a red-carpet gala and photo line, and a screening of a special edition of "The Abyss" starring Oak Park’s own Mastrantonio. Tickets cost $25.
Prices for Saturday’s festival screenings, to be held at Madison Street Theater, start at $15 per session, with day passes available for $50 on Sept. 1. Tickets are limited and advance purchase is highly recommended.
Four two-hour sessions will be held across Saturday, including with networking, panels and Q&A sessions. This event for filmmakers and film aficionados will culminate on Saturday night with an awards ceremony across several categories, honoring the best in local talent.
Further information about the festival and ticket sales can be found online at https://www.opilff.org/
For more information about the Oak Park, Illinois Film Festival, including awards, rules and deadlines, please visit https://www.opilff.org/. The 2024 Oak Park, Illinois Film Festival is organized and produced by a committee of volunteers. If interested in supporting the work, please email team@opilff.org.
About Oak Park
The Village of Oak Park, located just nine miles west of downtown Chicago, offers a distinctive urban/suburban lifestyle in a thriving, multi-cultural community. Well-known for progressive values, tree-lined streets and bustling business districts, Oak Park serves as an ideal place to live, work and play. As a longstanding community of choice, the Village benefits from convenient access to local and regional transit, high-quality public schools, and arts and cultural attractions, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio and his acclaimed Unity Temple, which was recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.