CineYouth 2024 presents 65 short films across 10 programming blocks featuring everything from uproarious comedies to depictions of activism in action to highlights from the Chicagoland area. Plus, CineYouth features two workshops focused on activism in film and creative collaboration through editing, live filmmaker QandAs, and more! Tickets and all events are free and open to the public.

Schedule of Events:

April 19,2024

7:00pm - Opening Night: Chicago Lens - 68 minutes

Synopsis:

Watch the city breathe life into the stories of ten local young filmmakers. From documentaries to music videos, this program represents the city’s long-term love affair with art and culture.
Please note: Films in this program contain themes, images, and language that may not be suitable for all ages.

Young
Jacob Sutton, Adelaide Wilson - Chicago - Ages 21 & 22
Shot on Super 8 Vision 3, this music video compiles stop-motion, vignettes, and performance to showcase a coming-of-age ballad.

Lisa
Laya Bena Hartman & Jiaxin Wei - Joliet - Age 21
Rising young basketball star Lisa Thompson navigates expectations on and off the court as the number one-ranked player in Illinois.

Once Upon a Time… In Aztlan
Andres Carlos - Chicago - Age 20
An abstract exploration of history, belonging, memory, and knowing from an immigrant perspective.

So There’s This Girl
Isis Gullette - Chicago - Age 18
Young and unrequited love between two friends reaches a breaking point, rendering their relationship’s future uncertain.

I Can No Longer See
Raine Yung - Chicago - Age 22
A self-portrait of trauma, dilemma, objectification, and relief told through a collection of experimental shorts.

Dissonance
Jason Hart - Chicago - Age 22
Struggling to grieve the loss of a family member, a young boy spirals into self-harm before finding relief in an unlikely source.

All My Friends Are Nineteen
Jadyn Proulx - Chicago - Age 19
The friendships and intimacies (and lack thereof) that color the life of a 19-year-old college student.

Coloring Through the Eyes of Youth
Olivia Santiago - Chicago - Age 16
Go in-depth with an After School Matters program that guides teens through crafting murals for the Belmont-Cragin community.

How to Spot a Heterosexual
Adamson Novak - Chicago - Age 21
A parody PSA that focuses on the real threat walking among us.

Fruit Math
Sam Friedman, Casey Wangman, Maddie Morse, Ryan Magrisi - Evanston - Age 21
One man’s wacky quest to solve a basic math problem spirals into chaos.

 9:00pm - Friday Night Frights - 60 minutes

Synopsis:

An array of frights await in this assortment of horror films. These shorts from around the world tap into our most primal fears and darkest secrets in unique, uncanny, and inventive ways.
Please note: Films in this program contain themes, images, and language that may not be suitable for all ages.

Artist on the Go: DS Advanced Unreleased Gameplay
Nathan William Frost - Montgomery, Illinois - Age 17
A surreal, nightmarish game in which the player or the viewer is confronted with abstract and frightening tasks to complete.

The Body
Justine Borlagdan - Philippines - Age 20
An abstract tone poem, which uses the human body as a landscape for a variety of sensations and processes.

Rat King
Róisín Leavy-Sahin - Ireland - Age 18
A young boy’s affinity for a dead rat brings dire consequences to himself and his local community.

The Veiling of a Heart
Jess Nipperess - Australia - Age 18
Devout Catholic Miriam is forced to choose between forbidden romance and religious obligation.

AMPM
Charlie Li - China - Age 23
An obsessive workaholic pits his wits against a loud drummer in a battle for peace and quiet.

April 20,2024

11:30am - Access Granted: Creativity and Tools for Inclusive Filmmaking
What is needed to make your short film accessible to all audiences? What creative choices are available when planning these elements? Learn how to incorporate accessibility tools into your workflow from pre-production to post, allowing for broader engagement with your work. Discover different methods you can use to create audio descriptions and get an early look at a new AI-powered tool for creating captions in Adobe Premiere Pro.

Panelists
Matt Lauterbach
Editor, Accessibility Producer

Reveca Torres
Artist, Filmmaker, Accessibility Advocate

Moderated by Christy LeMaster, CineYouth Director

1:00pm  - Imagination Adventure: Family Friendly

1:00pm - Imagination Adventure: Family Friendly

Synopsis:

The journey of growing up is an adventure filled with boundless possibilities and endless imagination. Eight young filmmakers from diverse backgrounds showcase their incredible talent and creativity in this all-ages program, transforming the screen into a vibrant cinematic playground.

Baby Boot (Botitas)
Lorence - Mexico - Age 21
In order to protect her favorite baby boots, Valery embarks on a playful “Baby Boots Battle” with her school.

Be Mine, Mime
Mathew Sharifi - California - Age 20
In a world devoid of color, sound, and hope, a mime and a young man fall in love, bringing vibrancy to each other’s lives.

Submerged
Neo Sky James - South Carolina - Age 18
As a boy explores the ocean in his dream, his joy fades when he uncovers human-induced perils beneath the once-clear waters, sparking his determination to take action.

Brushstrokes
Simon Finkel - Highland Park, Illinois - Age 17
As a painter who awakens colors in the grayscale world, a young boy, on his first day of work with his father, seems to have unconventional ideas.

The Spelling Bee
Katherine Ramirez - Chicago - Age 16
Preparing for the spelling bee, high schooler Barry stumbles upon a lucky winning clue.

Daydreamers
Yanely Castellanos - Chicago - Age 19
After discovering a mysterious map, two lively sisters embark on a magical treasure hunt and discover a reward better than gold at the end of the path.

Downwind
Nathan Rivers - Canada - Age 19
Obsessed with launching paper airplanes, Milly’s playtime ignites conflict between mother and daughter.

Broccoli Chase
Carter D. James - Chicago - Age 11
A little girl dreams of fleeing and dodging the dreaded broccoli.

2:30pm - Odysseys: Drama - 63 minutes

Synopsis:

Follow along on the eclectic journeys of vibrant characters as they face the trials and tribulations of their lives. Travel back to 1940’s France, race alongside a fugitive teen, or come of age with a crew of misfit girls in this selection of bold and inventive works by the next generation of narrative storytellers.

Please note: Films in this program contain themes, images, and language that may not be suitable for all ages.

The Damp Season
Olivia Huilin Gao - New York - Age 21
In this drama about family ties, a young girl comes across the teenaged version of her immigrant mother from whom she has long been estranged. A newfound empathy for her mother leads them to reconnect.

Caterpillars House (Lou, notre maison s’envole)
Juliette Balthazard - Canada - Age 22
A young girl, soon to move away from her hometown, runs away with her best friends. But as each friend slowly abandons the plan, the girl is forced to accept her reality and the heartbreak of losing friendships.

Recollect
Eli Akio Williams - California - Age 16
A boy wakes up in a desert with no recollection of what happened to him. He hitchhikes back to town and comes to a horrifying realization as he begins to remember the actions that led him to this car.

Space Coast
Caroline Bates - Florida - Age 21
A group of friends come to terms with the end of childhood in a dying tourist town home to the former space program.

On the paths awakened (Sur les sentiers eveilles)
Axel Dahan - France - Age 17
In WW2 France, two teenagers are employed to deliver messages for the Resistance. Their journey will be long and arduous and not without moral dilemma, but they must push on, for liberty’s sake.

4:00pm - Frames of Reference: Documentary - 53 minutes

Synopsis:

These six incredible shorts function as a window into diverse forms of the human experience, highlighting courageous expressions of identity, examples of uplifting community, and insightful responses to common misconceptions.

Please note: Films in this program contain themes, images, and language that may not be suitable for all ages.

The Heel
Sofia S. Lomax - Connecticut - Age 22
Jules Daddio, also known as Skylar Grey, is an up-and-coming female wrestler from North Haven, Connecticut. Jules paints a picture of the professional wrestling ecosystem and grapples with the history of women’s progress in the sport.

Blind Sighted
Mitch Davila Armendano - Colorado - Age 14
Mitch, Jaden, and Stevie, three young students with visual impairments who attend the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, detail common misconceptions and their struggles for accurate representation.

Fursona
Aly Labbe-Hervieux - Canada - Age 21
In Pessamit, Canada, Aly reflects upon the importance of their fursona, Dexter. Dexter helps Aly bring joy to others through his extroverted and social attitude.

The Capoeristas
Mariel Mudrik - Chicago - Age 21
A group of Chicagoans find companionship in the Brazilian martial art of Capoeira, exploring how it connects them not only to their community but also to their lost heritage.

Brucey
Ayan Khalil Shammmalakh - State of Palestine, Saudi Arabia - Age 19
This multimedia documentary follows Brucey–sailing slang for anchor–and his family as they give insight into the fishing trade and their connection to the ocean in Gaza.

7:00pm - Thinking Funny: Comedy - 62 minutes

Synopsis:

Navigating life and tragedy, these hilarious stories showcase characters in absurdist situations of all kinds. Thrown into the trenches of the human experience, our characters rise victorious holding the holy grail of humor in their hands.

Please note: Films in this program contain themes, images, and language that may not be suitable for all ages.

Goodbye Herman
Ryan Santia - California - Age 18
As Ryan shares the news of his departure, Herman comes to terms with this unexpected change in their friendship.

Ladke
Sruchi Patel - California - Age 22
In a twist of the classic Cinderella story, Saloni seeks out the boy with the flyest Nikes having never seen his face.

first date?
Kylie Ramirez - Chicago - Age 21
Dropped in the throes of Gen Z dating culture, Sammy and Kari explore the different facets of romantic relationships through their scintillating discussion.

Contagious Swagger
Calvin Callins Jr. - Florida - Age 21
While Jeffrey tries to make the best impression on his girlfriend’s parents, his shoes prove to be an unexpected ally in the situation.

Body of Christ (Mi primera comunion)
Ángel Villahermosa - Spain - Age 22
As Pablo falls in love with the altar boy Sebastián, he finds that God has become an obstacle to their relationship in more ways than one.

The Murder
Alex Dymalovski - Australia - Age 20
About eight minutes before her murder, a woman takes us on a journey to confront her killer’s arduous masculinity.

8:30pm  - Chronically Online - 57 minutes

Synopsis:

Can you stomach the seedy underbelly of the web? Take notes from a generation born and dying on the internet, as they confront memories of cringe, arrogance, and obsession.
Please note: Films in this program contain themes, images, and language that may not be suitable for all ages.

Basura
Aries C. Ferrer - Philippines - Age 22
A compilation of strangers’ deleted phone videos paints a moving portrait of contemporary life.

Too Much Sand
Rosso Pérez Bueno - Sweden - Age 21
As a toxic substance slowly ravages a celebrity’s body, the question left to ask is, how far would you go for the advertising money?

I, Chinese
Peter Leung - New York - Age 22
An influencer’s racist commodification of his culture leads to an uncomfortable confrontation– with consequences that he never saw coming.

Ibex rebirth
Elijah Valter - Chicago - Age 22
Through pixelated and saturated images, an entity constantly surveys the world. Before it drifts off to sleep, it imagines a novel future.

AMPM
Charlie Li - China - Age 23
An obsessive workaholic pits his wits against a loud drummer in a battle for peace and quiet.

April 21,2024

11:30am – 1:30pm - Creative Leadership: Taking Care of Collaborators

Making a film takes many hands and talents. What are some of the things directors and producers can do to make sure everyone communicates well, stays energized, and creates the best work possible? From preparing for physical contact between actors, to establishing good vibes on set, to communicating clearly about roles and compensation, this discussion will start you thinking about how to be a creative leader people are always excited to work with.

Panelist
Kelly O’Sullivan
Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter

12:30pm  - Pen, Pencil, Pixel: Animation - 47 minutes

Synopsis:
Across these ten shorts, you’ll find no single genre, theme, or medium, but you will find fantastical worlds, disarming emotional honesty, and vibrant displays of creativity. Whether drawn by hand, sculpted with clay, or animated digitally, these inventive shorts are sure to entertain and inspire.

Please note: Films in this program contain themes, images, and language that may not be suitable for all ages.

Kaine Interception
Johnny White & Harry White - Colorado - Ages 16 & 14
In this Lego stop-motion actioner, secret agent Kaine and his mysterious new partner April race to interrupt a jewel heist.

La infancia
Jesús García Nuño de la Rosa & Emiliano Reyes - Spain - Age 22
A man in a dark house is surrounded by an ethereal forest. Animals wander, children play, and fires burn. Is any of this real?

Weathered
Patrick Jang - California - Age 16
Teenagers share stories of adversity, resilience, and personal transformation in vulnerable interviews supported by vivid animation.

Attack of the Living Clay
Jackson Milott - Evanston, Illinois - Age 16
In a tiny household world, a clay man improvises ingenious, violent methods to fight off a horde of zombies.

Why so blu
Danielle Arianna Picernos - Chicago - Age 22
Blue brushstrokes on film capture life and loss.

Trigonometry’s Ultimate Method to Putting the Fun Back in Your Own Funeral
April Aquino - Chicago - Age 22
Trigonometry’s untimely death inspires him to go out with one last hurrah, crashing his own funeral.

Twenty Twenty Three - To The Lighthouse
Chengyu Li - Ohio - Age 16
Drowning and stressed, a high school student asks herself, “Am I going crazy?”

Treasure Haunt
Carlos Lerma - Chicago - Age 20
Longing for a single hug, a man traverses all boundaries and drinks the ghost potion, flying towards his love.

Headlands
Cecelia Clare - California - Age 20
Waves of nostalgia wash over an old woman as she dives deep into the water of her youth.

Echoes in the Sand
Miles Isgrig - New York - Age 22
Hell-bent on finding his parents, Peter rebels against his robot guardian, bounding toward the voices in the desert.

Snake
Lewis Fuller Hill - Australia - Age 22
In a heartfelt visual letter penned to his mother, a man dreams of her voice and of snakes in a field.

2:00pm - Time and Texture: Experimental - 61 minutes

Synopsis:
Some rules are made to be broken. Singular and diverse experiences of identity, sensation, isolation, and time are translated into stunning images and sound. The resulting seven films play like something of a dream, capturing the feeling of being alive as only cinema can.
Please note: Films in this program contain themes, images, and language that may not be suitable for all ages.

Scared
Children Laboratory ATOM - Kyrgyzstan - Ages 10-14
A group of young people share their deepest fears using paper dolls and masks.

From the Void of Time
Lok Yiu Wong - Hong Kong - Age 21
Two jailed men conjure hazy, summery renderings of time and memory.

After Love
Chris Derek Van - Chicago - Age 19
In city apartments, an 18-year old and a middle-aged man form an intimate bond amid shared isolation.

The Shadow Puppet
Macsen Russel - United Kingdom - Age 21
A static, black and white window into the interior world of a man who believes himself to be a murderer.

Diegesis
Zahni D’Angelo Gulbronson - Chicago - Age 19
Aimless on an empty beach, a wandering man tends to the bird in his pocket.

Misophonia
Caitlin Lenz - Iowa - Age 20
A multimedia representation of the daily overwhelm of living with a sensory-processing disorder.

Build me through the image (construyanme a traves de la imagen)
Paula Hung - New York - Age 20
Mutliracial identity, queerness, and the construction of both are explored through archival footage and family artifacts.

3:30pm - Odd, Very Odd - 45 minutes

Synopsis:
Expect the unexpected in these colorful, wildly offbeat shorts. In this utterly unique showcase, a cast of eccentric characters (both on camera and behind it) will dash every expectation of tone, performance, and good taste– and you’ll be all the better for it.
Please note: Films in this program contain themes, images, and language that may not be suitable for all ages.

Picnic in the Clouds
Malik Clyde Terrab - New Hampshire - Ages 20
After decades of marriage, Connie is ready to be rid of her husband George. She plans a special anniversary picnic accordingly.

The Pilot
Max Hendrickson & Gerry Sweeney - Ireland - Age 18
A man enters a vaguely familiar sitcom apartment… with extremely unfamiliar results.

A Little Strange
Joanna Song - California - Age 20
Increasingly unsettling changes disrupt Ernest’s idyllic, repetitive life.

Academy
United Kingdom - Age 20
A disgraced dancer returns to her former academy to set the record straight…and settle a score.

The Hive Wedding
Sam Kerns - Chicago - Age 22
Socialite Mizzy summons a host of eccentric friends and strangers to her family’s dilapidated nightclub for her wedding.

 6:00pm - Chicago Lens - 68 minutes

Synopsis:

Watch the city breathe life into the stories of ten local young filmmakers. From documentaries to music videos, this program represents the city’s long-term love affair with art and culture.
Please note: Films in this program contain themes, images, and language that may not be suitable for all ages.

Young
Jacob Sutton, Adelaide Wilson - Chicago - Ages 21 & 22
Shot on Super 8 Vision 3, this music video compiles stop-motion, vignettes, and performance to showcase a coming-of-age ballad.

Lisa
Laya Bena Hartman & Jiaxin Wei - Joliet - Age 21
Rising young basketball star Lisa Thompson navigates expectations on and off the court as the number one-ranked player in Illinois.

Once Upon a Time… In Aztlan
Andres Carlos - Chicago - Age 20
An abstract exploration of history, belonging, memory, and knowing from an immigrant perspective.

So There’s This Girl
Isis Gullette - Chicago - Age 18
Young and unrequited love between two friends reaches a breaking point, rendering their relationship’s future uncertain.

I Can No Longer See
Raine Yung - Chicago - Age 22
A self-portrait of trauma, dilemma, objectification, and relief told through a collection of experimental shorts.

Dissonance
Jason Hart - Chicago - Age 22
Struggling to grieve the loss of a family member, a young boy spirals into self-harm before finding relief in an unlikely source.

All My Friends Are Nineteen
Jadyn Proulx - Chicago - Age 19
The friendships and intimacies (and lack thereof) that color the life of a 19-year-old college student.

Coloring Through the Eyes of Youth
Olivia Santiago - Chicago - Age 16
Go in-depth with an After School Matters program that guides teens through crafting murals for the Belmont-Cragin community.

How to Spot a Heterosexual
Adamson Novak - Chicago - Age 21
A parody PSA that focuses on the real threat walking among us.

Fruit Math
Sam Friedman, Casey Wangman, Maddie Morse, Ryan Magrisi - Evanston - Age 21
One man’s wacky quest to solve a basic math problem spirals into chaos.

Date: April19-21, 2024

Location:
Facets, 1517 W Fullerton Ave
Chicago, IL 60614

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