Filmscape Chicago 2027

Productions have the opportunity to get a total of 40% tax credit with the new Illinois Film Office 5% tax credit uplift for green filmmaking. Andrea Staley, Sustainability and Clean Power Consultant, and Ellen White, Founder of Ecofixr, are here to teach you how. We will walk you through the scoresheet so you can see how you can earn the required 70 points. From Circular Economy to Clean Energy Power Planning, there are so many paths you can take to clean up and cash out!

How do directors and composers establish a shared creative vision before a project begins? This panel brings together filmmakers and composers to discuss the conversations, expectations, and strategies that help lay the foundation for a successful film score.

Jay Holben and a team of directors discusses how directors make decisions on lenses and other tools to bring their vision to the screen.

Learn the basics of film loading for 16mm and 35mm. We’ll teach you proper procedures and techniques, including how to load various types of magazines, proper logging and labeling, creating a system, and so much more.

This class walks filmmakers through how to read a script through a production lens and begin identifying the elements that shape a real shooting schedule. We will cover breakdown basics, production logic, scheduling priorities, and how early prep decisions affect the shoot. The goal is to give directors, producers, ADs, and emerging crew a practical understanding of how a script becomes a plan.

In today’s fast-paced creative landscape, success in production is no longer just about individual talent... it’s about the communities we build and support. This panel dives into the concept of ‘rising horizontally,’ exploring how collaborative networks and mutual championing can lead to more sustainable, impactful, and successful projects. Panelists will share real-world examples—from established creatives like Issa Rae, Ryan Coogler, and Jordan Peele to grassroots initiatives like the mixtape challenge—demonstrating how publishing work and supporting one another opens doors for everyone.

Learn the basics of film loading for 16mm and 35mm. We’ll teach you proper procedures and techniques, including how to load various types of magazines, proper logging and labeling, creating a system, and so much more.

We'll be discussing how lens selection can impact, shape, and hone the feelings and emotions of visual work, as well as how to practically run a lens test, and most importantly how to extrapolate your findings into descriptive, evocative, and communicative language suitable from pre-production all the way into post-release Q+A's. This class is meant for intermediate to working professional level filmmakers, and will build on some common foundational information Directors, DoP's, and other visual artists will have already formed some opinions on.

***A friendly reminder: you must have a Pixquid account to attend this event.  Don't have one? No problem! Head over to pixquid.com to create a free account and come back to this page to get your event ticket. ***

We're grateful for another year to celebrate the independent film excellence! Thanks to our partners and sponsors to make this year's event more accessible. Registration is FREE with a Pixquid account.

Tentative Schedule:
5p-7p : Voting begins (Need a ballot? Select "2 Raffle Tickets + Ballot" or any “Voting Ballot” option)
5p-6p : Munch and Mingle [Food and (1) drink ticket provided. Cash bar after]
6p-6:30p : Opening Remarks and Pixquid Presentation
6:30p-7p : Nominee Presentation, Voting closes at 7p
7:30p : Award Winner Announcements
8p : Afterparty (TBA)

Informal question and answer session with Chicago based union Cinematographers

Getting a film made is hard enough. Getting it ready for distribution requires a different kind of preparation. This practical session will walk indie filmmakers through legal and business essentials that can make or break a distribution opportunity: how E&O insurance affects deliverability, why chain of title matters, what fair use does — and does not — protect, the role of AI in contracts, and the practical materials distributors expect filmmakers to have ready.

Light is the primary messenger of the cosmos, teaching us almost everything we know about the universe and our place in it. In this session we'll dive into the (astro)physics of light, and the cutting-edge cameras that are used on telescopes to capture and process it.

Join us for a deep dive into the career of a renowned image maker who has filmed some of the most popular IMAX films of all time (Blue Planet, Hubble 3D, Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey). James is a prolific photographer and cinematographer who also devotes his time to teaching the crafts. Since 1988 James has trained over 150 astronauts and cosmonauts to shoot IMAX films in space.

Learn the basics of being a set lighting technician and what it takes to be an asset in the lighting department.

Strategies, Tools, and Workflows for Lighting & Navigating all the information on Complicated Shows

For the best experience, download Vectorworks Nomad ahead of this class - click here for Android - click here for IOS

As a veteran Chief Lighting Technician in the film industry, Len has been utilizing Vectorworks and Set LogicTM for over two decades. In line with a perpetual desire to collaborate efficiently

with cinematographers and fellow department heads, he has utilized Vectorworks as a critical multifaceted design and communication instrument to put forth his vision with clarity. Len’s set lighting can be seen in BAFTA and Academy Award winning or nominated films Avatar: The Way of Water & Fire & Ash, Marriage Story, The Butler and Steve Jobs. Len’s contributions to television include Emmy Award winning titles like Fallout S2, Star Trek: Picard S2 & S3, Westword S1 & S2, Lessons in Chemistry, among over forty other motion picture projects.

Using free DAW (digital audio workstation) and free sound sample libraries to score your film.

This workshop will focus on how you as a filmmaker can maintain the quality of your project, while staying under budget and having fun. I am going to share some tips on how to direct/produce with joy, positivity, and practicality, all the while being frugal with cash.

Learn directing from the author of _The Director’s Guide to Everything._ This workshop will take you through breaking down a script, blocking a scene, working with actors and crew - all from the standpoint of a director. Jay will guide you through the scene in a few different ways to show various approaches to the same material.

Sick of freelancing? Learn how to turn your hobby into a career. We are bridging the gap between creative passion and actual business strategy.

The Takeaway: No fluff. You will walk away with an exclusive resource list and a clear action plan to take control of your business today.

Join us for a quick "where to start, how to keep going, and what not to forget" workshop. Attendees will have an opportunity at the top to ask questions, that Winter will then address in the course. Following the session will be an optional paired notes session, in which attendees will read and provide feedback to each other on a few pages of script.

Learn the basics of film loading for 16mm and 35mm. We’ll teach you proper procedures and techniques, including how to load various types of magazines, proper logging and labeling, creating a system, and so much more.

The class will cover the basics of film festival submissions for first time filmmakers. Including were and how to submit, how to plan your submissions strategy and other topics regarding film festival submissions for first timers.

Learn about my process as a commercial cinematographer, from preproduction through execution on shoot day. Explore how prep influences creative and technical decisions, then watch them come together in a live lighting workshop.

Join our panel of rental house leaders, presenting live at Filmscape Chicago and live-streamed. We invite production personnel and crew to gain behind-the-scenes insights into how and why you should have great relationships with rental companies. Get a better understanding of what rental companies do within the production ecosystem that you might not know about.

This session shows filmmakers how AI can support real creative and production workflows without replacing the filmmaker, the crew, or the decision making process. Brett Hayes and I will focus on practical uses of AI tools to create solutions for production workflow problems. The class is designed to help attendees understand AI as a useful support tool for building stronger systems and asking better questions.

Having the right tool for the job is key. When you need to get a shot from a tight space, the Sony Rialto Mini is so small it can capture shots with such high quality that weren't possible before. DP Trina Mulligan will premier a short doc using this camera and break down the process behind the shoot, talking through choosing the rights tools for your shoot.

This class focuses on agency representation. Wanting to know how to get (SAG-AFTRA) representation? What should your actor package look like? Wanting to know how to send a proper introduction email for representation? Or how to prepare for your representation meeting? You name it, Talent Agent Joey Joelle of SCE Agency will answer all of your questions when looking for and having agency representation.

In this engaging session, we will explore the intricacies of location management and the delicate balance between enhancing storytelling and considering practicality, budget, and creative vision. Discover the indispensable art of scouting, securing, and managing locations for film and television productions.

Once a script reaches the funding stage, it goes from a creative tool to a business asset.

But so many talented filmmakers don’t know how to find and qualify for funding, so they’re forced to bootstrap, crowdfund, or pay in pizza.

This interactive session breaks down how to raise money by applying the same capital stack principles taught to startups and CEOs. Through a short presentation and Q&A, filmmakers will explore what it means to:

Think beyond the creator’s seat.

Understand what makes a project legible to production capital

Match their project to aligned funding opportunities

Layer different funding sources strategically

Build toward their raise goal with a stronger equity position

Filmmakers leave with a different understanding of funding and a stronger strategy for getting to production so they can make the movies they love.

Actionable strategies to transition from aspiring creative to industry professional. Learn how to adapt existing experience, enhance your industry knowledge, find job opportunities, and maximize your network.

This is a 30-minute educational class for producers and line producers on how to organize a production, so the Illinois Film Tax Credit claim is straightforward at wrap. It walks through the Day 1 setup decisions — payroll, talent, vendors, and petty cash — that drive whether spend qualifies, and it reflects Illinois law as amended by SB 1911 (signed Dec 12, 2025; effective for accredited productions starting on or after July 1, 2025). The deck closes with a single-page Day-One checklist producers can take back to their teams, and is framed as educational only — not tax advice.

This discussion explains the distribution process, what to expect, challenges and opportunities and best practices to navigate this highly competitive landscape. We'll cover understanding the use of AI content, dealing with (or bypassing) agents and new opportunities for untraditional distribution.

Learn the basics of film loading for 16mm and 35mm. We’ll teach you proper procedures and techniques, including how to load various types of magazines, proper logging and labeling, creating a system, and so much more.

We talk about the process of working with a sound team as a creative and other roles in production and post-production. We give an insider look to what it's like on our day to day and how we prepare to give your project the best sonic experience while also working with the visual medium.

The Office Production Assistant is the entry level position that is the launchpad to many film & television industry career paths. Learn what the job is, the skills required to succeed and how to maximize the opportunity towards your industry career goals. Possible hands on activity included -TBA.

Productions have the opportunity to get a total of 40% tax credit with the new Illinois Film Office 5% tax credit uplift for green filmmaking. Andrea Staley, Sustainability and Clean Power Consultant, and Ellen White, Founder of Ecofixr, are here to teach you how. We will walk you through the scoresheet so you can see how you can earn the required 70 points. From Circular Economy to Clean Energy Power Planning, there are so many paths you can take to clean up and cash out!

How do directors and composers establish a shared creative vision before a project begins? This panel brings together filmmakers and composers to discuss the conversations, expectations, and strategies that help lay the foundation for a successful film score.

Learn the basics of film loading for 16mm and 35mm. We’ll teach you proper procedures and techniques, including how to load various types of magazines, proper logging and labeling, creating a system, and so much more.

This class walks filmmakers through how to read a script through a production lens and begin identifying the elements that shape a real shooting schedule. We will cover breakdown basics, production logic, scheduling priorities, and how early prep decisions affect the shoot. The goal is to give directors, producers, ADs, and emerging crew a practical understanding of how a script becomes a plan.

In today’s fast-paced creative landscape, success in production is no longer just about individual talent... it’s about the communities we build and support. This panel dives into the concept of ‘rising horizontally,’ exploring how collaborative networks and mutual championing can lead to more sustainable, impactful, and successful projects. Panelists will share real-world examples—from established creatives like Issa Rae, Ryan Coogler, and Jordan Peele to grassroots initiatives like the mixtape challenge—demonstrating how publishing work and supporting one another opens doors for everyone.

Learn the basics of being a set lighting technician and what it takes to be an asset in the lighting department.

Informal question and answer session with Chicago based union Cinematographers

Getting a film made is hard enough. Getting it ready for distribution requires a different kind of preparation. This practical session will walk indie filmmakers through legal and business essentials that can make or break a distribution opportunity: how E&O insurance affects deliverability, why chain of title matters, what fair use does — and does not — protect, the role of AI in contracts, and the practical materials distributors expect filmmakers to have ready.

Light is the primary messenger of the cosmos, teaching us almost everything we know about the universe and our place in it. In this session we'll dive into the (astro)physics of light, and the cutting-edge cameras that are used on telescopes to capture and process it.

Join us for a deep dive into the career of a renowned image maker who has filmed some of the most popular IMAX films of all time (Blue Planet, Hubble 3D, Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey). James is a prolific photographer and cinematographer who also devotes his time to teaching the crafts. Since 1988 James has trained over 150 astronauts and cosmonauts to shoot IMAX films in space.

Learn the basics of film loading for 16mm and 35mm. We’ll teach you proper procedures and techniques, including how to load various types of magazines, proper logging and labeling, creating a system, and so much more.

Strategies, Tools, and Workflows for Lighting & Navigating all the information on Complicated Shows

For the best experience, download Vectorworks Nomad ahead of this class - click here for Android - click here for IOS

As a veteran Chief Lighting Technician in the film industry, Len has been utilizing Vectorworks and Set LogicTM for over two decades. In line with a perpetual desire to collaborate efficiently

with cinematographers and fellow department heads, he has utilized Vectorworks as a critical multifaceted design and communication instrument to put forth his vision with clarity. Len’s set lighting can be seen in BAFTA and Academy Award winning or nominated films Avatar: The Way of Water & Fire & Ash, Marriage Story, The Butler and Steve Jobs. Len’s contributions to television include Emmy Award winning titles like Fallout S2, Star Trek: Picard S2 & S3, Westword S1 & S2, Lessons in Chemistry, among over forty other motion picture projects.

Jay Holben and a team of directors discusses how directors make decisions on lenses and other tools to bring their vision to the screen.

Having the right tool for the job is key. When you need to get a shot from a tight space, the Sony Rialto Mini is so small it can capture shots with such high quality that weren't possible before. DP Trina Mulligan will premier a short doc using this camera and break down the process behind the shoot, talking through choosing the rights tools for your shoot.

This class focuses on agency representation. Wanting to know how to get (SAG-AFTRA) representation? What should your actor package look like? Wanting to know how to send a proper introduction email for representation? Or how to prepare for your representation meeting? You name it, Talent Agent Joey Joelle of SCE Agency will answer all of your questions when looking for and having agency representation.

In this engaging session, we will explore the intricacies of location management and the delicate balance between enhancing storytelling and considering practicality, budget, and creative vision. Discover the indispensable art of scouting, securing, and managing locations for film and television productions.

Once a script reaches the funding stage, it goes from a creative tool to a business asset.

But so many talented filmmakers don’t know how to find and qualify for funding, so they’re forced to bootstrap, crowdfund, or pay in pizza.

This interactive session breaks down how to raise money by applying the same capital stack principles taught to startups and CEOs. Through a short presentation and Q&A, filmmakers will explore what it means to:

Think beyond the creator’s seat.

Understand what makes a project legible to production capital

Match their project to aligned funding opportunities

Layer different funding sources strategically

Build toward their raise goal with a stronger equity position

Filmmakers leave with a different understanding of funding and a stronger strategy for getting to production so they can make the movies they love.