11th Annual Chicago Underground Film Festival August 18 24, 2004 at 3Penny Cinema http://www.cuff.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "What you get for your money is not just admission to the films but admission to a subculture" -Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Chicago Underground Film Festival is devoted to the work of film and video makers with defiantly independent visions. As an alternative to old guard,market-driven festivals, we create our own niche for works that dissent radically (in content and technique) from both the bushed conventions of Hollywood and the mounting torpor of IndieWood. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "It oftentimes takes as long as a decade for film festivals to become established with audiences and moviemakers alike, but in just six years, the Chicago Underground Film Festival transformed itself from a hole-in-the-wall operation focusing almost exclusively on local product to the largest underground film fest in the country, with films and tapes being submitted from around the globe. The reasons, of course, are savvy programming and solid marketing." -- John Petrakis, The Chicago Tribune ------------------------------------------------------------------ History Jay Bliznick, a Columbia College film student who was fed up with exclusivism in the film festival circuit, founded CUFF in 1994. He enlisted partner Bryan Wendorf to work with him and create a festival for the kind of films they wanted to see, primarily films that the established festival circuit, under domination by distributor product, refused to show. Their first 3-day event was an undeniable success. The festival developed under a committee of creative minds and the strong support of the Chicago community. Along with the meaningful increase in both film submissions and attendance each year, CUFF has become a major stop on the international festival circuit. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Id like to think the work Chris Gore and I did at Film Threat helped inspire the lunatics behind CUFF but now theyre the ones inspiring me. Its not just a great "underground" festival but a great film festival PERIOD." -- Dave Williams, Former Editor Film Threat Video Guide ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Films featured at CUFF to receive national theatrical distribution include: MEN CRY BULLETS (Phaedra Cinema), PERFECT BLUE (Palm Pictures), BETTER LIVING THROUGH CIRCUITRY (Seventh Arts), THE ACID HOUSE (Zeitgeist), LIVE! NUDE! GIRLS! UNITE! (First Run) and THE AMERICAN ASTRONAUT Some of the many films that we loved: SURRENDER DOROTHY (Slamdance and NYUFF winner, selected by Roger Ebert for the first Overlooked Film Festival), THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION PART 3 and WE SOLD OUR SOULS FOR ROCK & ROLL by Penelope Spheeris (dir. of WAYNE'S WORLD), DRIVER 23 by Rolf Belgium, selected for the 2000 Whitney Biennial, and MIGRATING FORMS, BACK AGAINST THE WALL by James Fotopoulous (CUFF alumi) 3 films released by Facets and 2 films in the 2003 Whitney Biennial. For actors as well, past CUFF film featured performancers include: Jerri Ryan (STAR TREK: VOYAGER), Belinda McClory (THE MATRIX), Ewen Bremmer (TRAINSPOTTING), Mary Lynn Raajskul (THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW, 24) and Amy Sedaris (STRANGERS WITH CANDY). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In 1998 CUFF established the Chicago Underground Film Fund, a grant program to aid independent filmmakers with completion of their work. 2000 grant recipient THE WEATHER UNDERGROUND (bySam Green and Bill Siegel) premiered at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival and was a 2003 Academy Awards nominee for best documentary. Other CUFF FUND recipients include:STRAIGHTMANN (by Ben Berkowitz and Ben Redgrave) LIVE! NUDE!GIRLS! UNITE! (by Julia Query) and HITLERS HAT (by Jeff Krulik and Diane Bernard). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "I had the best time of my life at this festival. Your lives are so much better than all those people who think theyre having a good time in Hollywood." --Penelope Spheeris, Director of Decline of Western Civilization, Part 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11th Annual Chicago Underground Film Festival August 18 24, 2004 at the 3Penny Cinema This years fest will host a brew of independent features, shorts, documentaries and experimental films; amplified by film panels, workshops and nightly concerts. www.cuff.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CUFF is a grassroots, non-profit organization ------------------------------------------------------------------------ National and International media coverage includes: New City The Independent Film & Video Monthly Film Threat Film Threat Video Guide Moviemaker Filmmaker The Chicago Reader The Chicago Tribune MSNBC-online WBEZ (NPR) WXRT Radio WLUP Radio Pulse (Tower Records) Rolling Stone online Addicted To Noise indieWIRE IFC (Bravo) Weekly Variety American Cinematographer Details Movieline Punk Planet Pop Smear Micro-Film Raygun Black Talent News Juxtapoz Ten by Ten Magazine Trash Times XLR8R Cashiers Du Cinemart The New York Times Windy City Times Gab Performink The Onion Fringecore (Netherlands) Reflections (Russia) Splatting Image (Germany) Headpress (U.K.) Lumpen Magazine Supersphere.com FilmZone Shock Cinema New York Independent Film Monitor Screen Magazine Vanity Fair Sponsorship Opportunities 2004 PRODUCING PARTNER SPONSOR - $35,000 _ Denotes sponsor as "Official Sponsor" of a particular item, i.e. Official Car or Official Airline. _ Thirty second trailer shown with Chicago Underground Film Festival trailer. Sponsor provides trailer. _ Chicago Underground Film Festival Award in sponsor©Ęs name. _ 1st tier position on Festival posters and flyers for all year-round screenings and events. _ Banner display in theater lobby, Hospitality Lounge and at Festival parties during festival week and during year round screenings and events. _ Sponsorship of Opening Night Party and Awards. _ Logo on Festival badges. _ Program full-color back cover ad. _ Logo prominently featured on festival preview guide insert. _ Company exhibit booth for entire festival week, or host of two seminars featuring company's products/services. _ Company's marketing brochures on display at Sponsorship table in theater lobby during festival week. _ Program listing. _ Web site banner ad with hotlink in June, July & August. _ Recognition on all Festival press releases. _ 10 Festival passes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PRESENTING SPONSOR - $10,000 _ Logo on Chicago Underground Film Festival trailer - full screen. _ 2nd tier position on Chicago Underground Film Festival poster. _ Chicago Underground Film Festival Award in sponsor©Ęs name. _ Banner display in main screening room and at Festival Official Parties _ during festival week. _ Preferred placement for full-color ad. _ Logo featured on festival preview guide insert. _ Company exhibit booth for three days during festival week or sponsorship of festival party. _ Company's marketing brochure on display at Sponsorship table in theater lobby during festival week. _ Program listing. _ Web site banner ad with hotlink in July & August. _ Recognition on all Festival press releases and materials. _ 8 Festival passes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PREMIERE SPONSOR - $6,000 _ Trailer logo - 1/2 split screen. _ Company Banner displayed in theater lobby during festival week _ 3rd tier position on Festival poster. _ Program full page B/W ad. _ Logo featured on festival guide insert. _ Company exhibit booth in theater lobby for 3 days during festival week. _ Company's marketing brochure on display on Sponsorship table in theater lobby during festival week. _ Program credit. _ Web site logo/link. _ 6 festival passes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ BENEFACTOR - $3,000 _ Trailer logo - 1/3 split screen. _ Company Banner displayed in Theater lobby during festival week. _ 4th tier position as 1 of 15 on Festival poster. _ Program full page B/W ad. _ Logo featured on festival guide insert. _ Exhibit booth in theater lobby for two days during Festival Week. _ Company's marketing brochure on display at Sponsorship Table in theater lobby _ Program credit. _ Web site logo/link. _ 6 festival passes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PATRON SPONSOR - $1,500 _ Trailer logo - 1/3 split screen. _ Program full page B/W ad. _ Logo featured in festival preview guide insert. _ Company's marketing brochure on display at Sponsorship table in theater lobby _ Program credit. _ Web site logo/link. _ 4 festival passes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ADVERTISING SPONSOR - $1,000 _ Program full page Black & White ad. _ Trailer credit. _ Website logo. _ Program credit _ 2 festival passes ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PROGRAM ADVERTISING * Full page color ad - $1,000 * Full page B/W ad - $500 * Half page B/W ad - $ 250 * 1/4 page B/W ad - $175 * 1/8 Page $125 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HOSPITALITY SPONSOR Goods or services donated for festival operations. Sponsorship level determined by value of donation. Contact Sponsorship Coordinator or Festival Director for more information. ________________________________________________ MEDIA SPONSOR Print, television, radio or internet advertising donation to festival. Sponsorship level and benefits determined by value of advertising properties. Contact Sponsorship Coordinator for more information. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ AWARD SPONSOR $1,000 per award _ Chicago Underground Film Festival Award in sponsorĘs name. _ Your company©Ęs product or service given to winning filmmakers with award. _ Recognition of company during awards ceremony. AUDIENCE AWARD SPONSOR $ 1,500 All Award Sponsorship benefits with addition of sponsorĘs logo printed on audience award ballots, sponsor signage at voting kiosk and inclusion in Audience Award ad in Festival Program. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2005 CALL FOR ENTRIES SPONSOR $2,000 _ Program full page B/W ad. _ Trailer credit _ Program credit _ Website Logo. _ Sponsors ad included on 2005 festival applications ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2005 CHICAGO UNDERGROUND FILM FUND SPONSOR $5,000 _ Program full page B/W ad. _ Trailer credit _ Program credit _ Website Logo. _ Sponsors ad included on 2005 film fund applications ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WEBSITE ADVERTISER * Banner Ad on Home Page July, August, September - $2,000/month (over 30,000 hits per day during festival week.) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EVENT SPONSORS Opening Night Party, Awards Ceremony/Closing Night Party, Festival Concert, Bowling Party & More * $5,000 for Opening or Closing Night or Festival Concert * $2000 for all other events * Guest list for event. * Logo on party invitation. * Logo on Chicago Underground Film Festival trailer - split screen. * 2nd tier position on Chicago Underground Film Festival poster. * Premiere banner placement at party. * Product placement at party. * Program full page B/W ad. * Company's marketing brochure on display at Sponsorship Table * Program listing. * Website banner ad with hotlink in July & August. * Recognition on all Chicago Underground Film Festival press releases. * 4 Festival passes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Festival Dates - August 18 - 24 2004 SPONSORSHIP CONTACT: Bryan Wendorf Festival Director ph: 773.480.4881 E-mail: info@cuff.org