The inaugural City of Lights Film Festival is set to launch this November in Aurora, as stated on the City of Aurora's Facebook page. The festival is to include films that have been featured in notable festivals such as Cannes, Tribeca, Berlin, and Chicago International Film Festivals throughout the year.
To take place on the evening of Friday, November 3, and the afternoon and evening of Saturday, November 4, the two-day festival is set at four easily accessible downtown Aurora locations. Audiences can expect six feature films, including both documentaries and narratives, along with 12 engaging short films ready for broad release.
"Bike Vessel," directed by Eric D. Seals, is among the full-length documentaries, telling the story of his father's survival of three quadruple bypass surgeries, and his subsequent passion for cycling. Other film highlights include "Canary," which profiles climate change advocate Dr. Lonnie Thompson, and the Tribeca Film Festival star "Rounding," a psychological horror by Chicago native Alex Thompson.
An interesting array of short films, all under 20 minutes, such as "Agustina," "Ball People," "Daughter of the Sea," "Deciding Vote," "Eco-Hack," "Ethan Lim: Cambodian Futures," "Flip," "Honeybun," "Midwasteland," "Pickle," "The Old Young Crow," and "Underpaint," are all set to steal the spotlight. Detailed synopses of each film can be found on the festival's official website.
The festival will kick off with a red-carpet reception and screenings of short films "Agustina," "Ethan Lim," and "Flip" at Aurora Public Art at the opening night ceremony. This will also be accompanied by an exclusive live interview with renowned director Dustin Nakao-Haider. The second day's schedule includes screenings of individual full-length movies at various spots like the Aurora Regional Fire Museum, Paramount School of the Arts, and Waubonsee Community College.
As described on the festival's official website, multiple ticket packages are available for purchase. This includes an all-access pass costing $35 to cover all film showings including the opening night reception, a full-day Saturday pass priced at $25, and $12 individual film tickets for Saturday. Participants can also opt for sponsorship and volunteer opportunities.
The City of Lights Film Festival is expected to deliver an unforgettable cinematic experience to movie enthusiasts and industry professionals in the City of Lights.
