Aurora's fourth annual City of Lights Film Festival begins Friday at 6:30 p.m. with a screening of Adult Children, followed by a Q&A with producer Mark Glassgow. The opening event is at The Venue, 21 S. Broadway Ave. in downtown Aurora, with additional screenings scheduled there Saturday.
The City of Aurora, IL, Government announced the opening-night details on Facebook, and Patch also reported on the lineup and location. According to the city's post, Adult Children was directed by Rich Newey and written by Annika Marks and was set and filmed in Chicago and the north suburbs. Five Two One Films describes the 100-minute comedy-drama as the story of half-siblings brought together by a family crisis, including a 17-year-old high school senior who turns to her much older half-siblings for help with her college essay.
The cast includes Ella Rubin alongside Betsy Brandt of Breaking Bad, Thomas Sadoski of The Newsroom, Aya Cash of The Boys, and Mimi Rogers, per Five Two One Films. Before arriving in Aurora, the film had a festival run, according to the studio's materials. The film's other festival screenings are not detailed here.
Producer Mark Glassgow Joins for Post-Screening Q&A
Following the opening night screening, producer Mark Glassgow will visit with attendees, according to the City of Aurora, IL, Government. Glassgow is identified as the film's producer participating in the Q&A.
Opening-night ticket holders can attend an after-party from 8:30 to 10 p.m. at Craft Urban Aurora, 41 S. Stolp Ave., with a complimentary cocktail, Patch reports. The City of Aurora, IL, Government also lists Craft Urban as the post-screening gathering site.
Saturday Brings Four Screening Blocks
Saturday's program spans four screening blocks at The Venue: How to Build A Library at 11 a.m.; six student short films at 1:30 p.m.; a 25th-anniversary screening of Moulin Rouge at 4 p.m.; and eight short films at 6:45 p.m., according to Patch. The outlet reports that most participating student and short-film makers are expected to attend for live audience Q&As.
The Venue is the festival's downtown screening site. Attendees should check the venue's access information before arriving.
A Festival Built to Grow Aurora's Film Footprint
The City of Lights Film Festival is in its fourth year. The festival's program for this year's event appears in the City of Aurora, IL, Government's post. The festival's broader impact on Aurora's arts district is not detailed here.
The article does not detail any Illinois film-tax-credit legislation.
Aurora is known as the City of Lights. The article does not detail the nickname's origin. The article also does not detail how the city uses downtown areas to drive cultural tourism.
Statewide film context and visitor information
The Aurora festival is a local screening and community event, distinct from Illinois' statewide production incentives. Separately from the festival, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity says film and television tax-credit applications must be submitted at least five business days before principal photography begins in Illinois. The department's annual report says qualified productions may hire vendors including caterers, security companies, hotels, restaurants, parking garages and office-rental providers, illustrating the broader range of businesses connected to production activity.
For visitors planning to attend, The Venue Aurora says its ADA entrance is accessible via Mundy Park. Accessible parking is available on Downer Street, Water Street and in municipal parking lots.
