CKC Showcases the Independent Filmmakers Coalition, Sept 30th

CinemaKC will salute the Independent Filmmakers Coalition of Kansas City, Thursday, September 30 at the Screenland Crown Center beginning at 7:00 p.m., with a screening of “Works In Progress” from director Stephen Pruitt and continuing with a 9:00 p.m. screening of “Last Breath,” from director Ty Jones.

The showcase will be preceded by an informal mixer at 6:00 p.m.

Each film will conclude with a Q&A from the filmmakers who will be in attendance. Admission requested for one – or both – films is $10.00 for general public and $5 for students and IFC members with ID.

“We at CinemaKC are looking forward to continuing the momentum from our phenomenal premiere two weeks ago,” says founder John Shipp. “That event brought so many great people together, and proved that the film industry is on the upswing in our region. An amazing amount of information was shared and I think many collaborations began that evening. It is exactly what we’re hoping for as CinemaKC continues to reach out to our community through great filmmaking.”

Beginning in 1994 with fewer than 10 members, the IFC-KC membership now numbers in the hundreds. Today’s representation incorporates a near-equal number of male and female members encompassing a wide ethnic mix. Videographers, screenwriters, producers, directors, actors, musicians, editors, lighting technicians, make-up artists, and set designers sink in to the theater chairs to network, laugh and learn at the Westport Coffee House every Wednesday night.

“The IFC is a non-profit organization promoting regional independent film, video and media production,” says President Brian Boye. “We provide a setting for education, artistic expression, networking, and cooperative sharing of resources to anyone with an interest in filmmaking.” Since the time of their humble beginnings, IFC members have made nearly 2,400 short films and over 25 feature films, which have screened at the coffee house space, as well as at regional, national, and international film festivals. Several IFC films have won awards and been accepted into prestigious festivals and screenings.

IFC member Stephen Pruitt’s “Works In Progress,” a relationship drama, has played several film fests around the country, including this spring’s Kansas City FilmFest, where it sold out two screenings. Robert Butler of the Kansas City Star called the independent film “a marvel” and wrote “it may be one of the best-looking $100,000 first films ever.” The film plays at 7:00 PM, followed by a Q&A with Pruitt and other filmmakers in attendance.

IFC long-time member Ty Jones has made numerous shorts through the organization, and now brings his horror thriller “Last Breath” for the first screening in the area since a sold-out event at Kansas City FilmFest. Last Breath has won or placed in the first three national festivals it has played, with an audience award for Best Feature at the Omaha Film Festival, an Honorable Mention at the Dances With Films Festival in Los Angeles, and most recently won the jury prize for Best Feature at the Estes Park Film Festival in Colorado.

As well as the periodic showcases at Screenland Crown Center, CinemaKC will encourage alliances between area filmmakers at its website, cinemakc.org. The organization will be heavily reliant on social networking to connect the various film and related associations by hosting space on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Future showcase screenings will include other strategic partners of CinemaKC (see box for a current list). The list is expected to grow as more organizations get involved. CinemaKC is an initiative of the Film Society of Greater Kansas City, connecting with movie lovers since 1991.

For more information contact John Shipp at 816-718-4337 or  email john@filmrow.com.