Chicago Southland International Film Festival Goes Virtual in Third Year

Contact: Suzanne Patterson

Governors State University

Email: spatterson3@govst.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

University Park, IL – Governors State University’s Chicago Southland International Film Festival (CSIFF) is pleased to announce its transition to a virtual platform for this year’s third annual event scheduled for October 23-25, 2020.

Festival Co-founders Suzanne E. Patterson and Joshua E. Young recently selected 46 film selections for the 2020 CSIFF international short film competition with the creative input of the committee, comprised of a team of pre-screeners and judges.

 In a move to protect the films from web-based piracy, Young said the committee is working with vendors that offer a built in digital rights management system. “Geofencing technology also limits where the films are able to be screened from, if necessary,’’ he said.

Patterson added the virtual event allows the committee to advance its mission to support and participate in sustaining an intellectually stimulating public square in the safest way possible.

“While we won’t be set amidst GSU’s beautiful, art-abundant campus this year, we welcome our virtual audience to enjoy a diverse and vibrant array of films sure to entertain, inspire and transport,” she said.

Q&A sessions with filmmakers and guests will be taking place virtually, live and pre-recorded.

The mode of film delivery is not the only thing that will be changing for this year’s festival. With the shift to virtual audiences, the festival committee is also working to restructure pricing to keep tickets affordable. One option requests only a donation with a set minimum.

More information about the festival is available on the Chicago Southland International Film Festival website or on the CSIFF Facebook page.

The School of Extended Learning, Digital Learning and Media Design, The Knowledge Exchange, and an Intellectual Life Grant from the GSU Library sponsor this event.