Shooting in the Midwest

By Rob Christopher in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 5, 2007 4:51PM

No, we are not referring to post-Super Bowl craziness. We're talking about the Midwest Independent Film Festival, whose 2007 season begins tomorrow night at 7:30 at the Landmark Century. It's the only festival dedicated solely to work from the Midwest (thus the name) and best of all, it's year-round! Take that, Sundance! It's always the first Tuesday of each month. The fact that it's at the ultra-comfy Century is like icing on the cake (or marshmallows in the cocoa; choose your own metaphor).

Tuesday night's Midwest Shorts program looks exceptionally good. The headliner is Kubuku Rides (This Is It), directed by Steppenwolf ensemble member Terry Kinney. It's an intense drama of addiction as seen through the eyes of an 8-year-old boy. Also screening are three world premieres and the bizarre stop-motion animated short Cranium Theater, which screened at this year's Slamdance. A Brain Farmer (shown to the right) tends to his brain cabbages even as outsiders pillage his crops.

Oh, and did we mention there's a cocktail reception beforehand at 6:00? And a reception at Sausalito afterwards? And that everything is only $10? Truth be told, it's hard to convince us to be out and about in weather like this, but tomorrow's program is pretty persuasive. By the way, the Festival is also accepting submissions for future screenings; don't be shy, apply.