From the Director

Welcome to the 25th Annual Big Muddy Film Festival!

Join us as we celebrate a quarter century of bringing independent filmmaking to Southern Illinois. It hardly seems any time at all since 1979, when the first Big Muddy Film Festival was held on March 30th, 31st and April 1st. What began with 45 entries playing to packed houses at the Student Center has now become an eagerly anticipated annual event, attracting over 200 entries, playing at venues all around Southern Illinois and neighboring areas. We have come a long way! This year, we will continue some traditions, and hopefully, create a few of our own.

This year we received about 250 entries from all over the United States and abroad, of which, 58 will be screened at the festival. The entries were an eclectic bunch, covering a variety of ideas and ideologies; from stylistic experimental and narrative films to documentaries covering both contemporary political and personal issues. As usual, the prescreening committees had many difficult choices to make.

Along with the usual narrative, documentary and experimental showcases, we will also be having a special animation showcase. This is the third year that we will be offering the John Michaels Memorial Film Award, a prize that is awarded to the best work promoting human rights, peace and justice, and environmental issues. Our features and midnight screenings have been chosen to attract different interest groups, both in the community and the University.

I hope that you will enjoy our showcases and events, and continue to support us through our next quarter century!

Vaidehi Chitre,

Festival Director