Chicago nightclub and cabaret performer Daryl Nitz will serve as the master of ceremonies Saturday at the 16th annual Elgin Short Film Festival at The Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way.
The six finalists will be screened at the event, which will get underway with a red carpet arrival at 6 p.m. Categories include live action and animation, with finalists vying for the top prize of $1,000 and trophies, according to the event’s Facebook page.
Winners will be selected by a panel of celebrity judges. Audience members will cast votes for their favorite film.
This year’s finalists are:
- “Cottage Grove,” a live action film, directed by George Ellzey Jr., about a young man struggling to communicate with his stroke-afflicted father while staying true to himself.
- “Little Pink House,” an animated short, directed by Olivia Comai and Rachel Dohner, examines how queer people transform their surroundings to build realities that are softer, safer and focused on radical joy.
- “The Bullfighter,” a live action comedy, directed by Giselle Bonilla, follows a former bullfighter who gets a job as a flag-waving parking attendant to stage a redemptive final bullfight.
- “Into the Reds Tale,” an animated short, directed by Alisdair Zhang, has a mimic creature enter the story of “Little Red Riding Hood” and disguises itself as her, tricking the Big Bad Wolf into walking into a trap.
- “Chasing June,” is a live action drama, directed by Shelby Slager and Alana Areyzaga, about a man who returns to his hometown. He tries to reconnect with a high school friend as they recount the details of a car accident that took another friend’s life.
- “Stain,” a live action short, directed by Antonio Arias, about a young painter who travels through Cicero with stolen products in hopes of cashing in before meeting with his significant other.
Tickets to the festival, including the red carpet reception, are $10 and may be purchased at the Hemmens box office, online at www.hemmens.org or by phone 847-931-5900. For virtual tickets, call the box office.
