Annual Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival

BWiFF will be presenting its 15th festival at the Classic Cinemas Elk Grove XQ, located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, from April 27-May 6, 2025.

Every year, the festival exhibits over 30 films from around the globe that compete for a variety of awards that range in genre, production, performance, and audience categories. Each film selected for exhibition and competition is screened in one theater over the course of the festival. Judges experience each film for the first time along with the audience. During the festival's week-long run, filmmakers are encouraged to attend and participate in QandA's moderated by a festival judge and any potential filmmaker panels. Each accepted filmmaker will receive two (2) festival passes.

Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival continues to build a reputation for exhibiting rare and compelling independent films while bridging the gap between the film-goer and the filmmaker.

Schedule of Events:

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm: Battersea + Short Selections

Battersea
Feature Narrative
Directors: T.J. Sandella, John Anthony
Country of Origin: United States
Language: English

Estranged siblings reconvene at their childhood home, where they spend a precarious weekend drinking and talking–uncovering the narratives and secrets that have shaped their lives.

Preceded by

Telekinetik
Music Video
Director: George Cederquist
Country of Origin: United States
Language: English

A surreal, moody 10-minute "hip-hopera" about an aspiring vigilante being tormented by a shaman. To tell the story of civilian justice and the violence it leaves in its wake, classically trained Khary Laurent switches between hip hop bars to operatic vocals.

When Everything Was Blue
Short Narrative
Director: Christina Chironna
Country of Origin: United States
Language: English

A heartfelt drama that unfolds through the intimate lens of a home video camera. It tells the story of Luke, a firefighter, and his family, as they navigate the heartbreaking aftermath of September 11th. Capturing the family's everyday moments, juxtaposed against the backdrop of Luke's declining health due to 9/11-related illnesses, the film immerses us in the love, grief, and strength of a family as they confront a system that chooses to ignore the ongoing challenges of a tragedy that continues to shape their lives.

Shouting at the Sea
Short Narrative
Director: Bengamin Verrall
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Language: English

After years apart, Joe and Katherine reunite in the seaside town where they grew up. As they reconnect, they unravel who they've become, finally confronting the unresolved conversation that tore them apart. Although time has changed them, the bond they formed as teenagers holds them together. Observing their journey, the sea itself narrates a tale of memory, belonging, and the fragile beauty of human connection.