Judson’s Imago Film Festival kicks off Monday

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

When Terrence Wandtke’s students submitted some of their class projects, the associate professor of art and media studies at Judson University in Elgin was so impressed, he wanted to showcase them so more people could experience the faith-based films.

So he created the Imago Film Festival, now in its seventh year and scheduled to run Monday through April 1 at the school’s Marjorie Hall Thulin Performance Hall.

“We wanted to connect faith and film ... and we weren’t necessarily looking for films with Jesus as the main character or an altar call at the end,” Wandtke said. “We wanted to encourage faith and people’s spiritual walk ... we wanted it to be a learning experience ... this is much different than going to the cineplex for a movie and forgetting about it when you leave.”

The deadline for submissions has passed, and entries have come in from all over the world. Films must be less than 30 minutes long for consideration.

Wandtke said film festivals have become more common in the United States than they were 25 years ago, so he wanted to make sure Imago Film Festival would be distinctive. Each year the Imago Film Festival screens short- and feature-length films, and features two keynote speakers — a filmmaker and a film critic.

This year, Judson University will welcome David Nixon, producer of “Facing the Giants,” “Fireproof” and “Letters to God,” and Jeffrey Overstreet, author of “Through a Screen Darkly” and past film editor for Christianity Today.

Film critic J. Robert Parks will discuss “Where the Wild Things Are,” the full-length film that will be screened at the festival. Original films, presented by their filmmakers, will be judged by local university film professors and industry professionals.

An awards ceremony will be held on the final night of the festival, featuring food, live music, a keynote speech and screenings of all award winners. Cash prizes will be given to first-place winners in 1- to 15-minute films; 16- to 30-minute films; audience choice; and best in show.

Festival tickets are $5 for Monday through Thursday and $8 for Friday’s award ceremony; a full-event pass is $12. For Judson students and faculty, tickets are $2 for Monday through Thursday and $4 for Friday’s award ceremony; a full-event pass is $6. Events begin at 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at 6 p.m. Friday.

“Traditionally, we have drawn from those people who are connected in one way or another to Judson University,” Wandtke said. “A large component is the student body and supporters. We also draw on the local area, so Elgin and Crystal Lake, and we promote it through churches.”

The theatre, which holds 150, is typically full for some of the event nights, he said.

Judson University senior Ben Richardson, his brother Jon Richardson, and friend Ben Gustafson were featured at the 2010 Imago Film Festival with their seven-minute feature film “The Walker.”

“It starred Charlie Hultman, an actor we hired from Barrington, and our budget was actually zero,” said Elgin resident Gustafson, a home-schooled senior. “It was shot over five days, and it was kind of abstract.”

The story centered on an elderly gentleman’s walker, which he leaves outside as he shops. Unbeknownst to him, the walker is used by several people for a variety of purposes, and when the man returns to the walker, it appears just as he left it.

“It was a fun story, and basically we’re saying, ‘Watch what happens behind your back.’ Half of life, you never know what goes on behind your back,” Gustafson said.

Gustafson said the Imago Film Festival was the most diverse film festival he’s ever experienced. “There were films from Japan, India and Sweden, and we met a missionary from Japan who invited us to be on his crew next time he films in Japan. It was great to talk to people who do film all over the world.”

More information is available at www.imagofilmfestival.com.