I still hope to get around to writing about all of these wonderful films, but here is the anticipated lineup for Mental Filmness Live in Chicago next weekend! It’s a winner!
FRIDAY FILM LINEUP- 10/10/25 –
Doors At 6:30, Introduction At 7:00 p.m., Screening Begins At 7:15 p.m.
Motivation (dir. Alanna Bagladi, 6 min.) – “Struggling with everyday tasks is always an uphill battle. Sometimes, we have to find ways to motivate ourselves. Even if it’s just getting out of bed and giving yourself a pep talk.”
Under The Door (dir. Jeffrey Gabriel Silva, 7 min.) – “A woman struggles to separate fiction from reality as shadows emerge from under the door.”
Make Me Feel (dir. S. Knight, 30 min.) – “Jamal, a devoted father and husband, struggles to balance his demanding job and troubled past while secretly battling depression.”
Q & A and Break 8:00-8:30 p.m.
8:30 p.m.: Tales of Harsh Gruder (dir. J. Paul Presault, John Otterbacher) (30 min.) –
“A recovering addict contemplates the point of living, when an unexpected visit by his life-long buddy sets in motion a night of psychedelic absurdity and devastating revelation.”
9:00 p.m. – Q & A and Wrap-Up
Guest filmmakers Alanna Bagladi, Jeffrey Gabriel Silva, S. Knight, and J. Paul Presault and John Otterbacher scheduled to attend on 10/10
SATURDAY FILM LINEUP – 10/11/25 –
Doors At 6:30 p.m., Intro At 7:00 p.m., Screening Begins At 7:15 p.m.
Manic Memoirs (dir. Francesca Gamba, 8 min.) – “A college freshman, Ana Sanchez, unsettles her peers as her racing thoughts and erratic behavior make her unaware of the unsettling effect she has on those around her. Her euphoric highs give way to the terrifying revelation that she is not ok.”
There Is No Word For Depression (dir. Anaya Brainch, 6 min.) – “This short documentary is about the stigma of mental health in South Asian communities. I was 17 years old when I created this film.”
After Thoughts (dir. Cortez Mack, 10 min.) – “An inspirational story about PTSD awareness.”
The Past Is Here (dir. Jim Laczkowski, 6 min.) – “A filmmaker explores the past through various video archives in hopes of making sense of his suicidal ideation.”
Q & A and Break – 7:45 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Next Screening Begins At 8:30 p.m.
Sky Devils (dir. Nick Chirico, 20 min.) – “A surrealist espionage thriller about a shell-shocked WW1 Fighter Ace having paranoid visions that The Second World War is coming.”
8:50 p.m.-9:20 p.m., Filmmaker Q & A And Wrap-Up
Filmmakers Francesca Gamba, Cortez Mack, Jim Laczkowski, and Nick Chirico scheduled to attend on 10/11