Third Coast International Audio Festival :: HAPPENINGS :: Filmless Festival

Third Coast Festival
Navy Pier
848 East Grand
Chicago, Illinois
60611-3509

312-948-4682
info@thirdcoastfestival.org

intro

The 2011 Third Coast Filmless Festival stretched from 10am to 10pm, October 23rd, at the Joffrey Tower (Joffrey Ballet's rehearsal studios) in downtown Chicago. Throughout the day, radio stories were presented "in the dark" in two packed rooms. Carefully curated screening blocks explored themes like "Escape Velocity," "Two to Tango," and "Crossed Signals."

Screenings

After each screening, a featured producer was invited up for a Q&A session - thanks to Jad Abumrad, Samara Freemark, Jonathan Goldstein, Chris Johnson, and Nick van der Kolk for traveling from far and wide to be there. Jonathan Goldstein also presented a few of his trademark radio stories served up live with delightful visual accompaniment, in "Turn the Dark Back On: Sorry I Look Like Me." And after "And the Envelope Please," producer Andy Mills joined forces with indie band Hudson Branch for a live performance of his documentary Kohn.

Scroll down further to watch an example of our "audio trailer," which played at the beginning of each screening.

lobby Hoopla

Besides all that radio, we kept things lively in between screenings via Lobby Hoopla. Attendees sought advice from equipment/tech guru Jeff Towne, and took home audio souvenirs + photo strips from the Sonicbooth. They mingled with our 2012 ShortDocs Challenge partner, EveryBlock. Then after a full day of listening in the dark, they looked on, in awe, while dancers in Nick Cave's Soundsuits shook and shimmied their way around the room.

Grand Finale

The 2011 TCFF culminated with our annual Awards Ceremony, with host Peter Sagal from NPR's Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me, and musical accompaniment from Third Coast (no relation!) Percussion. Throughout the evening, Eight awards were bestowed upon some of the most talented producers working in radio today. Then we partied on a boat.

outro

And that about sums it up! Thanks to all who came, and a few folks who especially helped along the day's success - Jason Ward, soundman extraordinaire, Matt Lauterbach and Dann Tincher, producer and animator of the beautiful DVD reels that screened in each room, Julia Doherty and John Kurtz from the Joffrey Ballet, and Delaney Hall, who provided crucial uber-support in our pulling the day together.

p.s.

Here's how each screening began. Throughout the hour, Pidgey traveled around the Filmless land, visiting a different city per each radio story. Click on the four arrows to view in full-screen glory!

Katie Mingle produced the audio for our "audio trailer", and Matt Lauterbach and Dan Tinncher crafted the beautiful animation. Thanks to Jay Allison, for his eloquent radio wisdom.

P.P.S.

Sorry if you missed the 2011 TCFF - stay with us, because we'll bring it back in fall, 2013. In the meantime, if you're interested in bringing the TCFF to your town, just say the word. Have screenings, will travel.