Special Guests

On opening night, March 5, 2009, distinguished filmmaker
Lech Kowalski will present the US premiere of his latest film, CAMERA WAR , accompanied by a live performance by composer Mimetic.
While at CIMMfest, Mr. Kowalski will present the US premiere of his documentary UNFINISHED, and the Chicago premiere of
EAST OF PARADISE, winner of Best Documentary at the Venice Film Festival.

-Q&A after the screening of his film ASHES OF AMERICAN FLAGS
Brendan Canty is a New Jersey-born musician and filmmaker. Best known as the drummer for punk band Fugazi, he's also played with artists such as Bob Mould and Ted Leo. He composes soundtrack music for Discovery Channel and Learning Channel documentaries. In 2004, he and director Christoph Green founded the Trixie DVD label, which has produced a series of music-related films.

-Gallery opening reception, Friday, March 6 @ 6:00, Th!nkArt Salon

Legendary rock photographer Richard Bellia will be showing select work from his award winning catalog of photography at Th!nkArt Salon Friday March, 6th for the festival's opening night reception. He will be present opening night at the gallery for Q&A and general conversation.

Richard Bellia lives in Lyon, France and works as a columnist for Rock&Folk magazine. In addition, he contributes his talents as a reporter on the TV channel ARTE Culture.

Critics rave "...beautiful...you can find Robert Smith with no make up on, the Chemical Brothers in a pharmacy, Morrissey during his golden years and a Ramone getting a blowjob."
- Alice Géraud - Libération (november, ‘07)

-Opening night: Live DJ accompaniment for CAMERA WAR

Jerome Soudan started music at the age of 5 years old in the Conservatory of Chambery France. He learned orchestral percussions, clarinet and acoustic and electronic drums. He obtained a Master degree of Musicology of the 20th century at the University of Lyon France with congratulation of the jury in 1993. He worked with numerous composers such as Kasper T.Toeplitz for the GRM (Maison de Radio France) and rock bands such as LES TETINES NOIRES and VON MAGNET. In 1998 he started his own solo project named MIMETIC and in 2000 he settled in Geneva Switzerland and began to work with the contemporary rock and new music formation ART ZOYD in France. He has composed for dance performances, installation pieces, and live musical accompanyment for films.

-Opening night: Live VJ editing accompaniment of CAMERA WAR

Geneva, Switzerland based artist and co-founder and art director of the Mapping VJ Festival, Boris Edelstein has been exploring the live video medium since the mid 90's. Performing VJ sets in venues for over ten years. These experiences evolved into the conception and co-creator of the computer based real time video software modul8. Since its first release in 2005 modul8 is fast becoming one of the leading VJ software packages for real time video performance.

Odile Allard – producer for CAMERA WAR & EAST OF PARADISE (France)
Carsten Fiebeler – director of OST PUNK: TOO MUCH FUTURE (Germany)
Isaiah Saxon, Sean Hellfritsch & Daren Rabinovitch of ENCYCLOPEDIA PICTURA
Taylor Cohen, Otto Arsenault, & Jason Buim–producers & director (Todd P Goes to Austin)

Anthony Brancaleone–director (A Detroit Thing) Michael & Cheryl Stich ( America's Lost Band)
Nicholas Brancaleone -- producer( A Detroit Thing) Burt Kearns–director (The Seventh Python)
Cyndi Moran–director (It's In The Blood) Lucy Munger, director (Exit Wound)
Eric Scholl–director (It's In the Blood) Jodie Mack–director (Yard Work is Hard Work)
Robban Hagnas–producer (Family Meeting) Suree Towfighnia–director (Tampico)
Sergio Myers–director (Becoming Pony Boi) Benedetta Marassi -- producer (Cherubino)
Shanti Masud–director (But We Have the Music) Paola Marino-director (Cherubino)