BEFF 2010 - Entry Form & Guidelines Available

The 2010 Black Earth Film Festival guidelines and submission forms are available now. Please click on the links below to obtain them.

BEFF 2010 Guidelines
BEFF 2010 Entry Form


Black Earth Film Festival: September 2010 in Galesburg, Illinois - Be There!

C'mon Down to the Big, Big Show!

Black Earth Film Festival: Sept. 17-19, 2009 in Galesburg, Illinois - Be There!

BEFF 2009 FULL SCHEDULE

Black Earth Film Festival
2009 Film Schedule

CLICK HERE for printable schedule (PDF format)

September 17th
7:00 pm
The Box (corner of Simmons & Kellogg, downtown Galesburg)

The Birthday Party
A father on his second tour in Iraq; a mother trying to keep her children safe; a son on the brink of manhood; a daughter anticipating her tenth birthday; a party that will change their lives forever.
Veronique Doumbe
(7 min.)

Ragman
This is Emmy award-winning director Dale Ward’s adaptation of National Book Award recipient Walter Wangerin Jr.’s short story. This is a classic story about unconditional love and self-sacrifice that follows businessman Will, who on his quiet walk to work meets the mysterious Ragman with his call of “New rags for old!”. Will shadows the Ragman as he moves through the city encountering the broken people that inhabit it, and in the process learns about life, hope and redemption.
Dale Ward
(19 min.)

Bienvenidos a Fleischmanns - An Immigrant Community in Rural America
In 1986, Mexican immigrants moved to upstate New York looking for a safer and more tranquil way of life after deteriorating economic conditions, crime, and inferior schools where they lived lead them to find a better life. Twenty years later, these families have assimilated into the community through successful businesses and the success of the second generation children in the local school system. The village of Fleischmanns is a bright spot of hope as two cultures reach out in friendship and understanding.
Jessica Vecchione
(61 min.)

The Atom Smashers
The Atom Smashers chronicles the search for the Higgs boson: a yet-undiscovered subatomic particle that could explain how matter – and therefore life – can exist. To find this "god particle", top physicists at Fermilab use the Tevatron, a four-mile-long, forty-year-old particle accelerator buried beneath the Illinois prairie. However, a new more powerful accelerator at Europe's CERN laboratory looms on the horizon.

Part science, part international competition, and part human drama, The Atom Smashers watches its captivating characters in and out of the laboratory as they race along the intersections of politics, culture, and the possibility of the discovery of a lifetime.
Clayton Brown and Monica Ross
(73 min.)


September 18th
7:00 pm
The Box (corner of Simmons & Kellogg, downtown Galesburg)

Without
What happens when you meet the man who's carrying a piece of your soul?
Brent Bishop & Gregory Tuzin
(12 min.)

Le Chat Noir (The Black Cat)
This film is based on a short story by Edgar Allen Poe. In the deep heart of a blurry, cryptic summer, Anthelme is waiting for a package that will finally allow him to complete his model train circuit. But the cat breaks the train circuit and vanishes... Then the train circuit breaks again. Is it the cat? If so, where is the cat? Anthelme gradually loses his mind.
Tristan Convert
(14 min.)

Land Gewinnen (Gaining Ground)
Andrej and his family have been living in Germany illegally for years. When his son reaches school age, he cannot hide any longer. Mischa´s future is at stake.
Marc Brummund
(21 min.)

Life Passion Death
In the small town of Callosa de Segura, Spain, Angela prepares for her imminent wedding. Angela studied journalism, became a writer, and now travels around the world for a travel magazine. Her life-long boyfriend, Francisco, has asked her to return home and marry. A few weeks prior to the wedding against her mother's advice, Angela decides to visit three friends in New York City. While in New York, Angela meets a successful Wall Street banker who falls in love with her at first sight. Life will be unpredictable for Angela.
Maria Angeles Escudero
(91 min.)

The Zombeatles: All You Need is Brains
The Zombeatles: All You Need is Brains chronicles the rise and fall of The Fab Gore – Jaw Nlennon, Pall Ickartney, Gorge Harryson and Dingo Scarr. The film is hosted by Angus MacAbre, Scotland’s Funniest Zombie Comedian.
Doug Gordon
(23 min.)


September 19th
1:00 pm
Carl Sandburg Historic Site
In the Barn

Signs of the Time
Where did baseball hand signals come from? In exploring this seemingly simple question, this feature-length documentary unveils stories of inspiration and controversy that transcend sports. Narrated by Richard Dreyfuss, the film unravels the mystery surrounding baseball’s greatest innovation. Signs of the Time is sure to delight baseball fans of all ages. More than that, the film explores our need to interact with those around us, even in the face of adversity.
Don Casper
(60 min.)

After the Island
Allen is a drug-slinging hustler. Rosalyn is a heroin-addicted shoplifter. Their lives are so entangled in the correctional system that it's hard to remember where they went wrong. But for these two petty criminals, getting out of New York City's Rikers Island is another chance to finally turn their lives around. It won't be easy. After the Island offers a gritty glimpse of the challenges facing ex-offenders as they try to re-enter society.
Todd Dayton & Bret Sigler
(61 min.)

Autism: Made in the USA
Autism. What is it and why is it on the rise? In this feature length documentary presentation, award winning executive producer Gary Null is on a quest to reveal the true causes and promising solutions for the recent dramatic increase in autism in our children.
Gary Null
(100 min.)


September 19th
7:00 pm
Carl Sandburg Historic Site
In the Garden

Easter Video 2009
The Easter Bunny needs help. He has developed the 'Fat Syndrome' and is sick. He is unable to deliver his Easter candy and needs the assistance of a trusted helper (a.k.a. Bunny). Bunny gains popularity from his new role as the Easter Bunny's helper and becomes too popular. Rivalry between the two rabbits occurs. There is only room for the true Easter Bunny. Who will prevail and at what expense?
Hunter Smith
(10 min.)

Tah-Dah
One bug… One farmer… And the cello that brought them together.
Stacey Chomiak
(3 min.)

Reach
A tiny robot is given the gift of life with only one limitation…the length of his power cable. When a curious bird appears at the workshop window, his lust to live outside of his reach may be his demise.
Luke Randall
(4 min.)

Quiet Zone
The Cedar Creek Café’s downfall gives rise to the Quiet Zone’s success.
Tom Engebretson
(2 min.)

The Spam Job
Four friends. Three suspects. One can of meat. The unbelievably true story of a prank that started at Montana State University, traveled the world, and ended almost a decade later.
Padraic Culham
(13 min.)

6 Days
Pizza maker Michael Moretti has six days to pay off a $500,000 debt to the mob. If he doesn't come up with the money, they burn down his pizza house and kill his best friend.
Jim Leo
(88 min.)

Slice of Pie
Gleaned from Rick Hall’s small town stories called “spellbinding” by the New York Times, “Slice of Pie” is a romantic comedy with an unlikely hero, Carter. It is a cinematic slice of life chock full of bittersweet moments set against a back drop of quirky locals that Carter grew up with, and oh yeah, a dead dog named Burt. Humorous and heartfelt, this touching film reminds you to always save room for a Slice of Pie.
Tim Reischauer
(35 min.)

ON SALE NOW!!!

Don't stand in line for tickets - buy your passes now to the 2009 Black Earth Film Festival! Purchase an entire Festival Pass for only $25 or individual passes for each session. Save $20 by buying a Festival Pass!

For a complete schedule with descriptions of all the films at this year's BEFF, click HERE.

Click on the "Buy Now" button for the pass you'd like to purchase and you will be redirected to our secure Paypal site.

WHOLE FEST PASS $25

THURSDAY NIGHT PASS $10

FRIDAY NIGHT PASS $10

SATURDAY AFTERNOON PASS $5

SATURDAY NIGHT PASS $10

Black Earth Film Festival: Sept. 17-19, 2009 in Galesburg, Illinois - Be There!

Bigger, Better, BEFFIER...?

BEFF will be back in 2009 with lots of new films, new venues and new surprises.

Mark your calendars: September 17-19, 2009.

The Film Committee is hard at work in our hardened Film Bunker where we do nothing but view films and plan wonderful plans to make the BEFF Experience the Best Experience for our faithful festival fans and friends.

We also work on our alliteration.

As we finalize our schedule and plans, we'll be posting more information here and at our regular website, so please check back frequently.

Black Earth Film Festival: Sept. 17-19, 2009 in Galesburg, Illinois - Be There!

With the first night of BEFF 2008 already done, we are really excited! The turnout for our "Local Showcase" was incredible and the support of the crowd was really inspiring. Thanks to all for coming and for the good words - we really appreciate it.

Don't forget that we've got even more films as we start BEFF 2008 - Part II. We've got an evening of edgier, underground films on Thursday, September 18 (again at the Sandburg Mall Cinema). Then a night of all Illinois films and filmmakers, under the stars and on the lawn at Knox College. Finally, an entire day at the Carl Sandburg Birthplace, inside and out, with almost twelve hours of film fun. Bring a picnic or enjoy some of the food provided by Budde's of Main St.

See you there!

Black Earth Film Festival: Sept. 13 & 18-20, 2008 in Galesburg, Illinois - Be There!

BEFF 2008 Schedule!!!

Quickly! Go now and check out the 2008 Black Earth Film Festival Schedule. You'll find detailed information on every film in every session at every venue. Plan your BEFF experience!

Black Earth Film Festival: Sept. 13 & 18-20, 2008 in Galesburg, Illinois - Be There!