Chicago Premiere: Post-Screening Guests + Conversations

 Future Weather premieres in Chicago:

February 2/22 – 2/28 @ Gene Siskel Film Center

Showtimes & Tickets

Post-Screening Conversations

Enjoy nightly discussions with experts exploring some of the film's key themes: science, youth empowerment, climate action and independent filmmaking

Friday, February 22nd 6pm

Filmmaker Q&A with Steve Prokopy, from Ain't it Cool News 

Jenny Deller - Writer-Director-Producer, Future Weather 

Kristin Fairweather - Producer, Future Weather

Steve Prokopy - Editor, Ain't It Cool News
Better known as the film writer "Capone", Steve Prokopy is "the Chicago king of film nerds" and editor of Ain't It Cool News. AICN is dedicated to news, rumors and reviews of upcoming and currently playing films and television projects, with an emphasis on science fiction, fantasy, horror, comic-book and action genres. It combines gossip from anonymous and unverified sources as well as news and reviews.

Saturday, February 23rd 12:30pm

Illinois Math and ScienceAcademy Host Q&A: 
Jenny chats with her high school alma mater about the scientific inspiration for the film.

Jenny Deller - Writer-Director-Producer, Future Weather

Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA)

The internationally recognized Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) develops creative, ethical leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Saturday, February 23rd 7:45pm

Youth Science: Building Relationships, Expanding Opportunities, and Inspiring Personal Transformation

Jenny Deller - Writer-Director-Producer, Future Weather

Gabrielle Lyon - Cofounder & Executive Director, Project Exploration

Dr. Gabrielle Lyon is the Cofounder and Executive Director of Project Exploration, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the face of science by ensuring students of color and girls have personalized experiences with science and scientists. 

Rebecca Daugherty - Assistant Director, Science in Society

Rebecca earned her PhD in cell biology from Northwestern University in 2011. While a graduate student, Rebecca volunteered with the McCormick Boys and Girls Club after-school science program, Science Club, where she developed a passion for working with at-risk youth. She currently serves as the Assistant Director of Science in Society, a Northwestern University office for science outreach and public engagement. 

John Thompson - Guest Lecturer, University of Chicago & Visiting Researcher, Field Museum
John is a retired department chair, science team leader and biology instructor at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy.  He currently is a guest lecturer at the University of Chicago and a visiting researcher at the Field Museum. Previously, he has consulted with schools across the USA and Asia (India and Korea), served as a writer for the Science Standards in Illinois, Chicago and Florida. He also hosts workshops for middle school children at the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University.

Sunday, February 24th 2pm

Green Chicago: Explore Your Environment, Bust Myths & Get Your Hands Dirty 

Jenny Deller - Writer-Director-Producer, Future Weather

Kelly A. Borden - Senior Educator for Citizen Science at Adler Planetarium

Kelly A. Borden is an archaeologist by training but an educator by passion.  After completing a BA in anthropology at SUNY Binghamton and an MA in Public Archaeology at University College London, she decided to pursue a career in museum education.  Currently she works as an educator in the Adler Planetarium's citizen science department as part of the team developing online citizen science projects for zooniverse.org.

Kristen Pratt - Program Coordinator, Chicago Conservation Corps

Kristen coordinates the Chicago Conservation Corps (C3) at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.  C3 recruits, trains, and supports Chicago residents who plan and implement community-based environmental service projects; the current volunteer base includes students and teachers from more than 80 Chicago Public Schools and more than 450 adult volunteers. 

Kate Sackman - Founder & President, EcoMyths Alliance

Kate Sackman is the founder and president of EcoMyths Alliance, a non-profit that busts environmental myths to inspire people to live more sustainably.  EcoMyths™ works with over 20 institutional partners, including the Field Museum of Chicago, Chicago Botanic Garden, and the National Wildlife Federation, to identify common misconceptions about nature and conservation.   

Monday, February 25th 6pm

Strategies for Success: Independent Filmmaking Outside of NYC & LA

Jenny Deller - Writer-Director-Producer of Future Weather

Ruth Leitman - Founder of Ruthless Films, Professor at Columbia College
Leitman has a BFA in Film and Photography from University of the Arts in Philadelphia and has been teaching filmmaking for 14 years. Through her company Ruthless Films, she has directed 6 feature length documentary films that have received funding from Rockefeller Foundation, Paul Robeson Fund, TribeCa Film Institute, Fledgling Fund and Illinois Humanities Council. Her film Alma (1998), won the Documentary Feature Jury Prize at Hamptons Film Festival, screened at IDFA, SXSW, DGA and Whitney Biennial. Her film Lipstick & Dynamite (2005) premiered at TriBeCa Film Festival and Hot Docs. It won the Documentary Storytelling Prize at Nantucket Film Festival, was released theatrically by Koch Lorber Films and broadcast on SHOWTIME. Lipstick was featured on Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien and NPR’s Fresh Air and Morning Edition. Leitman wrote Fordson, which has garnered numerous festival awards. Most recently Tony & Janina’s American Wedding (2010) an immigration story, premiered at Chicago International Film Festival winning a Jury Prize. Freelance clients include: The Redwalls, Neko Case, Ronald McDonald House, Safe Humane Chicago, American Trial Lawyers Association, and Sallie Mae Student Loans. Early work as a photographer includes: Rolling Stone, SPIN, Esquire, Working Mother, Newsweek, Outkast, Black Crowes, REM and Indigo Girls. Leitman is in development on a 1950’s fiction feature film, The Pin Down Girl, about the pioneers of women’s wrestling.

Brad Gyori - Tribeca Flashpoint Academy
Brad Gyori has been a film and broadcast instructor since 2007. He also has over 20 years experience writing and producing for such networks as MTV, VH1, FX, E! and HBO online.For ten years, he was the head writer of the Emmy award winning Talk Soup. Brad has been nominated for five Emmys and holds a PhD in Rhetoric and Composition from Arizona State University. His research interests include new media rituals and project-based learning models.

Claire Connelly - Line Producer, IFP Chicago Board Member

Tuesday, February 26th 7:45pm

Science in Society: Impacting Our Daily Lives

Jenny Deller - Writer, Director, Producer, Future Weather

Bethany Hubbard - Publications Editor, Science in Society

A graduate of Northwestern University's theatre program with a Masters of Science in Journalism from the Medill School of Journalism, Bethany is passionate about using storytelling and art to better communicate science to the public. She currently serves as Publications Editor for Science in Society, a Northwestern University office for science outreach and public engagement. 

Jennifer Brandel - Creator/Lead Producer of “Curious City” on WBEZ

Jennifer Brandel is an independent reporter and creator of WBEZ's Curious City - a crowd-powered project that unravels the everyday mysteries of Chicago and the region. Brandel has served as a general assignment reporter for WBEZ’s News Desk and reported dozens of feature pieces WBEZ as well as national outlets like Day to Day, Weekend America, Latino USA and Interfaith Voices. She's also assistant produced for Wait! Wait! Don’t Tell Me!, blogged for Transom.org, and served as talent for fictional pieces aired on the CBC's WireTap and Love and Radio. 

Julie Marie Lemon - Program Director of Arts/Science Initiative, University of Chicago
Julie Marie Lemon is the Program Director of the Arts|Science Initiative in the Provost Office and the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago. Lemon created the Arts|Science Initiative in 2010, building a platform to explore new modes of artistic and scientific production and inquiry within the University and beyond. Lemon brings a wealth of experience in developing arts programs with a particular focus on visual arts and arts education and a strong knowledge of the University’s science community.  With degrees from both the University of Chicago and the University of Wisconsin, Julie Marie has worked with the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the American International School of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the Chicago Architecture Foundation, and the Walker Art Center.

Wednesday, February 27th 6pm

Science in Society: Getting Kids Started Early

Jenny Deller - Writer-Director-Producer, Future Weather

Allison Price - Director of Education at Lincoln Park Zoo

Allison Price, Director of Education, specializes in the interpretation of scientific concepts to non-scientific audiences.  She holds an M.S. in Science and Technology Studies from Virginia Tech where her work focused on science and technology journalism and aerospace history. In addition to her eight years working in various informal learning institutions, Allison spent five years as the Deputy Editor of the Association for Women in Science Magazine and five years as an assistant coach for a local high school competitive speech team.  She joined the staff of Lincoln Park Zoo in 2010 as the Manager of Guest Engagement, transitioning into her role as Director of Education in 2012.

Olivia Cohn - Citizen Science Research Coodinator, SustainUS & Chicago Climate Action
In her current role, Olivia Cohn is managing climate change mitigation and adaptation performance measurement for Chicago’s sustainability plan, the Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP), for the Global Philanthropy Partnership consulting to the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. Through this work, she supports general City sustainability efforts; develops a CCAP continuous improvement strategic vision; assesses greenhouse gas reduction and performance indicator data; presents climate mitigation and preparedness progress; prepares performance templates for the public, partners, and oversight; and collaborates with climate change planning and action stakeholders and thought leaders.  In addition, Olivia serves as Citizen Science Coordinator for SustainUS, a national non-profit organization that represents U.S. young voices in the international environmental dialogue. In this role, she directs a citizen science research competition and serves on the SustainUS Steering Committee. Previously, Olivia worked for the State of Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality, supporting environmental education initiatives and developing cross-cutting policies for the Michigan Climate Action Council.

Christine Chirchirillo - Early Elementary Science Partnership Educator, The Chicago Academy of Sciences & Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Christine currently holds a position at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum as the Early Elementary Science Partnership Educator.  She relies on her education and experience in informal learning institutions to provide on and off-site programming related to science and nature. Christine received a M.A. in Conservation Education Management from George Mason University (2012) and a B.A. in Family Services from Purdue University (2005). Prior to joining the education department at the museum, she worked at John G. Shedd Aquarium (2006-2010) as an educator sharing her knowledge in biological science, aquatic systems and animals. Christine also worked as a lead teacher and classroom assistant at Fowler House, Purdue Child Care Program in West Lafayette, Indiana (2003-2005).​

Thursday, February 28th, 8:15pm

Empowering Youth: Make Their Surroundings Come Alive

Jenny Deller - Writer-Director-Producer, Future Weather

Alison Paul - Urban Conservation Educator, The Field Museum

Alison manages the Calumet Environmental Education Program (CEEP) for The Field Museum's division of Environment, Culture, and Conservation (ECCo). Alison and the CEEP team work with 130 teachers to engage over 3,000 4th-12th students in the Calumet region annually. By working in partnership with schools, non-profit organizations, and land-owning agencies, CEEP uses a place-based education model to get teachers and students excited about nature in their own back yard as well as active on local urban conservation issues.  

Allison Price - Director of Education at Lincoln Park Zoo

See above.

John Thompson - Guest Lecturer, University of Chicago & Visiting Researcher, Field Museum

See above.

Media Lab Studios Efficient Film Challenge

Indie film powerhouse IFC Entertainment is hoping to spark more efficient film production by holding a green short film contest. The Media Lab Studios Efficient Film Challenge is offering three prizes of up to $3,000 for short films that tackle the topic of energy efficiency. This is a fantastic opportunity for aspiring filmmakers to get exposure on the Independent Film Channel and Sundance Channel (not to mention some cash!), while making a timely statement and raising awareness.

The Art Film Lives

I hate people. I really, really hate people. But I LIKE YOU...

--overheard in bar on 1st Ave.

It was an exhausting weekend. I've been in the thick of preparing for our t-shirt launch, chasing down funding leads, applying for grants, trying to squeeze in paid work, and planning a two-week hiatus to begin visualizing the film. But there was networking to be done, and networking is the name of the game. So bye-by weekend.

Friday morning, I took the Chinatown up to NYC. I visited my accountant, caught up on emails, overheard a conversation between a playwright and her collaborator (Natalie kills Marty? hunch it was Off-Broadway but couldn't figure out who?), ate ramen with Annie, learned there's a cloud of fenugreek perfume wafting over the isle of Manhattan, watched Wendy and Lucy, discussed Wendy and Lucy, drank beer and then a whiskey and soda that was very coconutty, ate wurstl & fries, slept with a snowwhite cat, and (to quote my friend Nathaniel) watched the twenties fly out of my hands, all while shlepping my computer, notebook and change of clothes everywhere. This was my mini-vacation before two rigorous days of panels hosted by IFP.

"Script to Screen" attracted over 200 screenwriters, producers, directors, and multi-hyphenates to squish knee-to-knee in a sea of director's chairs at NYFA to listen to the likes of James Schamus (The Ice Storm), Ted Hope (American Splendor), Jerry Kupfer (30 Rock) and Scott Franklin (The Wrestler) reveal the often elusive inner-workings of the businesses of television and film, particularly paths for writers.

Of course there were the crackpots, the egomaniacs, the kooky hats, the flashing cameras, the self-loathing, the resentment, the stalking, the smug comments and a fair share of snarky ones. It was a roomful of filmmakers. But the event was also a hotbed of creative, intelligent, hard-working and humble members of the independent film community. People who are still taking risks and hoping to make a significant contribution to world cinema.

The frank, articulate discussions had by each panel were a great way to take the temperature of American independent film. Yes, technology has changed viewing habits and splintered audiences; yes, a new profitable distribution model is still unclear; yes, there are too many films being made for them all to survive. Yes, yes, yes, it's expensive and intimidating. Yes, we have a love/hate relationship with Sundance.

The spirit of independent film may be a little clammy right now, but it's not dead. In fact, we may be on the brink of a new generation of film. But perhaps more importantly, stories that do not adhere to Hollywood formula are still being told--by veterans and newcomers alike, and more women then ever. I was particularly impressed by Ted Hope's refreshing reverence for the art film. Art and film. My favorite things.

But here is my main takeaway, and this one's for you, aspiring filmmakers: the (majority of) producers, agents, festival judges, etc. who hold court at these industry events are not the gatekeepers to your success; they're in the business not because they enjoy rejecting you, but because they're as passionate about film as you are, if not more. They are your friends. If you're open to sharing and honing your passion, commitment, talent, discipline, insanity, social skills, and practical understanding of the business side of film, you will find others like you, not to mention friends, advocates, collaborators and funders. Stick with it. We're trying to. And hats off to IFP for bringing together such an informative group of people.