First Feature
Runtime:
92:00
Genre:
Documentary
Showtime:
3pm on Thursday, September 17 at Memorial Hall
Director:
Curtis Matzke
Synopsis:
FIRST FEATURE follows intrepid student filmmaker Thomas Reilly-King (TRK) in this comedic and heartfelt documentary inspired by such classics as AMERICAN MOVIE, BEST WORST MOVIE, and KID ICARUS. In the tradition of those films, FIRST FEATURE follows an eccentric artist following his dreams and unwavering dedication to making his first feature film: ENDURING DESTINY. TRK works four jobs to pay for production, rerecords all the film's dialogue, writes an 80s-inspired theme song, and even makes action figures for his character. FIRST FEATURE explores the relationship between the documentary filmmaker and their subject as we look back at this time in their lives and see what happens ten years after telling someone's story.
Nominee for Best Documentary Feature Film
Curtis Matzke is a director, screenwriter, and producer based in Chicago, IL. Curtis has contributed to numerous short films, documentaries, and micro-budget features. His work has been recognized at dozens of film festivals, including Athens International, Cinequest, NewFilmmakers Los Angeles, and Chicago International. His work explores a variety of genres and themes that tackle loss, regret, the passage of time, and much more. His latest short film, SINK, premiered at the Oscar-qualifying Chicago International Film Festival in October 2021 and has screened at a dozen festivals since.