Chicago Filmmakers: Reeling Identity and Website

Chicago Filmmakers, a 32-year-old not-for-profit media arts organization, has been a leader in innovative media arts programming since 1973. Chicago Filmmakers annually produces Reeling: The Chicago Lesbian and Gay International Film Festival as well as The Onion City Experimental Film and Video Festival. They also support independent filmmakers through their Independent Film School and through The Co-op, which is a production and post-production equipment access membership program.

BACKGROUND

15 letters was selected by the Reeling team to design and develop the website as well as create all of the marketing materials for The 2004 Chicago Lesbian and Gay International Film Festival, the opening night gala and closing night party. That year, Reeling presented 48 programs over 8 days, from November 4-11, 2004. They engaged us again for the following year's Festival during which Reeling presented 67 programs over 10 days, from November 3-12, 2005.

THE SOLUTION
Marketing Materials

We developed a new brand identity for the event and created collateral materials such as postcards to promote the Opening Night Gala, Closing Night Party as well as event posters, program schedules and newspaper advertisements.

Website

We carried the Festival's new look and feel throughout the visual design of the website. The site offered visitors access to a range of high-level and important detailed information including descriptions of the films, a comprehensive program schedule and venue information. The website also supported online ticket sales, travel information and links for out-of-town participants, plus information about how to become a member. Additionally, information about the event's sponsors and the Festival-at-large was available for members of the media.

Through user testing, we ensured the navigation would be intuitive so that visitors, whether they were members, sponsors or media, could easily find their way around the site and quickly arrive at the information they needed.