What is REELTIME all about? 

Percolator Films’ REELTIME program is a free film and discussion series that takes place once a month at the Evanston Public Library.

REELTIME events typically feature high caliber independent films (with an emphasis on documentaries) that often focus on issues of importance to the community, followed by a conversation between audience members, filmmakers, guest speakers, and community groups. For more than a decade now, admission to REELTIME screenings has been free, allowing all community members to partake in our programming.

I thought REELTIME is a library program – who is behind REELTIME?

The REELTIME program began in 1999, when Evanston filmmakers Kathy Berger and Andrea Leland approached the Evanston Public Library and Northwestern University’s Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art with the idea of a monthly film and discussion program.  Independent filmmaker Ines Sommer joined Kathy Berger as REELTIME’s Co-Director in 2003.  For a decade, REELTIME succeeded as a unique collaboration between a team of independent filmmakers and two Evanston institutions.  

The Evanston Public Library served as REELTIME’s main fiscal sponsor from 1999 - 2009. In late 2008, Percolator Films was founded as a new stand alone non-profit organization which grew out of the REELTIME series in order to offer expanded film programming in Evanston and beyond. Percolator Films now organizes the REELTIME series as well as the annual Talking Pictures Festival. 

I missed the screening – how can I see the film? 

You’re in luck. Almost all of the films we screen are subsequently purchased for the REELTIME Collection at the Evanston Public Library. All you need is your library card and a $1.00 rental fee. Please allow some time after the screening for the DVD to be processed and placed on the library shelves.

For community organizations: How can we co-present a film?

Percolator Films’ REELTIME program often collaborates with other organizations in presenting films that have relevance for the community.  Past co-presenters have included Evanston’s Aging Well Conference, Amnesty International Group 50 Evanston/Rogers Park, Shorefront, the North Suburban Peace Initiative, the Independent Television Service, Rotary International, the Evanston Food Policy Council, and many others.  Please contact us to discuss a possible co-presentation:  filmvideoforum@yahoo.com

For filmmakers:  How do I submit my film?

We want to support independent filmmakers and invite you to send us a DVD screener of your film for programming consideration. We mostly show documentaries, but any genre is accepted as long as it’s an independent film. So commercials, PSAs, corporate or commissioned videos, etc would unfortunately not fit the programming criteria for REELTIME.

If your title is selected for programming, we will ask the Evanston Public Library to buy a copy of your film for the library’s REELTIME Collection. If you are in the Chicago area, we invite you to attend the screening and lead a Q&A with the audience. 

To submit your film, please send the following:

1. •send us a link to preview the film online or send us a DVD.  If it’s a DVD, please clearly label it with the film title, your name and contact information
   

2. •Synopsis of the film
   

3. •Also helpful are: a list of screenings and awards, filmmaker’s bio, any press reviews
   

Send via US postal service to:

Percolator Films

P.O.Box 5572

Evanston, IL 60204-5572

If you use a commercial carrier like FedEx or UPS, please contact us for a street mailing address.