*News release created for first annual Twin Cities Underground Film Fest

Unsung filmmaking talent gets its weekend in the spotlight with new Twin Cities Underground Film Festival

In 2005, Minnesota filmmaker Christopher R. Mihm completed The Monster of Phantom Lake, a full-length feature drawing its theme, and its humor, from the 1950s B-grade horror flicks. Mihm was proud of his accomplishment.

His film, produced with digital technology, looked and sounded like anything showing at the local theater. In fact, it was packing the Twin Cities theaters where it played. So, he decided to enter it in competitions—33 all told, and succeeded in getting it into three.

The Twin Cities Underground Film Festival (TCUFF), taking place Friday, Sept. 1 through Sunday, Sept. 3, at Bloomington’s Hotel Sofitel, sprung from Mihm’s frustration. The film fests he entered seemed to be accepting the same handful of films. “Either they were all tapping into the best of the best,” said Mihm, “or there was a lot of good work that was getting overlooked.”

That’s why Mihm together with friend and actor Josh Craig initiated TCUFF. The 60 films, selected from over 300 entries, represent every genre—from documentary to horror, from experimental to comedy. Many use digital technology; most are low- to micro-budget. National in scope, the fest includes seven Minnesota entries.

“These are movies you probably haven’t seen and probably won’t get a chance to see any other way,” said Mihm. “TCUFF is the second-chance film fest. Films you won’t see at Cannes. No pretension. No art for art’s sake. Just sheer entertainment.”

The fest begins 11 am, Friday, Sept. 1 and ends 4:30 pm, Sunday, Sept. 3. Films are arranged in thematic blocks. Tickets are $3 per block, or $30 for the “full-festival package” (13 tickets) — a savings of $9.00. Tickets are non-specific, so any ticket will get you into any feature or film block of the three-day event.

For the schedule of films, synopses, directions to the event or to buy tickets check out TCUFF’s website at www.tcuff.com or contact TCUFF at (651) 340-3770 or chris@sainteuphoria.com.

The Twin Cities Underground Film Festival is a production of All For George Productions and Saint Euphoria Unlimited. The three-day event celebrates low-, micro- and no-budget films that are made for the sheer excitement of filmmaking. Movies that celebrate the joy, blood, sweat and tears that go into realizing an independent filmmaker's unique vision. Entertainment value is key.

Twin Cities Underground Film Festival
www.tcuff.com
chris@sainteuphoria.com
(651) 340-3770
Presented by All For George Productions/Saint Euphoria Unlimited
Sponsored by Asterisk Software, Inc. (www.asterisksoftware.com)

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