iaa films

IAA Films is the best film school for teens in the state of Illinois. the program has released over 90 films since 2012, with an average running time of 20 min per film.

NEWS:

Global Lift-Off Film Festival @Pinewood Studios (Winner - Best Feature Film) Fox Hunting

Golden Lion Awards Film Festival (Winner - Golden Lion Award Best Long Narrative + Winner - Mountain Lion Award Best Long Narrative + Winner - Best of Show Best Screenplay) Hell or High Water and Bicycle

Emerald Peacock Film Festival (Winner - Best Actor) The Malady

First Time Filmmaker Sessions Global Liftoff Film Festival (Official Selection) Bicycle

Golden Lion Awards Film Festival (Winner - Golden Lion Award Best Short Narrative + Winner - Best of Show Best Cinematography) The Disease

F5 FPP Financial Focus Film Festival (Finalist) Sour Lemons

McMinnville Sci-Fi Film Festival (Official Selection) It Came From Uranium - 235

Chicago Onscreen Film Festival (Official Selection) Together Apart

Golden Lion Awards Film Festival (Official Selection) Apocalypse Soon

72 Hour SOCAPA Film Slam Film Festival (Nomination - Best Production Design) IT Came from Uranium-235

Doko Film Festival (Official Selection) The Disease

Andromeda Film Festival (Official Selection) Eat Him by His Own Light

All American High School Film Festival (Official Selection) Eat Him by His Own Light

Chicago Made Shorts Film Festival (Official Selection) The Disease

FLICK FAIR Film Festival (Official Selection) The Disease

15 Seconds Horror Film Challenge Festival (Winner - 2x Silver Awards) Just Watch + Consummation

Chicago Horror Film Festival (Nomination - Director’s Choice) Little Voice

STARdance Film Festival (Nomination - Best Screenplay) The Disease

Illinois International Film Festival (Official Selection) Fox Hunting

72 Hour SOCAPA Film Slam Film Festival (In Competition) The Fifth Gate

U.S. Census Get Out the Vote Challenge (In Competition) Counting on Z

Chicago Young Authors Awards (Winner Best Screenplay) Checkmate

IMDb

YouTube

IAA Films, is the Motion Picture department of Infinity Arts Academy, developed by our Director of Film, Kevin Lucero Less, producing 7+ films per year. The department is a full intensive hands on film school, engaging students in every aspect of film-making including:

IAA FILMS FILM PROGRAM

POST PRODUCTION EDITING PROGRAM

Students learn through participating, hands on, producing a feature or short length film, and are assigned key jobs / equipment in every department creating the motion picture including: Director, Actor, Writer, Co-Producer, Director of Photography, Editor, Unit Production Manager, Casting Director, Production Designer, Art Director, Scenic Artist, Set Decorator, Lead Man, Set Dresser, Prop Master, Assistant Props, Swing Gang, 1st Assistant Camera, 2nd Assistant Camera clapper loader, Camera Operator, Still Photographer EPK, 1st Assistant Director, 2nd Assistant Director, 2nd 2nd Assistant Director, 3rd Assistant director, Key Grip, Best Boy (Grip), Grip, Dolly Grip, Cable Puller (Grip), Video Assist Village Manager, Chief lighting technician, Best Boy (Electric), Gaffer, Key Makeup Artist, FX Makeup Designer, Hair Dresser, Assistant Hair/Makeup, Script Supervisor, Continuity Supervisor, Shot Logger, Sound Mixer, Boom Operator, Cable Puller (Sound), Special Effects Technician, Weapons Wrangler, Costume Designer, 1st Costume Assistant, 2nd Costume Assistant, and more.

Students also learn an intensive foundation in film history, film theory, terminology, and professional conduct and execution of teamwork, responsibility, safety, creative thinking, confidence, humbleness and problem solving logic.

just a not of congratulations to you for a wonderful job on the film “together apart”. my child has learned so much from your mentoring that she wants to be a professional film maker and writer. I honestly think she has gotten vast inspiration and artistic discipline form your program. i literally wept at the end of the film. almost all of the shots were masterful, rich, and telling. the editing was exquisite. the acting was heartfelt. thanks again for being such a strong and pivotal influence on my daughter.

- adam burczyk

This Film program is amazing! My son Ben has done film camps in Los Angeles and with other places, but he’s learned more in one year with Mr. Lucero at IAA, than all others put together. He’s talking about different directors, film techniques, etc. the whole ride home. He loves working on the scripts too!

– Kristen Senior

As predominantly stage actors, we were excited by the opportunity to act on film. That opportunity came through student directors and writers under the tutelage of Kevin Lucero Less at IAA. The enthusiasm of the students at IAA is infectious; it made our experience there a true joy. Our experience was inspiring to say the very least and opened a whole new world to us. We look forward to collaborating with this talented group again and are eternally thankful for the chance to work with the professional filmmakers of the next generation.

– Mark & Linda Cunningham

I would like to express my appreciation to the Infinity Arts Academy Film Program for all that you do to help your students think, mature, create, and expand. My daughter has been participating in the Film Program at IAA since 2010.

During this time, the program has allowed and required her to act in, write, produce, direct, and edit multiple film productions. This has served to convert her appreciation for film into knowledge of the history of cinema and important films, technical expertise about cameras, lighting, sound, etc., the tools to begin to form her own artistic aesthetic, and a passion for the creative process.

I am impressed with how much responsibility the students have in the various phases of the creation of their films. This autonomy requires the group to coordinate, communicate, and work as a team which has helped my daughter learn organizational skills, improve her inter-personal skills, and build close friendships with her fellow film-makers.

Ultimately, when I go to the film screenings and see the fruits of their labor, I am always floored by the quality of their films. At each of their screenings, the production company stands in front of the screen and discusses with the audience the process and their inspiration. Invariably, during these discussions I see an amazing transition...I no longer see a bunch of teen and pre-teen kids. Instead, I see artists.

– Jay Mitchell

I can’t emphasize enough how terrific the experience was at iaa films for my daughter. she has learned so much and also had a great fime.

- John Fuller

1. The Spring / Fall feature film productions meet 5-6 times per month and shoot off campus on locations in and around the city of Chicago, giving the students an opportunity to create, schedule and work outside of the conventional sound-stage setting. Films are full length (45 – 90+ mins). Students invite a discussion with a Q/A session after their red carpet film premiere for family and friends.

Students that complete the production, become Grad Students, and then are eligible to write and direct a summer camp film.

2. Summer Camp short film productions are a fast paced five days per week collaboration with a production cast / crew position for every camper, culminating in an end of session film premiere for family and friends. Runs in tandem with the Musical Theatre camp production. Films are shorts (12 – 30+ mins). All Summer Camp films are directed by Grad Students of IAA Films.

3. Teen Summer Film Intensive [ 2 films ] works with teens who are not interested in the Musical Theatre portion of summer camp; catered toward a more intensive motion picture experience, including working on a film Performed, written, edited, co-produced and directed by the Teens + Directing an Additional Summer Camp Session 4 film.

4. Feature Film Editing guides Grad Students through editing, where they will learn the fine points of cutting a feature length film including, Graphic Design, Color Correction, Sound Design, music Score composition, ADR, and Foley. Students also learn an intensive foundation in the history of motion picture editing, juxtaposition theory, concepts and terminology.

IAA Films has produced 100 films (11 features + 89 shorts + 18 official selections + 8 wins + 4 nominations) since May of 2012

*selected original IAA Film productions 2012-2022***

ATTACK OF THE POD CREATURES, 10min, 2012 CREATURE FEATURE / SCIENCE FICTION / COMEDY

KILLER ATOMIC SPIDERS, 15min, 2012 CREATURE FEATURE / ADVENTURE / COMEDY

WITHIN, 45min, 2013 HORROR

SELECTED, 35min, 2013 SCIENCE FICTION / DRAMA

BRIDE OF SKELETON, 12min, 2013 ADVENTURE / COMEDY

THE BOA, 15min, 2013 DRAMA

FAIRY TALES, 13min, 2013 HORROR / COMEDY

DEAR ELLA, 63min, 2014 DRAMA

ONE, 57min, 2014 SCIENCE FICTION / HORROR

BRIDE OF SKELETON 2 THE REVENGE OF FEMUR, 15min, 2014 ADVENTURE / COMEDY

THE WOLFMAN, 19min, 2014, HORROR

CHECKMATE, 14min, 2014 DRAMA

(winner Chicago Young Authors Award)

THE FOREST, 25min, 2014 HORROR

AFTERMATH, 65min, 2015 DRAMA

THE TOWN THAT WORE BRAINWASHING GRANNY HATS, 46min, 2015 COMEDY / SATIRE

THE BRAIN FROM OUTER SPACE, 12min, 2015 COMEDY / SCIENCE FICTION

THE MAN WHO WAITED FOR YESTERDAY, 13min, 2015 DRAMA / FILM NOIR

BRIDE OF SKELETON 3 THE FINAL FRACTURE, 19min, 2015 ADVENTURE / COMEDY

COSMOS HUNTERS: THE CRYSTAL OF PEACE, 15min, 2015 SCIENCE FICTION / SPACE OPERA / ADVENTURE

THE GOLDEN PLATES, 17min, 2015 ACTION / KUNG FU / COMEDY

THE FIFTH BUSINESS, 7min, 2015 DRAMA / FILM NOIR

CONTEMPLATION, 7min, 2015 DRAMA

MEALTIME, 11min, 2015 DRAMA / AVANT-GARD

SALLY MAKES A FRIEND, 50min, 2016 COMEDY / MOCKUMENTARY

THE ANIMUS, 54min, 2016 HORROR

ART CENTER HIGHLAND PARK GALA VIDEO, 4min, 2016 CHARITY

BRAINS FROM OUTER SPACE: MEDULLA OBLONGATA, 11min, 2016 COMEDY / SCIENCE FICTION

THE MAN WHO REGRETTED TOMORROW, 12min, 2016 DRAMA / FILM NOIR

BRIDE OF SKELETON BEGINS: RISE OF PATELLA, 12min, 2016 COMEDY

COSMOS HUNTERS: REVENGE OF THE GLICKENS, 15min, 2016 SCIENCE FICTION / SPACE OPERA

FIRST DATE, 15min, 2016 COMEDY / SURREALISM

RING OF VENOM, 17min, 2016 ACTION / KUNG FU

PUPPY DOG, 10min, 2016 COMEDY / ABSURDIST

IN THE SHADOWS, 26min, 2016 dRAMA / FILM NOIR

(Winner Lucy Award 2016 Outstanding achievement in film Catie Mitchell, Best Editing Kayli Ross, Best Story Connor Geary, Best Producing Jay Mitchell)

DISJOIN, 60min, 2017 HORROR

THE CURSED HAND OF ATEJON, 13min, 2017 cOMEDY / SCIENCE FICTION

THE MAN WHO RELIVED TODAY, 15min, 2017 DRAMA / FILM NOIR

SAILING LESSONS, 20min, 2017 MELODRAMA

COSMOS HUNTERS 3: THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES, 13min, 2017 SCIENCE FICTION / SPACE OPERA

THE SOUND OF HUNGER: STORIES FROM THE MAJOR CRIMES UNIT, 9min, 2017 POLICE PROCEDURAL / ABSURDIST

MENS REA, 20min, 2017 THRILLER

THE FRONT, 38min, 2017 WAR / DRAMA

FOX HUNTING, 70min, 2018 SUSPENSE THRILLER / ACTION

(official selection Illinois International Film Festival)

COLORS OF GUILT, 14min, 2018 DRAMA

THE ATTACK OF THE LIVING SAUSAGE, 17min, 2018 COMEDY / CREATURE FEATURE

CURSED HAND 2 PHALANGES OF TERROR, 15min, 2018 COMEDY / CREATURE FEATURE

SAILING LESSONS 2, 30min, 2018 COMEDY / MELODRAMA

COSMOS HUNTERS 4: EDGE OF NOWHERE, 15min, 2018 SCIENCE FICTION / SPACE OPERA

THE MARROW OF SUMMER, 11min, 2018 FILM NOIR / COMEDY

LITTLE VOICE, 20min, 2018 THRILLER

(official selection Chicago Horror Film Festival - nomination director’s choice)

DISJOIN 2, 51min, 2018 HORROR

(Winner Lucy Award 2018 Outstanding Achievement in film Ben Senior, best editing Thomas Furman, best summer camp director Chloe Mann)

INTO THE FIRE, 36min, 2019 POST-APOCALYPTIC

CURSED HAND 3 THE NAIL-BITING CONCLUSION, 18min, 2019 COMEDY / CREATURE FEATURE

COSMOS HUNTERS 5: FREEDOM HACKERS, 15min, 2019 SCIENCE FICTION / SPACE OPERA

COSMOS HUNTERS 6: RETRIBUTION, 13min, 2019 SCIENCE FICTION / SPACE OPERA

COSMOS HUNTERS 7: ANNIHILATION, 11min, 2019 SCIENCE FICTION / SPACE OPERA

EAT HIM BY HIS OWN LIGHT, 15min 2019 GERMAN EXPRESSIONISM

(official selection All American High School Film Festival + official selection Andromeda Film Festival)

APOCALYPSE SOON, 32min, 2019 COMEDY

(official selection Golden Lion Awards Film Festival)

(WINNER LUCY AWARD 2019 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM THOMAS FURMAN, BEST SUMMER CAMP DIRECTOR RUBY FULLER, BEST EDITING eROL iBRAHIMOVIC, BEST FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR JON SODKE)

THE DISEASE, 5min, 2020 DRAMA

(official selection Golden Lion Awards Film Festival - winner golden lion award best short narrative - winner best cinematography + official selection StarDance Film Festival - nomination best screenplay + official selection Flickfair film festival + official selection Chicago Made Shorts Film Festival + official selection Doko Film Festival)

THE FOURTH GATE, 11min, 2020 ADVENTURE

(in competition SOCAPA 72 Hour Slam the Curve Festival)

U.S. census get out the count video challenge, 1min, 2020 commercial

together apart, 28min, 2020 slice of life / drama

CONSUMATION, 15sec, 2020 HORROR

(official selection 15 Second Horror Film Challenge - winner silver award + IAA Horror Challenge - winner audience award best cinematography - winner producer’s award breakthrough)

JUST WATCH, 15sec, 2020 HORROR

(official selection 15 Second Horror Film Challenge - winner silver award + IAA Horror Challenge - winner audience award best: film, director, editor, screenplay, scariest)

CRACKED, 15sec, 2020 HORROR

(IAA Horror Challenge - winner producer’s award new vision)

first steps, 15sec, 2020 horror

playing dangerous games, 15sec, 2020 horror

ca-top-tro-man-cy, 30min, 2020 horror

FOR VENGANCE AND LOVE, 100sec, 2020 FANTASY

(IAA 100 Sec Challenge - winner audience award best costumes)

THE SWING, 100sec, 2020 SLICE OF LIFE

(IAA 100 Sec Challenge - winner audience award best: film, director, editor, story, cinematography)

bystander, 100sec, 2020 mystery

MIXED FROM TWO WORLDS, 100sec, 2020 SLICE OF LIFE

(IAA 100 Sec Challenge - winner producer’s award heart&soul)

i think, 100sec, 2020 drama

as you like it, 10min, 2020 documentary

SOUR LEMONS, 5min, 2020 COMEDY

(official selection finalist F5 FPP Financial Focus Film Festival)

HELL OR HIGH WATER, 30min, 2020 thriller

shoot the messenger, 30min, 2021 comedy

the classroom troll, 5min, 2021 comedy

The entity, 5min, 2021 horror

paper trail, 2min, 2021 thriller

produce abuse, 2min, 2021 comedy

assassin, 2min, 2021 thriller

parallel, 5min, 2021 drama

the pawn, 4min, 2021 thriller

my orange, 6min, 2021 drama

bloom, 4min, 2021 comedy

bicycle, 22min, 2021 drama

mouse trap, 1min, 2022 horror

you bring it back with you, 15min, 2022 cosmic horror

family fun CHALLENGEs

PUPPET PANDEMIC, 2min, 2020 SCIENCE FICTION

(IAA 48 Hour Family Fun Challenge - winner best: film, director, story, cinematography, editing, production design, most creative)

iaa films is the motion picture department of infinity arts academy