Independent Film at the Davis Theater

This event will showcase 3 independent films created by Chicago filmmakers, and will also feature live performances from Damon Groen - the subject of "The Language of the Living" - and his band.

Language of the Living

Language of the Living follows Damon Groen as he collaborates with the band The Ruralists to record his song, “i-20.” Over the course of three days in Sioux Center, IA, these old friends come together to create art that is raw, beautiful, and authentic, and they rediscover the gathering power of music, and the value of community as the world around them seems to go in the opposite direction. It is the first documentary film by director Jake Sandvik.

Runtime: 28 minutes

Language: English

Genre: Documentary, Music

One Day She'll Be Gone

A mother and son course their tumultuous relationship as she recovers from an overdose.

‘One Day She’ll Be Gone’ was filmed in and around the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. Zachery Green’s collaboration with Hootenanny’s editor Adam Bruno created a relentless web of emotion in this semi-autobiographical tale of a mother in recovery told through the eyes of her adult son. The film went through post sound at Noisefloor and color grade by NOLO. The film was selected and screened at film festivals across the Midwest and USA and can be streamed on http://Filmshortage.com as of October 2025.

Runtime: 16 minutes

Language: English

Genre: Drama, Experimental

I Agree With You

A thirty-something couple spends a rare day off together at home. This time together reveals cracks in the relationship that neither of them is quite ready—or equipped—to face head-on. Instead, they fall back on their usual routine of jokes, games, and light bickering, which slowly spirals into an elaborate role-play that takes on a life of its own. But as the lines between make-believe and reality blur, they finally begin to speak honestly—about who they are, what they want, and whether this relationship still works.

Stemming from the realization that nobody would grant them permission to make a feature film, these filmmakers set about producing a film within their own means. They aimed to make a film shot in one location, with two actors, and to do it over a one-week period. Through a combination of a Seed & Spark campaign and partnering with the Independent Film Alliance Chicago, they were able to raise $22,000 to realize the dream of independently producing a feature film.

Runtime: 76 Minutes

Language: English

Genre: Comedy, Relationship Comedy

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