The Chicago  Clambake

 

It’s Chicago in September. This is when Film Artists, Presenters and agents will collect from all corners of the U.S. to attend the annual Showcase and Convention of the Travel Adventure Cinema Society.

Films will be previewed at the Mueum of Contemporary Art on Saturday,  Sept. 19, followed Sunday, by TRACS business meets at the nearby Seneca Hotel.

The films, to be screened in the museum’s Kanter Meeting Center, will be competing for the Burtie Award, named in honor of Burton Holmes, The Burtie goes to the best picture in the Showcase, as voted by TRACS members.

For the first time, filmmakers may also show trailers—coming attractions—of current or older films. (See story elsewhere.)

“It’s fitting that we are previewing our travel films at the MCA, because this is where a young Burton Holmes, the father of the travelogue, presented one of his slide shows to MCA members back in 1893,” said Stan Walsh, Films Artists chairman.

Robin D. Williams, who will emcee the festival, said at least three new film artists will be showing in Chicago.

Albert Nader, president and executive producer at Questar, Inc., one of the nation’s largest provider of video content, has invited TRACS members for dinner at the company’s Chicago headquarters on Friday, the day before the annual showcase and convention.

Last year in Albuquerque he highlighted his company’s new project, VideoVisits, when he addressed TRACS. He said , “We will be entering a brave new era “ when VideoVisits.com goes on line and becomes the first web site that “provides visitors thousands of hours of quality, video-streaming destinations worldwide that can be downloaded, or purchased online.”

He is expected to bring members up-to-date on the VideoVisit site that went on line earlier this year.

Those attending the 5-9 .m. dinner at Questar, 307 North Michigan Ave., Suite 500, should RSVP Questar’s Kathy Adinamis at (312) 266-9400, Ext. 171, no later than Sept. 14.

TRACS Executive Secretary Kathie Veach said the Seneca host hotel is a charming boutique-type hostelry.  Most of the rooms have a kitchenette. The room rate is $139 for a double or single, $159 for a triple, and $179 for a quad

“Since we have to guarantee a minimum number of rooms, we have only reserved 25 rooms for each night.  For a reservation call 1-800-800-6261 and make sure that you mention TRACS.  The registration fee for 2009 is $125 per person.  This includes all the Film Previews on Saturday, continental breakfast, meetings, and lunch on Sunday.”

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