DIRECTORS

Ines Sommer has directed and produced genre-crossing films for more than two decades, ranging from experimental 16mm films to documentaries about the arts, human rights, direct democracy, and other topics. Ines' recent PBS documentary “Count Me In” follows the stories of ordinary Chicagoans who are part of an innovative experiment in direct democracy – called participatory budgeting – that gives them direct say over local public projects and monies. http://www.countmeinmovie.com/ Ines' company Sommer Filmworks produces documentaries and commissioned videos for non-profits, arts organizations, universities, and other clients. In addition to directing and producing, Ines has frequently collaborated with other filmmakers as a cinematographer. Her camerawork has been featured in numerous award-winning documentaries, including several projects for Chicago-based production companies Kartemquin Films, Kindling Group, and others. Besides making films, Ines has a longstanding interest in advocacy for the independent filmmaking community and engaging audiences with alternative cinema. She has held positions as a film programmer and festival director, serves on IFP Chicago's Board of Directors, and co-founded Percolator Films, a non-profit media arts organization that presents and produces documentaries. Ines currently teaches at Northwestern University, where she also serves as the Associate Director of the new MFA in Documentary Media program.