Pierrino Mascarino and Joe Mantegna in Uncle Nino.

Chicago's independent film industry held steady in 2005, with an estimated 40 independent features made here over the course of the year. That's consistent with recent years, after jumping a few years back with the rise of ubiquitous and inexpensive digital video.

Most of the local productions were the under-$100,000 DV variety, with some notable exceptions, including the John Malkovich starrer Drunkboat, by his old Steppenwolf colleague Bob Meyers; Bob Odenkirk's You Are Going to Prison! starring Will Arnett; Patrick Read Johnson's Star Wars nostalgia trip 5-25-77, Paul Kampf's John Heard drama American Gothic; Robin Peters' HD Angst with Pat Morita; William Pierce's comedy sequel My Phamily BBQ, Too; and Paul Leuer's Thomas Lennon comedy Eden Court.

More than 20 local indie features debuted this year. Just one of those was a national theatrical release: Bob Shalcross' Joe Mantegna family comedy Uncle Nino, put out by John Lange of local Lange Releasing. At least 20 local features had bona fide commercial DVD releases, half of them horror pictures. This reflects a slight increase over local features released commercially last year.

Below is a non-comprehensive breakdown of Chicago independent feature films that shot or premiered in 2005, more or less in chronological order:

Relative Evil
Tanya Wexler's rehab drama, formerly Ball in the House, was released on DVD in January by Screen Media Ventures. Starring Jonathan Tucker, Jennifer Tilly and David Strathairn. Redeemable Features. www.redeemable.com

Uncle Nino
Robert Shalcross' $3 million Italian-American family drama was released theatrically in February by Lange Releasing. Starring Joe Mantegna, Anne Archer and Pierrino Mascarino. Kick the Can Productions. www.uncleninothemovie.com

The Fourth Beast
Nathyn Masters' apocalyptic thriller was released on DVD Feb. 15 by York Entertainment. Starring Jon Ross, Katie Getty, Jason Walsh and Glenn Dhont. Timecode Mechanics. www.the4thbeast.com

The Evil One
Parris Reaves' six-figure budgeted, Super 16mm serial killer horror pic was released Feb. 15 by Breakaway Films. Starring Candace Carrey, Shawna, Big Gipp, and Eric Lane. Maverick Entertainment. hawkfilmz@aol.com.

The Door
Bruce Wood's supernatural mystery shot in February-March and premiered here in a preview screening Sept. 26. Starring Bill Ferris, Katherine Wray, Karla Magnan and Ryan Martin. www.dreamfastcinema.com

American Gothic
Paul Kampf of Breadline Theater Group adapted his own play into this $1 million 35mm fraternal drama, which shot in Utah in March and April. With John Heard, Patrick Wilson, Neal McDonough and Scott Michael Campbell. Last Line Endeavors. www.americangothicfilm.com

John Heard, Scott Michael Campbell, Neal McDonough and Patrick Wilson in the film version of Breadline artistic director Paul Kampf's American Gothic.

You Are Going to Prison!
Bob Odenkirk's comedy shot in April and May in Chicago and Joliet. Starring Will Arnett, Dylan Baker, Steve Dahl, and Ellis Foster. Carsey Werner/Strike Entertainment.

39: A Film by Carroll McKane
Gary Sherman made this DV serial killer pic in April and May. Starring Martin Cummins and Lawrence McGowan. Epitaph Films LLC.

Kissing on the Mouth
Joe Swanberg's intimate portrait of post-collegiate relationships screened at the South by Southwest, Montreal, Chicago and Northampton film festivals. With Swanberg, Kate Winterich, Kris Williams and Kevin Pittman. www.kissingonthemouth.com

Sword of Hearts
David Schmidt self-released the DVD of his Elizabethan adventure March 22. Starring Travis Estes, Kathrynne Ann Rosen, Zack Thomas and Amy Harmon. Sword and Cloak Productions. www.swordandcloak.com

Legit
James W. Boinski's mob drama shot through April. With Boinski, Allen Kalfas, Angie Schoofs, Norm Boucher, and producers John Stemberg and Richard Strimer. Kitchen Film Productions. www.legitthemovie.com

Interkosmos
Jim Finn began the all-year shoot in April on his '60s-set experimental cosmonaut story. Finn stars with Nandini Khaund, Dean DeMatteis, Usama Alshaibi, Bettina Richards. jimfinn@speedsite.com

Camp Twilight
Roberto Blanchard wrapped in April on his teen slasher pic, which stars Eric Prince, Jenny Sanchez, Heather Zagone, Nakita Marshall, Vera Vaughn and Fred Schultz. www.blanchardfilms.com.

La Migra
Juan Frausto's Florida-shot HD immigration drama premiered April 8 at the Chicago Latino International Film Festival. Featuring Chicagoans Christina DeLeon, Laura Lopez, North Roberts, and Frausto's sister Rosa Frausto. Maverick Entertainment. ortamexfilms@hotmail.com

To Kill a Killer
Ricardo Islas' Mexican thriller premiered April 17 at the Latino Fest. With executive producer Salomón Carmona, Jorge Reynoso, Hugo Stiglitz and Lyndsey Jiménez. Alpha Studios. www.alphaflicks.com

In the House of Water and Light
Darryl Moon's war satire premiered May 7 at Chicago Actors Studio. With Michael McKay, Quinn Mander, Angela Davis and Marshall Givens. mooncomedy@aol.com

Chasing Robert
Len Ostrevich wrapped production in May on this dark gambling comedy. Starring Rick Overton, Paul Provenza, Dan Castelleneta, Larry Miller and Richard Portnow. Bad Penny Films. www.badpennyfilms.com

Beer Muscles
Griffin Marks' self-released the DVD of his comedy in May. Starring Bill Booker, Matthew McGuire, Marks, producer Carmen Jesse and executive producer Bo Wetzel. www.beermusclesmovie.com.

Drunkboat
Bob Meyer's autobiographical drama shot in May and June. With John Malkovich and John Goodman. Drunkboat Chicago LLC.

Dog Jack
Edward T. McDougal started production in May on his Civil War epic about an escaped slave. With Nadine Hugmeyer, Richard Heartgraves, Ben Gardner and Ken Craig. McDougal Films. www.dogjackmovie.com

The Gift
Hyup Kim's Korean $100,000 HD Christian family drama shot in May and June. Win Media. earthina720@yahoo.com

Crime Fiction
Will Slocombe's $62,000 pulp noir shot in June with writer Jonathan Eliot, Christian Stolte, Amy Sloan, Yasen Peyankov, Katrina Lenk and Dan Bakkedahl. Crime Fiction Pictures. www.crimefictionpictures.com

The Ultimate Betrayal
Annette Galloway's thriller shot through June. Starring Galloway, Christopher Nolen, David Newman, Roxxiane Cooley, and Tenique Mathieu. Diverciti Productions. theultimatebetrayal@yahoo.com

Say Hello to Clive For Me
Steve Luce's ensemble crime caper comedy shot in early summer. Backburner Films. www.backburnerfilms.com

Reversal
Thomas Sigmon's sci-fi drama about reverse aging shot over the summer. Creative Control Filmworks. stranglewood@hotmail.com

Family Values
Derek Dow's youth drama shot over the summer. Love Above All Productions.  goldie3d@aol.com

Alleyball
Dan Consiglio's DV arrested development comedy shot in June and July and premieres in a preview screening Dec. 21. Starring Larry Joe Campbell, Keegan-Michael Key, Heather Landry, Kellynn Jones, Danny McCarthy, Mike McColl, co-writer Johnny Ray Meeks, and Joel Spence. www.alleyballthemovie.com.

Cousins
Martin Khoshaba's $100,000 DV Assyrian romantic comedy shot in June. With Crystal Dinha and Jacob Alexander. Strategic Entertainment. www.strategicentertainment.com

Perilous Ties
Melissa Kosar's DV action drama shot in June. Starring Bill Zasadil, Harold Dennis, Erin Ordway, and Anthony Rago. Chi-Town Films. honeybeefilmpro@aol.com

Space Daze 2
Scott Grenke's sci-fi comedy shot second unit here in June. With Robert Z'Dar, Fred Williamson, Butch Patrick, Larry Thomas and producer James Vallo. West Bridge Entertainment. www.westbridgeentertainment.com

Bowser Makes a Movie
Toby Ross' porn industry satire debuted in July at the Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. Starring Nick Lewis, Kevin Viol, Matt Pletcher and Michael Miro. www.bowsermakesamovie.com.

Angst
Robin Peters' under-$500,000 HD age-bending comedy shot in July around Champaign. With Eddie Jones, Pat Morita, Max Gail, Adrienne Frantz and Amber Benson. Dreamscape Cinema. www.dreamscapecinema.com

An Addict for My Addictions
Jonathan Vukelich's romance between a junky and a prostitute shot in July. Purple Eye Productions. peyeproductions@aol.com

Dustclouds
Filip Rymsza's surreal HD drama shot in July. With Irina Björklund, Wesley Walker, Jay Whittaker and Jane Alderman. m31 films. www.m31films.com

A Lover For My Husband
Brandon Finney's partner-swapping drama was released on DVD in July by Ground-Zero. Starring Finney's wife Cassandra Finney.

My Phamily BBQ, Too
William Pierce followed up his urban family comedy with this sequel, which started shooting in July on a six-figure budget. With Nicole Fitzgerald and Andy Gerhenson and Clifton Davis. Urban Multimedia/Trio.

5-25-77
Patrick Read Johnson's Star Wars nostalgia trip wrapped production in August. Starring John Francis Daley and Christopher Lloyd. Moonwatcher Films. www.5-25-77.com

Gigs
Rob Ruiz' boxing-salsa-family drama premiered at Clemente High School in July. Ruiz stars. Ambassador Entertainment. ruiz_empire@yahoo.com

Common Senses
Split Pillow's five-director Dogme 95 tribute shot in July and August and premiered in October at Chicago Filmmakers. Starring Holly Montgomery-Webb, Luis Perez and Cheryl Lynn Golemo. www.splitpillow.com

Love and Valor
Charles F. Larimer wrapped production in August on his Civil War romance. Brian Pittman and Ann Cejka star. Sigourney Press. www.sigourneypress.com

Caged
Eldridge Valentine's single father drama, starring writer Elliott V. Porter and Simeon Henderson, premiered Aug. 19 at the Black Harvest Film Festival. N2FilmN. elliottporter@hotmail.com

Toot's and Blow's
Deri Tyton's romance between a poet and a drug dealer premiered in August at Black Harvest. Starring Jaye Mitchell and Jayson Smith. Legenderi Films. www.legenderifilms.com

Comatose
Mike Merrill's psychological thriller premiered at Black Harvest Aug. 26. Starring Amanda Andretti and producer Simeon Henderson. N'Site Films. www.nsitefilms.com

Riff Raff
Justen Naughton's lifeguard comedy shot on North Avenue beach in August. Featuring Rob Belushi, Ben Wells, Chryssie Whitehead and Joe Farina. Mindlight Films. www.riffraffthemovie.com

Cup of My Blood
Lance Catania's HD horror pic was released on DVD Aug. 30 by MTI Films. Starring Daniel Patrick Sullivan, Janina Gavankar, Circus Szalewski, Roger Anderson and Lance Mulvaney. X-Ray Films. www.cupofmyblood.com

Eden Court
Paul Leuer's HD dark comedy shot in August and September. With Thomas Lennon, Kimberly Williams, Stephnie Weir, and Christian Finnegan. Printers Row Pictures. www.printersrowpictures.com

Quietly on By
Frank V. Ross' suburban comedy of alienation premiered Sept. 10 at the Gene Siskel Film Center. Starring Anthony J. Baker, Denise Blank, Debi Hulka, and Jennifer Knox. Molehill Pictures. www.molehillindependent.com

Movie Boy
Jon Lefkowitz' coming-of-age comedy won prizes at the Indie Gathering and WorldFest film festival. Starring Eastman Presser. LongShort Productions. www.movie-boy.com

All About the Ring
Eldridge Valentine's marriage satire shot in September with writer Elliott V. Porter, Jamal West, Zandra Rivera and Michelle Shelton. N2FilmN. elliottporter@hotmail.com

Touched
Roxxianne Cooley's teen pregnancy drama shot in October. Starring Cooley, Annette Galloway and Derek Dow. Grace Films. gracefilms4@yahoo.com

Get a Life
Toby Ross shot the gay sex addict comedy in September and October. Starring Peter Marinelli, Brian Campbell, Aaron Michael Stahlecker and Slim Collins. Hornbill Films. www.hornbillfilms.com

Night Fangs
Ricardo Islas' lesbian vampire thriller shot in August and was released on DVD by Hart Sharp Video Oct. 11. With Leslie Frank, Cyn Dulay, Islas and Ruby González. Alpha Studios. www.alphaflicks.com

Fool's Gold
Eric Battersby's high school drama shot in summer and fall. Starring Jason Abustan and Nick Lewis. Hollywood 27. www.hollywood27.com

The Fate
Farhad Hossain's bank heist comedy shot in September. Starring Bobby Zaman, Al Mansoor, and Hossain's wife Salma Rosey. Chicago Bioscope. www.chicagobioscope.com

The Trouble With Dee Dee
Mike Meiners' $750,000 35mm comedy inspired by his mother premiered Oct. 16 at the Chicago International Film Festival. Starring Lisa Ann Walter, Kurtwood Smith, Mason Gamble, and J.P. Manoux. Cinemetro Films. www.cinemetro.com

Resurrection Mary
Michael Lansu's horror pic premiered Oct. 23 at the Pickwick Theatre in Park Ridge. With Joe Estevez, Jason Ryan Lovett and Eva Bloomfield. Cooked Goose Productions.

Buscando a Leti
Dalia Tapia's immigration drama world premiered at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival Oct. 24. Starring Tatiana Tien, Juan Manuel Perez and Carmen Cenko. www.daliatapia.com

Realization
Split Pillow's seven-director quantum drama shot in October and November, with different actors playing the same characters in each segment. Premieres next spring at Chicago Filmmakers. www.splitpillow.com

The Rockville Slayer
Marc Selz' HD slasher pic was released on DVD Nov. 1 by Freestyle Entertainment. Starring Joe Estevez, Robert Z'Dar, Linnea Quigley, Ellie Weingardt and Circus Szalewski. Selz Film. www.therockvilleslayer.com

Second Moon
Masahiro Sugano's HD romantic thriller shot in November. With Andre Ing, Jennifer Shin, and Jim Finn. Eye From the Sky. www.eyefromthesky.net

In the Name of God
Shoaib Mansoor's Super 35mm Pakistani social-religious epic shot here in November. Starring Shaan and Junaid Jamshed. Shoman Productions

Dirty Work
Formerly Southside, Bruce Terris' crime drama debuted at the IFP/Chicago Midwest Filmmakers Summit and is due for release from Screen Media Ventures. Starring Lance Reddick, Mike McGlone, Nutsa Kukhianidze, and Austin Pendleton. Blue Horseshoe Productions. www.dirtyworkthemovie.com

Brushfires
Split Pillow's lesbian drama by seven women directors was released on DVD in November by Ariztical Entertainment. Starring Lorri Hamm, Candace Thompson, Sara Laudonia and David Roth. www.splitpillow.com

Chicago Poems
Gerard Jamroz' Carl Sandburg-inspired drama had its theatrical premiere Nov. 27 at the Gene Siskel Film Center. With Diane Wren, Robert Tobin, Tera Dunlap, Laura Donnelly, Phil Wasik, and Jamroz. Lincolnhead Productions. www.chicagopoems.com

Chicago Boricua
Marisol Torres' Humboldt Park drama, formerly Boricua, is due out on DVD Dec. 27 from Screen Media Ventures. Starring Aimee Garcia, Ramses Jimenez, Frankie Davila, Christina DeLeon and Victor Gonzalez. BDYD Productions. www.boricuamovie.com

Ed M. Koziarski is a Chicago filmmaker and journalist. He is developing the feature film Okinawa Project. edk@homesickblues.com