AIFF Opening Night Party and Screening of 'A Life Illuminated'

Presenting the premiere of 'A Life Illuminated'

Celebrate Opening Night of the sixth annual AfterImage Film Festival at the Charlestowne Cinema! We will be presenting the 'A Life Illuminated' by filmmaker Tasha Van Zandt.

Starting at 5:30pm, guests will be treated to an open bar of beer and wine, and selection of heavy hor d'oeuvres courtesy of Le Truff Noir. The film screening will begin at 7:00pm. Filmmaker, Tasha van Zandt will be with us at the screening to participate in a Q&A with the audience.

All tickets $50*. More information at afterimagefilmfestival.com

*Please note that All Access Badges do not including the Opening Night Party

Event Info

What: AIFF Opening Night 2026

Where: Classic Cinemas Charlestowne 18

When: Thursday, April 23, 2026

Time: 5:30pm Reception / 7:00pm Film Screening

Address: 3740 E Main St, St. Charles, IL 60174

About the film

‘A Life Illuminated’ follows trailblazing marine biologist Dr. Edie Widder—one of the first women in her field and one of the first humans to explore the ocean’s twilight zone—as she descends 3,300 feet into the ocean’s darkest depths. From capturing the first-ever footage of the elusive giant squid to unveiling the glowing mysteries of deep-sea bioluminescence, Edie embarks on her most daring quest yet: to document a bioluminescent phenomenon that could forever change how we understand life on Earth.