Music video director Cole Bennett to appear at City of Lights Film Festival in Aurora

AURORA, Ill. (CBS) — Cole Bennett of Lyrical Lemonade will be among those attending and speaking the City of Lights Film Festival in Aurora coming up next weekend.
It may be Paris that’s known around the world as La Ville Lumière, or the City of Light—some say this is because of its role as an intellectual and philosophical hub during the Age of Enlightenment, while others say it’s because of the early adoption of streetlights in the French capital.
But as many sources are quick to point out, Paris is the City of Light, not the City of Lights. The City of Lights is Aurora, Illinois, which was one of the first cities in the U.S. to light its streets with electricity in 1881.
Aurora proudly invokes its nickname for the City of Lights Film Festival, which opens Friday, Nov. 8. A highlight of the festival is the Aurora premiere of the family dramedy, “All Happy Families,” directed by Haroula Rose and starring Josh Radnor, Chandra Russell, and Rob Heubel.
“All Happy Families” was shot and set in Chicago. The Aurora screening will be held Friday, Nov. 8, at the Two Brothers Roundhouse in downtown Aurora, and cast and crew will join guests in the Tavern Room afterward. The opening night also includes a cocktail hour and a community panel with local film groups.
On Saturday, Nov. 9, three venues in downtown Aurora will screen independent films. Documentaries, features, and short films will be screened, along with music videos, the city said.
Among those selected for entry in the City of Lights Film Festival are “Good One,” the 2024 Sundance Official Selection, and “Brimstone & Glory,” a Spanish-language documentary focusing on the community of Tultepec, Mexico—home to the National Pyrotechnic Festival.
As the festival concludes that night, Bennett, founder of the music video production company Lyrical Lemonade, will speak about his work and his history of directing artists in Chicago. This event will be held at The Venue, at 21 S. Broadway in Aurora.
“I spent a lot of my formative years in Aurora, Illinois, shot a lot of music videos when I was in high school in Aurora, Illinois, and it’s just all around a very special city to me,” Bennett said in announcing his appearance.
In addition to talking about his work, Bennett will be presenting the award for Best Music Video at the festival.
Tickets to the festival are available now.