About Chicago Media Angels
Chicago Media Angels (CMA) is an independent film finance and executive production company, founded in 2015 by Ted Reilly with co-founders Mark Glassgow and Kelly Waller, and headquartered at Rock River Studios in Dixon, Illinois. The team is based in the Chicago area. We develop, finance and executive-produce feature films and digital media, with a focus on Chicago and Midwest filmmakers.
Executive production
CMA's executive producers, Ted Reilly, Mark Glassgow and Kelly Waller, work on feature films and digital media projects, supporting creative teams from development and financing through production, festivals and release.
Film financing
CMA helps finance many of the films it executive-produces, and selected projects led by other producers. We look for strong stories and experienced creative teams.
See our independent films, their festival selections and awards, and press coverage.
Frequently asked questions
What does Chicago Media Angels do?
Chicago Media Angels (CMA) is an independent film finance and executive production company founded in 2015. We help filmmakers develop, finance and complete feature films and digital media, and bring them to festivals and audiences.
What does CMA look for in a project?
We look for strong, distinctive stories, experienced creative teams with a clear vision, and projects with a realistic plan for production and release. Many of our films are made by Chicago and Midwest filmmakers, but we also work on projects made elsewhere.
What stages does CMA support?
We can be involved at many stages, from development and packaging through financing, production, post-production and festival release.
How do filmmakers submit a project?
Use our contact form to tell us about your project, including the logline, the creative team and where the project stands. We review every inquiry and follow up when there is a fit. Please do not send investment inquiries through this form.
What does an executive producer credit from CMA mean?
As an executive producer, CMA supports a film at the business and strategic level. That can include development notes, packaging, helping put financing together, production oversight, and festival and release strategy, while the director and producers lead the creative work. An executive producer credit does not by itself mean CMA financed the film.
Why Illinois, Rock River Studios and Chicago?
CMA was built to support independent storytellers in Chicago and the Midwest, and many of our films are made in Illinois. The company is headquartered at Rock River Studios, 4452 W. Edgewood Road, Dixon, IL 61021, and the team is based in the Chicago area.
What are some notable CMA films and festivals?
Films CMA has supported include The Year Between (Tribeca 2022; Audience Choice Award, tie, Chicago International 2022), The Secret Art of Human Flight (Tribeca 2023), Come As You Are (SXSW 2019), Pools (Audience Award, SXSW Sydney 2024), Adult Children (Best International Independent Film, Galway Film Fleadh 2025) and BRB (Slamdance 2026). See the full, sourced list of festival selections and awards.