Chicago International Film Festival Closes 60th Year With Tribute to Robert Zemeckis and Screening of 'Forrest Gump' Reunion 'Here'

The Chicago International Film Festival concluded its 60th annual celebration on Sunday, October 27, 2024, by honoring legendary director and Chicago native Robert Zemeckis with the Founder’s Legacy Award. Festival founder Michael Kutza presented the award at the Music Box Theatre during the festival’s Closing Night, which featured a special screening of Zemeckis’ latest film, Here. […]

by Jessica Braun Gervais

Penelope Steiner’s Lifelong Love of Film Sparks $2M Gift, Fueling the Chicago International Film Festival’s 60th Year and Beyond

Penelope Steiner is a philanthropist and cinephile in equal measure. While Steiner has long supported prestigious cultural institutions like the Lyric Opera, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Joffrey Ballet, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Newberry Library, she walks into every movie screening with an open mind. Whether it’s a Bollywood import or Joker: Folie A […]

by Claire Zulkey

CineYouth Film Festival Celebrates Young Filmmakers From Around the World, Northwestern Students Awarded

Last month, Cinema/Chicago hosted the CineYouth film festival, an annual event showcasing short films made by young filmmakers from around the world. This year’s festival featured a variety of in-person programming from movie screenings, filmmaking workshops, and live Q&A sessions. After hosting the festival virtually last year, Ryan Saunders, director of CineYouth, was excited to […]

by Melissa Perry

Back to the Big Screen: Mill Valley Film Festival Returns to Form for 2021

Following an unprecedented, transformative 2020, the Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) begins its return to form in 2021. From opening night to closing night, from filmmaker Q&As to industry panels, MVFF is welcoming in-person audiences back with open arms this year. But rest assured, health and safety will take precedence over all. “There won’t be […]

by Bernard Boo

Women-Centric Films Star in DocLands Documentary Film Festival

Celebrating its fifth year, the DocLands Documentary Film Festival has been working to build an active, involved, and fully supportive community around documentary film since its launch in 2017. In a year where Covid-19 could have easily thrown a wrench into the works, we applaud festival director Joni Cooper for pulling off this event despite […]

by mimitowle

Paul Dano Talks 'Wildlife' and Making His Directorial Debut

When Paul Dano first discovered Richard Ford’s Wildlife, he was simply looking for a good book to read on the subway. What he found was the inspiration for his directorial debut. An acclaimed actor known for his work in Little Miss Sunshine, Love & Mercy, and There Will Be Blood, the 34-year-old Dano has long harbored the desire to […]

by Zack Ruskin

Paul Dano Talks ‘Wildlife’ and Making His Directorial Debut

When Paul Dano first discovered Richard Ford’s Wildlife, he was simply looking for a good book to read on the subway. What he found was the inspiration for his directorial debut. An acclaimed actor known for his work in Little Miss Sunshine, Love & Mercy, and There Will Be Blood, the 34-year-old Dano has long harbored the desire to […]

by Zack Ruskin

Catch Indie Films at Evanston’s Talking Pictures Film Festival

With Hollywood’s award season behind us, it’s time to take a fresh look at films.  Now in its third year, the Talking Pictures Festival has something of interest for everyone.   From April 14 – 17 at four Evanston venues, there are over 20 programs to choose from.  The schedule is loaded with independent, thought-provoking, […]

by Loree Sandler