Tuesday's the last full day of regular screenings at the Festival, and we've still got plenty of great films and special guests. You can see Backyard, No Hard Feelings!, Kanikosen, Who's Afraid of the Wolf, Nothing Personal, and Lost Times for only $5, or you can buy a Festival T-shirt (or sweatshirt or hoodie) to see our Surprise Film for free! Get your tickets now for a last chance to see Festival favorites and award winners at Best of the Fest on Wednesday, and close the 45th year in style at the Closing Night Film The Young Victoria.

Closing Night: Thursday, October 22, 2009

The Young Victoria
UK/USA
Director: Jean-Marc Vallee

In The Young Victoria, Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada) delivers an incredibly appealing performance as Queen Victoria in the turbulent first years of her reign. Rupert Friend (Pride & Prejudice) portrays Prince Albert, the suitor who wins her heart and becomes her partner in one of history's greatest romances. This love story, set amongst all the intrigue of the court, also features Paul Bettany (Iron Man, The Da Vinci Code), Miranda Richardson (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), Jim Broadbent (The Damned United, The Chronicles of Narnia), Thomas Kretschmann (Valkyrie), and Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes, Tristan & Isolde).

Thursday, October 22, 2009
Price: $100 (includes film and reception, event code EFVIC1)

7:00 pm Closing night screening of The Young Victoria
9:30 pm - 11:30 pm Cocktail reception with hors d'oeuvres

Best of the Fest lineup revealed!

Each year, we close the Festival with a bang by bringing back winning films from each of our competitive categories as well as a selection of Festival favorites! Find out which films are playing and buy your tickets in advance.

Against the Current
USA
Director: Peter Callahan
 
Paul, still wracked with grief five years after his wife's death, has a goal: to swim the entire length of the Hudson River in a month. His friends Jeff and Liz come along on the adventure, but they are dismayed when Paul reveals the true purpose behind his trip. By turns wry and sorrowful, this unconventional indie-drama-meets-road-trip-movie stars Joseph Fiennes, Justin Kirk, Elizabeth Reaser, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Mary Tyler Moore.

6:30 pm, Director Peter Callahan scheduled to attend.

Dear Doctor
Japan
Director Miwa Nishikawa

Lies told in the name of love and compassion are the focus of this beautiful psychological drama about a country doctor whose good intentions outstrip his honesty. Universally beloved by his community for his kindness and diligence, he abruptly leaves town one day, throwing it into turmoil. Astonishing secrets about his background soon surface, and the villagers must come to terms with this new knowledge of the man they so admire.
Japanese with subtitles.

5:30 pm, Director Miwa Nishikawa scheduled to attend.

Effi Briest
Germany
Director: Hermine Huntgeburth

In 19th-century Germany, 17-year-old Effi Briest sees her carefree life disappear when her parents marry her off to a man 20 years her senior. To find respite from her dull domestic existence, she begins an affair with a handsome young officer, but their dalliance carries a high cost.... This adaptation of the famous novel approaches the classic story through a post-women's-lib lens, allowing it to transcend costume-drama conventions.
German with subtitles.

8:30 pm, Director Hermine Huntgeburth scheduled to attend.

Made in Hungaria
Hungary
Director: Gergely Fonyó

It's rock 'n' roll versus communism in this rollicking musical comedy. Teen Miki and his parents return to oppressive 1960s Hungary after four years in the States. Miki's stash of contraband Jack Daniels and 45s by Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis makes him a hit with local kids starved for American pop culture—but it'll be harder to win over his ex-flame Vera, tough-guy rocker Röné... and especially the local comrades.
Hungarian with subtitles.

6:45 pm, Director Gergely Fonyó scheduled to attend.

My Neighbor, My Killer
France / USA
Director: Anne Aghion

"When you bear a child, you make its flesh, but not its heart." These are the words of a peasant woman reflecting on why neighbor turned on neighbor in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Ten years in the making, this documentary by award-winning filmmaker Anne Aghion follows the victims—and perpetrators—as they learn to live side by side in the aftermath of the genocide.
Kinyarwanda with subtitles.

6:15 pm, Director Anne Aghion scheduled to attend.

No Hard Feelings!
Belgium / France
Director: Yves Hanchar

It's 1955, and troublemaker Laurent finds himself at a Belgian boarding school, where a teacher there recognizes his intelligence and encourages him to write. As Laurent's talent develops, he adopts his inspiring teacher as a father figure, while at the same time wondering about his real father, who disappeared during the war. As Laurent investigates the past, he is forced to confront his present.
French with subtitles.

4:00 pm, Director Yves Hanchar scheduled to attend.

Shortchanged
India
Director: Raja Menon

Set in bustling contemporary Mumbai, Shortchanged is the comedic tale of three unlikely friends and flatmates whose attitudes couldn't be more different. Shulka is a reserved older man, Aman is a swaggering young go-getter, and Yadav is a thirtysomething pushover. When Yadav finds a new sense of self-confidence after stumbling into a petty crime, he tries to entice the others to join him, but his simple plan soon spirals out of control.
English, Hindi with subtitles.

9:15 pm, Director Raja Menon scheduled to attend.

Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman
USA
Director: Eric Bricker

In his eight-decade career, California-based Julius Shulman became the world's preeminent architecture photographer and the man who defined the way we view modernism. This visually inventive documentary— narrated by Dustin Hoffman—revisits with the joyful, whip-smart photographer some of the landmark houses he has immortalized on film. Shulman passed away in July at age 98, so Bricker's film has become a fitting eulogy to an American icon.

8:30 pm, Director Eric Bricker scheduled to attend.

Italy, the United States, and the United Kingdom were among the countries who took top honors at the 45th Chicago International Film Festival's Awards Night. The full list of winners was revealed Saturday night at the famed Pump Room at the Ambassador East Hotel. Mississippi Damned took home three awards, including the Festival's highest honor, the Gold Hugo. Italy's Vincere won four awards, including both acting prizes, and Fish Tank won two, including a Gold Plaque for actor Michael Fassbender, who also won at the Festival last year with Hunger. In the New Directors Competition, Gigante took the Gold Hugo and Made in China took Silver. Cooking History was named best documentary, and The History of Aviation won the top short film prize. The evening also had a surprise award: Martin Landau was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Visit the News page for a full list of award winners at the 45th Chicago International Film Festival.

Time is running out to see the biggest and best new movies from around the world. Sunday's going to be an exciting day, with the Gala Presentation of The Yellow Handkerchief to the acclaimed Red Riding trilogy screening all afternoon to the kid-friendly premiere of Astro Boy. Martin Landau will discuss North By Northwest, and guests dressed in drag will get in free to The 'Thank You' Girls. Come early to get tickets before they sell out, and make a whole day of it!

The Be All and End All
UK
Director: Bruce Webb

In this hilarious and heartwarming tale of true friendship, terminally ill teen Robbie doesn’t want to die a virgin, so it’s up to his lifelong mate Ziggy to get a girl into Robbie's bed...by any means necessary.

2:45 pm, Director Bruce Webb and Producer Michael Woodward scheduled to attend.

Berlin '36
Germany
Director: Kaspar Heidelbach

With Nazi-ruled Berlin facing boycotts of its 1936 Olympic Games if Jewish athletes aren't allowed to participate, party officials bully expat champion high jumper Gretel Bergmann into training alongside a team that reviles her. At the same time, they use über-athlete Marie Ketteler as a pawn in a covert campaign to defeat Gretel. This powerful true story celebrates the small triumphs strong-willed individuals can win over tyranny and hatred.
German with subtitles.

11:30 am, Director Kaspar Heidelbach scheduled to attend.

Don't Let Me Drown
USA
Director: Cruz Angeles

Two Brooklyn teens search for solace in a city brimming with hatred and trepidation in this comical and touching coming-of-age drama. A month after 9/11, Lalo and Stefanie meet at a birthday party. Lalo's father cleans up at Ground Zero, where Stefanie lost her sister in the attacks. As their friendship blossoms into a romance, they're forced to keep each other hidden from their families, each struggling with still-fresh wounds.

8:20 pm, Director Cruz Angeles scheduled to attend.

Hidden Diary
France
Director: Julie Lopes-Curval

While visiting her parents in France, Audrey discovers her grandmother's diary, the only memento of a woman who abandoned her family. Audrey's search for understanding uncovers a family secret buried under 50 years of silence, and ultimately illuminates her relationship with her own mother (Catherine Deneuve) and the deep, complex bonds between three generations of women.
English, French with subtitles.

8:00 pm, Director Julie Lopes-Curval and Producer Alain Benguigui scheduled to attend.

No Hard Feelings!
Belgium / France
Director: Yves Hanchar

It's 1955, and troublemaker Laurent finds himself at a Belgian boarding school, where a teacher there recognizes his intelligence and encourages him to write. As Laurent's talent develops, he adopts his inspiring teacher as a father figure, while at the same time wondering about his real father, who disappeared during the war. As Laurent investigates the past, he is forced to confront his present.
French with subtitles.

4:30 pm, Director Yves Hanchar scheduled to attend.

Northless
Mexico / Spain
Director: Rigoberto Pérezcano

An endless stretch of corrugated metal fencing and armed patrolmen aren't the only barriers keeping Andres from illegally jumping the Mexican border into the U.S. Failing at his first attempt, he is dumped into Tijuana, where two benevolent women care for him and vie for his attention, forcing him to confront issues beyond what it takes to survive a border crossing-questions of duty, family, and fidelity.
Spanish with subtitles.

7:00 pm, Director Rigoberto Pérezcano scheduled to attend.

Spy(ies)
France / UK
Director: Nicolas Saada

With explosive tension and stark cinematography, Spy(ies) is an intense throwback to classic '70s thrillers. French heartthrob Guillaume Canet stars as a bright but underachieving airport worker who gets his hands on the wrong bag-and finds himself thrust into a dangerous world of international agents and life-threatening secrets. This sexy spy flick also echoes the real-life anxieties of French society and plays on the unjust social prejudices wrought from a world of fear.
French with subtitles.

2:00 pm, Director Nicholas Saada scheduled to attend.

The 'Thank You' Girls
Philippines
Director: Charliebebs Gohetia

This celebration of a singular family of drag queens follows a hapless group of beauty pageant contestants who leave the big city in search of fame, glamour, and adoration out in the rural provinces. This lighthearted, brightly colored romp draws us in—past the girls' glamorous façades to their destructive everyday habits—as they tear through the Filipino countryside.
Visayan with subtitles.

8:00 pm, Producer Jim Hohl scheduled to attend.

Put on that pink wig, stuff that bra, or glue on that fake mustache… it’s time to bend your gender and celebrate the Chicago International Film Festival’s OUTrageous film series. Guys and gals dressed in drag get in free! Tickets for the suitably fabulous will be given out at the Rush Line at the AMC River East 21 theater and admission is first-come, first-served until capacity is reached.

Those Who Remain
Mexico
Directors: Carlos Hagerman and Juan Carlos Rulfo

This intimate documentary depicts the impact immigration has had on the families who have watched brothers, sons, and fathers leave Mexico in order to support their families. A film about nostalgia and longing for those who have left, Those Who Remain gently presents the gorgeous landscape of Mexico's ranchland and the quiet life of its inhabitants, those who have remained.
Spanish with subtitles.

12:00 pm, Director Carlos Hagerman scheduled to attend.

A Woman's Way
Greece
Director: Panos H. Koutras

Taboos of love, sex, and family are defiantly and happily broken in A Woman's Way. Following a love affair between an ex-con and a transsexual hooker, the film has a shocking twist echoing the classic tragedies of Greek theater. Vibrant colors and sensational costuming balance the deep-dark storyline, propelling this melodrama to sensational heights.
Greek with subtitles.

2:15 pm, Director Panos H. Koutras scheduled to attend.

The Festival wraps up on Thursday, but this is your last full weekend to take in one or two or 10 of of the 145 movies showing at the Festival this year. The weekend is our busiest time, so don’t forget to check the Updates section of www.chicagofilmfestival.com for information on sold-out screenings. The screenings of Videocracy, Air Doll, Who’s Afraid of the Wolf, Hidden Diary, Spy(ies), Women in Trouble, Eyes Wide Open, and Police, Adjective are nearly sold out for Saturday, so get to the theater early to try to score rush tickets, or take in another of the 30 films showing. Don’t forget to plan ahead for Closing Night, our free Surprise Film on Tuesday, and our Sunday screening of The ‘Thank You’ Girls that is free if you dress in drag!

Daniel & Ana
Mexico
Director: Michel Franco

Affluent and well-loved with bright futures, Daniel and Ana Torres have it all. But when the siblings are kidnapped on the streets of Mexico City, the two are given a heinous ultimatum that will change the rest of their lives. Deftly directed by Michel Franco, Daniel & Ana created a buzz at Cannes for its unsentimental handling of the story of two young lives utterly shattered.
Spanish with subtitles.

5:30 pm, Director Michel Franco and Producer Daniel Birman scheduled to attend.

Hidden Diary
France
Director: Julie Lopes-Curval

While visiting her parents in France, Audrey discovers her grandmother's diary, the only memento of a woman who abandoned her family. Audrey's search for understanding uncovers a family secret buried under 50 years of silence, and ultimately illuminates her relationship with her own mother (Catherine Deneuve) and the deep, complex bonds between three generations of women.
English, French with subtitles.

4:30 pm, Director Julie Lopes-Curval and Producer Alain Benguigui scheduled to attend.

The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond
USA
Director: Jodie Markell

How often do you hear about "the new Tennessee Williams film"? That's just what you get in this long-unproduced Southern Gothic tale Williams penned for director Elia Kazan in the '50s. Bryce Dallas Howard stars alongside Ellen Burstyn and Ann-Margret as a free-spirited young heiress who falls for a handsome but humble guy in this 1920s-set story of jealousy, status, and good old-fashioned backstabbery.

7:45 pm, Director Jodie Markell scheduled to attend.

Lovely, Still
USA
Director: Nicholas Fackler

Christmas brings elderly Robert Malone (Oscar® winner Martin Landau) an unexpected present: love. One evening when Robert returns to his lonely home, he finds a stranger (Oscar® winner Ellen Burstyn) in his living room. She's his new neighbor, and it isn't long before a romance begins to blossom. Robert's on cloud nine—his only worry is whether his health can keep up with his heart.

5:00 pm, Director Nicholas Fackler and Actor Martin Landau scheduled to attend.

Mississippi Damned
USA
Director: Tina Mabry
 
They weren't the first to dream of escaping their small Mississippi town, but—raised among their family's vicious cycle of abuse, addiction, and lies—three young black children learn the hard way that their dreams will never be enough. Based on a true story, Mississippi Damned is the brutally honest tale of what happens when a family's haven is also its prison.

2:45 pm, Director Tina Mabry and Producer Morgan Stiff scheduled to attend.

Persecution
France
Director: Patrice Chéreau

Daniel has a talent for making life go his way, but lately he's been put to the test by a stranger who follows him through the streets, to his job, to his apartment. And this strange relationship is not the only one wearing on him: His possessive attitude toward Sonia, his partner of three years, is slowly poisoning them both. Soon Daniel will discover how it feels to be both persecutor and persecuted.... Charlotte Gainsbourg, Romain Duris, and Jean-Hugues Anglade star in this psychological drama from provocative director Patrice Chéreau (Intimacy, Queen Margot).
French with subtitles.

6:00 pm, Director Patrice Chéreau, Career Achievement Award Recipient, scheduled to attend.

The Revenant
USA
Director: Kerry Prior

A zombie buddy comedy with political overtones? After being killed in combat, U.S. soldier Bart Gregory inexplicably rises from his grave-a walking, talking rotting corpse (or revenant), but otherwise himself. With the help of his friend Joey, he discovers he can not only keep from decomposing without killing the innocent but also clean up the mean streets of Los Angeles, all while cruising through the night in a 1979 Camaro.

11:15 pm, Director Kelly Prior scheduled to attend.

Shortchanged
India
Director: Raja Menon

Set in bustling contemporary Mumbai, Shortchanged is the comedic tale of three unlikely friends and flatmates whose attitudes couldn't be more different. Shulka is a reserved older man, Aman is a swaggering young go-getter, and Yadav is a thirtysomething pushover. When Yadav finds a new sense of self-confidence after stumbling into a petty crime, he tries to entice the others to join him, but his simple plan soon spirals out of control.
English, Hindi with subtitles.

2:00 pm, Director Raja Menon scheduled to attend.

Spy(ies)
France / UK
Director: Nicolas Saada

With explosive tension and stark cinematography, Spy(ies) is an intense throwback to classic '70s thrillers. French heartthrob Guillaume Canet stars as a bright but underachieving airport worker who gets his hands on the wrong bag-and finds himself thrust into a dangerous world of international agents and life-threatening secrets. This sexy spy flick also echoes the real-life anxieties of French society and plays on the unjust social prejudices wrought from a world of fear.
French with subtitles.

6:00 pm, Director Nicholas Saada scheduled to attend.

The 'Thank You' Girls
Philippines
Director: Charliebebs Gohetia

This celebration of a singular family of drag queens follows a hapless group of beauty pageant contestants who leave the big city in search of fame, glamour, and adoration out in the rural provinces. This lighthearted, brightly colored romp draws us in—past the girls' glamorous façades to their destructive everyday habits—as they tear through the Filipino countryside.
Visayan with subtitles.

10:30 pm, Producer Jim Hohl scheduled to attend.

A Woman's Way
Greece
Director: Panos H. Koutras

Taboos of love, sex, and family are defiantly and happily broken in A Woman's Way. Following a love affair between an ex-con and a transsexual hooker, the film has a shocking twist echoing the classic tragedies of Greek theater. Vibrant colors and sensational costuming balance the deep-dark storyline, propelling this melodrama to sensational heights.
Greek with subtitles.

8:00 pm, Director Panos H. Koutras scheduled to attend.

Who's Afraid of the Wolf?
Czech Republic
Director: Maria Procházková

In this fantastical fairy tale for all ages, the adults in young Terezka's life have suddenly begun to act oddly. Hushed conversations, a strange new character, and an unwanted revelation convince her that her mother is not who she seems. Terezka's imagination runs wild as she tries to understand the family crisis and wake up from what she hopes is a bad dream.
Czech with subtitles.

4:00 pm, Director Maria Procházková scheduled to attend.

Put on that pink wig, stuff that bra, or glue on that fake mustache… it’s time to bend your gender and celebrate the Chicago International Film Festival’s OUTrageous film series. Guys and gals dressed in drag get in free to the 8:00 pm screening of the Filipino film The 'Thank You' Girls on Sunday, Oct. 18! Tickets for the suitably fabulous will be given out at the Rush Line at the AMC River East 21 theater and admission is first-come, first-served until capacity is reached.

The 'Thank You' Girls (Philippines)
Director: Charliebebs Gohetia
This celebration of a singular family of drag queens follows a hapless group of beauty pageant contestants who leave the big city in search of fame, glamour, and adoration out in the rural provinces. This lighthearted, brightly colored romp draws us in—past the girls’ glamorous façades to their destructive everyday habits—as they tear through the Filipino countryside.
Visayan with subtitles

The Chicago International Film Festival staff show their drag spirit. Pictured left to right: Head of Programming Mimi Plauché, Founder and Artistic Director Michael Kutza, Documentary and Shorts Programmer Jesse Berkowitz, Education Program Administrator Rebecca Fons, Managing Director Vivian Teng (top right). 

We're gearing up for another great weekend jam-packed with movies. There are 21 screenings on Friday, and you can see Storm, Shorts 4: Escape and Rebellion, Green Waters, Straight to the Heart, Girls on the Wall, and Nymph for only five bucks! It's going to be a busy weekend, so act fast before your film sells out. The encore screening of Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push' by Sapphire is sold out, and there are only rush tickets available for Videocracy and Backyard. Remember, there's less than a week left of the Chicago International Film Festival, so come out and see all the films you can—this may be your only chance!

Kick off the weekend at the movies!

We’re gearing up for another great weekend jam-packed with movies. There are 21 screenings on Friday, and you can see Storm, Shorts 4: Escape and Rebellion, Green Waters, Straight to the Heart, Girls on the Wall, and Nymph for only five bucks! It’s going to be a busy weekend, so act fast before your film sells out. The encore screening of Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire is sold out, and there are only rush tickets available for Videocracy and Backyard. Remember, there’s less than a week left of the Chicago International Film Festival, so come out and see all the films you can—this may be your only chance!

Cinema/Chicago Junior board screening this Saturday; limited tickets still available

Women In Trouble
USA
Director: Sebastian Gutierrez

A pregnant porn star, a couple of call girls, a scorned psychiatrist, a teenage goth, a flight attendant with a crush on a famous passenger... the troubles of this cluster of LA women couldn't be more different, but on one crazy day feminine compassion will alter all of their lives. Devilish humor, razor-sharp scripting, and a knockout ensemble of talented actresses (including Carla Gugino, Connie Britton, and Marley Shelton) turn Trouble into pure pleasure.

7:00 pm, Director Sebastian Gutierrez scheduled to attend, with an after-party at the Underground from 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm.

Backyard / El traspatio
Mexico
Director: Carlos Carrera

Hundreds of women have gone missing or turned up dead in the border town of Juárez, Mexico, but new captain Blanca Bravo (Ana de la Reguera) is determined to stop the savagery. The director of The Crime of Father Amaro helms this chilling thriller, based on actual events.
Spanish, English, Tzotzil with English subtitles.

9:15 pm, Director Carlos Carrera scheduled to attend.
***Due to demand, an additional screening has been scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 16 at 3:30 pm.

Berlin '36
Germany
Director: Kaspar Heidelbach

With Nazi-ruled Berlin facing boycotts of its 1936 Olympic Games if Jewish athletes aren't allowed to participate, party officials bully expat champion high jumper Gretel Bergmann into training alongside a team that reviles her. At the same time, they use über-athlete Marie Ketteler as a pawn in a covert campaign to defeat Gretel. This powerful true story celebrates the small triumphs strong-willed individuals can win over tyranny and hatred.
German with subtitles.

8:15 pm, Director Kaspar Heidelbach scheduled to attend.

Blue
USA
Director: Ryan Miningham

Murder. Robbery. Abandonment. Gary "Blue" Meekins' past is one he'd prefer not to remember. Even after surviving the rough streets of Harlem, Blue finds himself struggling to make it through the days. Now, with the help of an old coach and his emotionally damaged neighbor, this burgeoning prizefighter is finally getting his shot at the title. But after so much, will Blue make it to the fight of his life?

8:30 pm, Director Ryan Miningham, Producers Wayne Barrow and Jamie Guest and Actress Daya Vaidya scheduled to attend.

Just Walking
Mexico / Spain
Director: Agustín Díaz Yanes

Revenge is a dish served smoking hot and lightning-quick in this full-throttle heist flick. When macho Mexican crime lord Felix and his brooding, baby-faced triggerman (Diego Luna) cross a quartet of sexy Spanish safecrackers, they'll find out that hell truly hath no fury like a gang of tough-as-nails women out to settle a score.
Spanish with subtitles.

8:15 pm, Actor Jose Manuel Lorenzo scheduled to attend.

Mississippi Damned
USA
Director: Tina Mabry
 
They weren't the first to dream of escaping their small Mississippi town, but—raised among their family's vicious cycle of abuse, addiction, and lies—three young black children learn the hard way that their dreams will never be enough. Based on a true story, Mississippi Damned is the brutally honest tale of what happens when a family's haven is also its prison.

6:00 pm, Director Tina Mabry and Producer Morgan Stiff scheduled to attend.

The Revenant
USA
Director: Kerry Prior

A zombie buddy comedy with political overtones? After being killed in combat, U.S. soldier Bart Gregory inexplicably rises from his grave-a walking, talking rotting corpse (or revenant), but otherwise himself. With the help of his friend Joey, he discovers he can not only keep from decomposing without killing the innocent but also clean up the mean streets of Los Angeles, all while cruising through the night in a 1979 Camaro.

10:45 pm, Director Kelly Prior scheduled to attend.

Shortchanged
India
Director: Raja Menon

Set in bustling contemporary Mumbai, Shortchanged is the comedic tale of three unlikely friends and flatmates whose attitudes couldn't be more different. Shulka is a reserved older man, Aman is a swaggering young go-getter, and Yadav is a thirtysomething pushover. When Yadav finds a new sense of self-confidence after stumbling into a petty crime, he tries to entice the others to join him, but his simple plan soon spirals out of control.
English, Hindi with subtitles.

7:00 pm, Director Raja Menon scheduled to attend.

Those Who Remain
Mexico
Directors: Carlos Hagerman and Juan Carlos Rulfo

This intimate documentary depicts the impact immigration has had on the families who have watched brothers, sons, and fathers leave Mexico in order to support their families. A film about nostalgia and longing for those who have left, Those Who Remain gently presents the gorgeous landscape of Mexico's ranchland and the quiet life of its inhabitants, those who have remained.
Spanish with subtitles.

8:45 pm, Director Carlos Hagerman scheduled to attend.

Who's Afraid of the Wolf?
Czech Republic
Director: Maria Procházková

In this fantastical fairy tale for all ages, the adults in young Terezka's life have suddenly begun to act oddly. Hushed conversations, a strange new character, and an unwanted revelation convince her that her mother is not who she seems. Terezka's imagination runs wild as she tries to understand the family crisis and wake up from what she hopes is a bad dream.
Czech with subtitles.

5:45 pm, Director Maria Procházková scheduled to attend.

You’ve only got one more week to see the biggest films in international cinema. Have you heard the buzz about The Be All and End All or Backyard? Into discovering new talent? Check out the short film program Shorts 4: Escape and Rebellion or the directorial debut Claustrophobia. Like movies on the cheap? See The Last Days of Emma Blank, Against the Current, The Moon Inside You, Mother, Revenge, and Hidden Diary for five bucks Thursday afternoon. Films sell out ahead of time, so for Thursday please note that Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno is sold out and I Know a Woman Like That, Fish Tank, and Face have only Rush Tickets available. It’s going to be another busy weekend at the theater, so pick up your tickets for other shows when the box office lines are slow. Don’t forget to start planning ahead for Best of the Fest day (Wednesday, Oct. 21) and the Closing Night film The Young Victoria.... 

Backyard / El traspatio
Mexico
Director: Carlos Carrera

Hundreds of women have gone missing or turned up dead in the border town of Juárez, Mexico, but new captain Blanca Bravo (Ana de la Reguera) is determined to stop the savagery. The director of The Crime of Father Amaro helms this chilling thriller, based on actual events.
Spanish, English, Tzotzil with English subtitles.

6:30 pm, Director Carlos Carrera scheduled to attend.
***Due to demand, an additional screening has been scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 16 at 3:30 pm.

The Be All and End All
UK
Director: Bruce Webb

In this hilarious and heartwarming tale of true friendship, terminally ill teen Robbie doesn’t want to die a virgin, so it’s up to his lifelong mate Ziggy to get a girl into Robbie's bed...by any means necessary.

8:45 pm, Director Bruce Webb and Producer Michael Woodward scheduled to attend.

Berlin '36
Germany
Director: Kaspar Heidelbach

With Nazi-ruled Berlin facing boycotts of its 1936 Olympic Games if Jewish athletes aren't allowed to participate, party officials bully expat champion high jumper Gretel Bergmann into training alongside a team that reviles her. At the same time, they use über-athlete Marie Ketteler as a pawn in a covert campaign to defeat Gretel. This powerful true story celebrates the small triumphs strong-willed individuals can win over tyranny and hatred.
German with subtitles.

6:30 pm, Director Kaspar Heidelbach scheduled to attend.

Blue
USA
Director: Ryan Miningham

Murder. Robbery. Abandonment. Gary "Blue" Meekins' past is one he'd prefer not to remember. Even after surviving the rough streets of Harlem, Blue finds himself struggling to make it through the days. Now, with the help of an old coach and his emotionally damaged neighbor, this burgeoning prizefighter is finally getting his shot at the title. But after so much, will Blue make it to the fight of his life?

6:15 pm, Director Ryan Miningham, Producer Wayne Barrow, Producer Jamie Guest and Actress Daya Vaidya scheduled to attend.

I Know a Woman Like That
USA
Director: Elaine Madsen

The world is full of women who sidestepped retirement to pursue their passion. In this inspiring doc, Emmy® winner Elaine Madsen (alongside her actress daughter Virginia Madsen, who produced) sits down with more than a dozen of them—including Rita Moreno, Eartha Kitt, and Evanston mayor Lorraine Morton—to reflect on their extraordinary accomplishments.

3:45 pm, Director Elaine Madsen and Actress and Producer Virginia Madsen scheduled to attend.

Lost Times
Hungary
Director: Áron Mátyássy

A car mechanic who moonlights as a smuggler, Iván Priskin finds himself wanting to chase his dreams but remaining rooted by his sense of obligation. Iván's autistic sister Eszter depends on him for survival, motivating him to strive for more while at the same time confining him to a countryside largely devoid of both hope and opportunity. When a tragedy befalls Eszter, Iván must renegotiate the relationship between his own self-interest and his love for his sister.
Hungarian with subtitles.

8:00 pm, Director Áron Mátyássy scheduled to attend.

Mississippi Damned
USA
Director: Tina Mabry
 
They weren't the first to dream of escaping their small Mississippi town, but—raised among their family's vicious cycle of abuse, addiction, and lies—three young black children learn the hard way that their dreams will never be enough. Based on a true story, Mississippi Damned is the brutally honest tale of what happens when a family's haven is also its prison.

3:45 pm, Director Tina Mabry and Producer Morgan Stiff scheduled to attend.

The Moon Inside You
Slovakia / Spain
Director: Diana Fabiánová

Entertaining and surprisingly inviting, The Moon Inside You takes viewers on an international trek exploring the myths, phobias, quackery, and physiology of menstruation. Combining personal experience with the social stigmas associated with basic female functions, this insightful documentary uses humor, spontaneous interviews, and even Claymation to allay the fears of many viewers and offer welcome information and insight to many more.

3:45 pm, Director Diana Fabiánová and Producer Jero Molero scheduled to attend.

The work week’s half over, and there’s no better way to celebrate than with a movie. Or if you’ve got the afternoon off, pop in for $5 showings of The Maid, Gigante, Shorts 3: Rediscovery, Eye of the Storm, and Nothing Personal.  Tonight is the Festival Centerpiece gala for Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire. The event is sold out, but a limited number of rush tickets will be available, and there are plenty of other great films to check out tonight. When the lines die down, don’t forget to pick up your tickets for other shows, and keep checking our Updates section on the site for up-to-date information on sold-out and rush-only screenings.

NEW FILM ADDED!

A Single Man
USA
Director: Tom Ford

Iconic fashion designer Tom Ford—the mastermind behind designer labels like Gucci, YSL, and his own eponymous line—makes his directorial debut with the richly detailed and aesthetically brilliant A Single Man. Starring Colin Firth and Julianne Moore, the film is set in Los Angeles in 1962 at the height of the Cuban missile crisis. Gay British college professor George Falconer (Firth) is struggling to find meaning to his life after the death of his longtime partner. The story is a romantic tale of love interrupted, the isolation that is an inherent part of the human condition, and ultimately the importance of the seemingly smaller moments in life.

Monday, October 19, 2009
8:30 pm – $12/$9

FESTIVAL CENTERPIECE

Precious: Based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire
USA
Director: Lee Daniels

The story of 16-year-old "Precious" Jones—the victim of physical and emotional abuse by her father and poisonously angry mother—is sculpted into a vibrant, honest, and resoundingly hopeful film about the human capacity to grow and overcome.

Director Lee Daniels and actress Gabourey Sidibe scheduled to attend.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Prices:
$50 (tribute and film only, event code EFPRE1-A) /
$100 VIP (includes reception, event code EFPRE1-L)

6:00 pm Red carpet arrivals
6:30 pm Centerpiece screening of Precious
8:30 pmTribute hosted by Robin Robinson, Fox News Chicago
9:00 pm Q & A with honoress Lee Daniels and Gabourey Sidibe

9:30 pm - 11:30 pm Centerpiece reception featuring DJ Frankie Knuckles. Cocktail reception with hors d'oeuvres.
GAR Hall and Rotunda | Chicago Cultural Center (77 E. Randolph St.)

Eye of the Storm / No Meu Lugar
Brazil/Portugal
Director: Eduardo Valente

In the aftermath of an accidental death, three stories build to a gripping and unexpected climax, reminding us that the past is very much part of the present unless one is ready to let it go.
Portuguese with English subtitles.

3:30 pm, Director Eduardo Valente scheduled to attend.

Gigante
Uruguay
Director: Adrián Biniez

This gentle and subtly humorous one-sided love story follows Jara, a shy, heavyset supermarket security guard whose humdrum life is turned upside down when he notices his coworker Julia on the security monitors. Jara's fascination soon moves off the video screens and into the streets, but when rumors of layoffs begin to circulate at work, Jara realizes he must make a move or risk never seeing her again.
Spanish with subtitles.

3:45 pm, Director Adrián Biniez and cast scheduled to attend.

Green Waters / Aguas Verdes
Argentina
Director: Mariano De Rosa

Juan can't wait to start his family holiday at the beach, but a deep reserve of paternal paranoia is tapped when his teenage daughter meets leather-jacket-wearing, motorcycle-riding Roberto at a gas station on the way. Roberto resurfaces at the beach, and soon Juan's whole family is smitten by his charms. Subtle suspense—often hidden by sun-bright visuals and comedy—builds to a stunning climax in this offbeat debut.
Spanish with subtitles.

3:45 pm, Director Mariano De Rosa scheduled to attend.

Just Walking
Mexico / Spain
Director: Agustín Díaz Yanes

Revenge is a dish served smoking hot and lightning-quick in this full-throttle heist flick. When macho Mexican crime lord Felix and his brooding, baby-faced triggerman (Diego Luna) cross a quartet of sexy Spanish safecrackers, they'll find out that hell truly hath no fury like a gang of tough-as-nails women out to settle a score.
Spanish with subtitles.

8:15 pm, Director Augustin Diaz scheduled to attend.

Little Moscow / Mala Moskwa
Poland
Director: Waldemar Krystek

In the late 1960s, the military moves Russian pilot Yuri and his beautiful wife Vera to the town of Legnica, headquarters for the Soviet Army in Poland. While fraternizing between the Russian occupiers and local Poles is strictly controlled, Vera's enchanting performance in a singing contest ignites a deep passion in Polish lieutenant Michal and the two must choose between loyalty and love. Seeking truth and redemption in the past, Yuri and his daughter return to Legnica 30 years later.
Polish with subtitles.

5:45 pm, Actor Leslaw Zurek scheduled to attend.

Lost Times
Hungary
Director: Áron Mátyássy

A car mechanic who moonlights as a smuggler, Iván Priskin finds himself wanting to chase his dreams but remaining rooted by his sense of obligation. Iván's autistic sister Eszter depends on him for survival, motivating him to strive for more while at the same time confining him to a countryside largely devoid of both hope and opportunity. When a tragedy befalls Eszter, Iván must renegotiate the relationship between his own self-interest and his love for his sister.
Hungarian with subtitles.

6:00 pm, Director Áron Mátyássy scheduled to attend.

The Moon Inside You
Slovakia / Spain
Director: Diana Fabiánová

Entertaining and surprisingly inviting, The Moon Inside You takes viewers on an international trek exploring the myths, phobias, quackery, and physiology of menstruation. Combining personal experience with the social stigmas associated with basic female functions, this insightful documentary uses humor, spontaneous interviews, and even Claymation to allay the fears of many viewers and offer welcome information and insight to many more.

8:00 pm, Director Diana Fabiánová and Producer Jero Molero scheduled to attend.

Nothing Personal / Rien de personnel
France
Director: Mathias Gokalp

The canapés are set, the string quartet is playing, and the champagne is flowing. The Muller pharmaceutical company is hosting a swank company banquet for its execs, but when the rumbling rumor of an imminent buyout and layoffs turns to a roar, suddenly it's survival of the fittest.... Cleverly constructed and darkly funny, Nothing Personal puts a fresh, timely spin on the cutthroat nature of corporate—and human—relationships.
French with subtitles.

4:30 pm, Director Mathias Gokalp scheduled to attend.

A Place of One's Own / Yi Shi Zhi De
Taiwan/Hong Kong
Director: Lou Yi-an

The search for a home dominates the lives of a diverse group of strangers in the directing debut from the writer of God Man Dog. Lou Yi-an subtly interweaves the stories of a struggling indie rocker and an ailing origami master, whose fates collide over an inauspicious real estate deal. A sympathetic cast brings the characters to life, and the radiant cinematography illuminates many sides of contemporary Taipei.
Mandarin, Taiwanese, Amis with subtitles.

5:30 pm, Director Ramy Choi and Actor Mo Tzu Yi scheduled to attend.

Well, you're not going to find a film more intense than Antichrist at the Festival this year... or well, anywhere. The film's star, Willem Dafoe, arrived for a special tribute and to receive the Festival's Career Achievement Award. He purposely said little about the film at the outset, instead welcoming the sold-out audience to join in a conversation afterward. After the credits rolled, Chicago Tribune film critic Michael Phillips talked to the stunned crowd as they waited for Dafoe to return (traffic on the way back from dinner made him a few minutes late). The notoriously intense actor then bounded into the theater, all smiles, apologizing for the delay. The audience stuck mostly to questions about possible interpretations of the film (there were also some tangents about the Boondock Saints sequel that Dafoe won't be participating in, as well as some talk about his upcoming projects). Knowing they'd just witnessed one of the heaviest films they'd perhaps ever seen, the charismatic Dafoe also injected some humor into the Q & A, forcing the crowd into welcome fits of laughter several times.

This week brings high-profile films like Antichrist and Festival Centerpiece Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, but don’t be afraid to branch out with a great under-the-radar film. And of course, don’t forget to take advantage of our 5 X 5 offer: On Tuesday afternoon you can see Plastic City, Love & Savagery, Eccentricities of a Blond Hair Girl, Cedar Boys, Prank, Made in China, Cooking History, and Give Me Your Hand for only five bucks! And while you’re there, pick up your tickets for the weekend to avoid long lines at the box office.

As Monday rolls around, don't forget about our new 5 X 5 offer: All Monday-Thursday screenings starting at 5:00 pm or sooner are only $5! On Monday, October 12, you can see Eastern Plays, About Elly, The Long Night, Rain, Cooking History, and Northless for five bucks! And while you're here, you can take advantage of shorter lines to pick up tickets for other primetime screenings. Due to great demand, screenings sell out in advance, so remember to arrive early to avoid lines at the box office!

A Place of One's Own / Yi Shi Zhi De
Taiwan/Hong Kong
Director: Lou Yi-an

The search for a home dominates the lives of a diverse group of strangers in the directing debut from the writer of God Man Dog. Lou Yi-an subtly interweaves the stories of a struggling indie rocker and an ailing origami master, whose fates collide over an inauspicious real estate deal. A sympathetic cast brings the characters to life, and the radiant cinematography illuminates many sides of contemporary Taipei.
Mandarin, Taiwanese, Amis with subtitles.

8:00 pm, Actor Mo Tzu Yi scheduled to attend.

Antichrist
Denmark/Germany
Director: Lars von Trier

Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg star in this dark, erotic love story from the controversial writer/director of Dogville, Dancer in the Dark, and Breaking the Waves. A grieving couple retreats to an isolated cabin in the woods to repair their broken hearts and troubled marriage. But nature takes its course, and things go from bad to worse....

7:00 pm, Actor Willem Dafoe scheduled to attend.

Beyond Ipanema
Brazil/USA
Director: Guto Barra

Starting in the '40s with Carmen Miranda and continuing ever since, Brazil's music has created waves across the globe. Featuring infectious samples of different musical styles and interviews with David Byrne, Devendra Banhart, M.I.A., Os Mutantes, Seu Jorge, Thievery Corporation, CSS, Creed Taylor, and many others, this vibrant documentary explores how the inimitable sound and spirit of Brazilian music has been adopted and transformed throughout the world.

6:15 pm, Producer Beco Dranoff scheduled to attend.

Gigante
Director: Adrián Biniez

This gentle and subtly humorous one-sided love story follows Jara, a shy, heavyset supermarket security guard whose humdrum life is turned upside down when he notices his coworker Julia on the security monitors. Jara's fascination soon moves off the video screens and into the streets, but when rumors of layoffs begin to circulate at work, Jara realizes he must make a move or risk never seeing her again.
Spanish with subtitles.

5:30 pm, Director Adrián Biniez and cast scheduled to attend.

Straight to the Heart/ En Plein Coeur
Canada
Director: Stéphane Gehami

Amid the low-rent neighborhoods of Montreal, the true nature of a career criminal is slowly unveiled in this grittily realistic, romantic character drama. Benoît is a car thief perpetually running from the police, his family, his ex-lovers, and a 13-year-old hood who badly needs a father figure. But after he falls for the lovely Sylvie while trying to boost her car, can Benoît commit to turning his life around?
French with subtitles.

8:30 pm, Director Stéphane Gehami scheduled to attend.

(left to right: director Brian Caunter, actors Mike Starr, Danny Goldring, Kathrine Narducci. Frank Vincent)

The good fellas (and lady) behind homegrown gangster flick Chicago Overcoat got a royal welcome at the film's world premiere Saturday. The local production team--twentysomething Columbia College grads who went on to form Beverly Ridge Pictures--and big-name mob movie actors drew a huge crowd that stayed for a question and answer session following the screening.

Legendary director John Woo was on hand Friday for the US premiere of Red Cliff at the Chicago International Film Festival Friday night. Mr. Woo walked the red carpet before his rousing welcome in the sold-out theater. Monica Chen from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York spoke about how the film represents Woo's first Chinese production in a decade before the gracious director introduced the film. Afterward, the capacity crowd had plenty of questions about the film's spectacular battle sequences and the deeper thematic meanings behind them. Autograph and photo hounds swarmed the director as he made his way out of the theater, and word of mouth must've spread quickly--there was a palpable buzz leading up to Saturday's encore screening.

It's official: Chicagoans love their movies. This weekend has been jam-packed with buzzed-about movies, from the breakout hit Hipsters to the homegrown short films in the Illinois[e]makers program to the zombies and ghosts of After Dark films The Revenant and The Eclipse. The action continues Sunday with the premiere of Lone Scherfig's An Education and an encore screening of The Messenger, two surefire Oscar contenders, among the day's two dozen films. Screenings start at noon, so head down to the AMC River East 21 early to get your tickets!

The first full day of the Festival was a hit yesterday with legendary director John Woo on hand for the premiere of his third-century war epic Red Cliff and the filmmakers and star of the acclaimed indie comedy Made In China talking to their delighted crowd. The fun continues today with more than two dozen screenings and tons of special-guest filmmakers in attendance. Director Oren Moverman and actor Ben Foster will walk the red carpet for the premiere of their incredible drama The Messenger. Director Brian Caunter and his team of local filmmakers will join actor Frank Vincent and the cast of gangster flick Chicago Overcoat at the film’s world premiere. Screenings start at noon, and our After Dark films go til the wee hours—and now that we’ve got all of our films under one roof and partnered with the best neighborhood restaurants and bars for festivalgoer specials, you can make a whole day of it!

Click here to see a full list of Festival screenings and up-to-the-minute schedule updates.