Author Archive | Kasey Martin

Renowned Performer to Receive a Career Achievement Award at 21st Black Perspectives Tribute; Full Black Perspectives Program Also Announced

Actress Alfre Woodard will be honored with a Career Achievement Award as part of the 21st edition of the Festival’s Black Perspectives Program, which is generously supported by AARP Illinois. The award will be presented on Saturday, October 21 at a special event during the Festival to be held at the AMC River East 21 (322 E. Illinois St.) in Chicago.[…]

The 16 films selected for the New Directors Competition, celebrating first- and second-time feature filmmakers have been selected. With nearly half of the films directed by women—a new milestone in this competition—each filmmaker makes their World, North American, or U.S. premiere at the Festival’s 53rd edition. The films in the New Directors Competition introduce audiences to the world’s next generation of remarkable talents.

The New Directors Competition has long represented the defining spirit of the Chicago International Film Festival, which has been discovering and showcasing the work of new and rising talents for more than five decades.[…]

A Letter from Mimi Plauché, Artistic Director:

Welcome to the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival. It is an honor to serve as the new Artistic Director of Cinema/Chicago and the Chicago International Film Festival. Following the tradition pioneered by Michael Kutza, this year’s program is electrifying, challenging, and entertaining. We continue our passion for presenting highly anticipated awards-season contenders side by side with indie treasures and exciting new discoveries.

It’s another great year for film. This year’s program has an eclectic mix of genres and styles from dark comedies that will make you laugh in spite of yourself to intense psychological thrillers that will keep you on the edge of your seat and insightful documentaries that will dare you to engage with the world in deeper ways.[…]

Sixteen films have been selected for the International Competition category, a selection of outstanding films competing for the Festival’s top honor, the Gold Hugo. Eleven of the 16 films in this year’s International Competition are made by Festival alumni returning with their latest masterpieces, including previous Gold Hugo winners (Joanna Kos-Krause and Aki Kaurismäki) and Silver Hugo winners (Mohammad Rasoulof and Diego Lerman). The Competition is rounded out by a collection of internationally celebrated, award-winning filmmakers and directors with ambitious second feature-length films (Jimena Montemayor, Andrea Pallaoro, and Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza).[…]