Cinema Chicago

The 57th Chicago International Film Festival, North America’s longest-running competitive film festival, today announced the winners of its 2021 competitions. In a virtual ceremony live-streamed via the Festival’s YouTube channel, the Festival awarded prizes in the following categories: International Feature Film Competition, New Directors Competition, International Documentary Competition, OutLook Competition, and Short Film Competitions, as well as the Chicago Award for an outstanding film in the City & State program.

The Gold Hugo in the International Competition went to MEMORIA, Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s beguiling, beautiful film following a Scotswoman (Tilda Swinton) living in Bogotá haunted by a noise that only she seems to hear.[…]

German filmmaker and photo artist Franziska Stünkel’s film The Last Execution (Nahschuss) is a historical drama telling the story of Werner Teske, a scientist-turned Stasi spy who became the last person executed in East Germany. Stünkel is in Chicago for the international premiere of her gripping film — don’t miss the next screening on Thursday Oct. 21 at 5:15pm, with a special Q&A following the film.

We’re thrilled to host Stünkel in Chicago, and we sat down with her to ask her some questions about being back in the theatre and her favorite filmmakers.[…]