2021

Emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Festival presents a hybrid virtual and in-person program while expanding its venue offerings and introducing community screenings in partnership with the Chicago Parks Department. Director Todd Haynes participates in a virtual Q&A at the Opening Night at the Drive-In presentation of The Velvet Underground, and the Festival hosts screenings of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, Pablo Larrian’s Spencer, and Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel. Sir Kenneth Branagh is honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at a screening of Belfast, and Rebecca Hall receives an Artistic Achievement Award at a special presentation of Passing. Audiences turn out in droves to support films focusing on local heroes: Love, Charlie, about famous Chicago chef Charlie Trotter, and Punch 9 For Harold Washington, about the legendary Chicago mayor. Competitions winners include Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Memoria and Ryuske Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car.