Chicago International Film Festival

NAME OF FESTIVAL: Chicago International Film Festival

SINCE: 1964

WHERE: Chicago, Illinois, USA

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The Chicago International Film Festival is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America. The Festival was started in 1964 by filmmaker and graphic artist Michael Kutza to provide an alternative to the commercial Hollywood movies that dominated the city's theaters. The Festival opened in 1965 at the Carnegie Theater, where King Vidor, Bette Davis, and Stanley Kramer were honored for their contributions to American cinema. Since then, the Festival has grown to become a world-renowned annual event. The Festival is dedicated to fostering better understanding between cultures and to making a positive contribution to the art form of the moving image.

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Chicago International Film Festival

JAMES WHITE to Chicago Premiere at Chicago International Film Festival, James Mond, Christopher Abbott to Receive Emerging Artist Award

The 51st Chicago International Film Festival Junior Board will present the U.S. independent feature film James White as their Junior Board Night at the Festival on Saturday, October 17, 2015; and will present the Festival’s Emerging Artist Award to both director Josh Mond and actor Christopher Abbott. In this Sundance-winning drama directed by Josh Mond (producer of Martha Marcy May Marlene and Simon Killer), James White is an emotionally unstable young New Yorker processing the recent death […]

Michael Moore’s WHERE TO INVADE NEXT to Midwest Premiere at Chicago International Film Festival

Michael Moore’s latest film, Where To Invade Next, which World Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, will have its Midwest Premiere at the 51st Chicago International Film Festival on Friday, October 23, 2015 as Centerpiece Film. Director Michael Moore is scheduled to attend. What has lured Michael Moore, the documentary genre’s most entertaining rabble-rouser, back to feature films after a six-year hiatus? Only the future of his country, naturally. Where To Invade Next is an expansive, […]

16 Films in International Feature Competition at 51st Chicago International Film Festival

The 51st Chicago International Film Festival announced the sixteen films selected for its International Feature Competition. Films include the world premiere of Majid Barzegar’s A Very Ordinary Citizen (co-written by Jafar Panahi) (pictured above); the critically acclaimed relationship drama 45 Years, starring Tom Courtenay and Charlotte Rampling; Chronic, the latest film by Mexican filmmaker Michel Franco who previously won the Festival’s 2012 Silver Hugo Special Jury Prize for After Lucia; and Naomi Kawase’s delightfully poetic film about […]

2015 Chicago International Film Festival Announces Films in Premiere Heavy International Documentary Competition

2015 Chicago International Film Festival announces the lineup for its International Documentary Competition. Highlights of the International Documentary Competition include the World Premieres of Syl Johnson: Any Way The Wind Blows (pictured above), a Chicago-based portrait of the most sampled artist in hip-hop, and Motley’s Law, which follows tough-as-nails lawyer – and former Mrs. Wisconsin – Kimberley Motley, the only American allowed to practice law in Afghanistan. This diverse lineup of official selections includes the multi-award-winning Polish […]

2015 Chicago International Film Festival New Directors Competition Lineup Revealed

The Chicago International Film Festival taking place October 15 to 29, 2015, announced the lineup for its New Directors Competition. Films in the New Directors Competition are receiving their World, North American, or U.S. Premiere at the Festival. This diverse lineup includes the stunningly composed GREATER THINGS receiving its World Premiere; EMBERS (pictured above), a thought-provoking sci-fi film having its NorthAmerican Premiere; HECTOR with powerhouse actor Peter Mullan (War Horse) in his best performance in years; SPARROWS, a […]

Chicago International Film Festival Reveals City & State Lineup of Local Films

The 51st Chicago International Film Festival, taking place October 15 to 29, 2015, announced the film lineup for this year’s City & State program. The City & State program of narrative, documentary, and short films celebrates Illinois’ rich filmmaking tradition and showcases the best films with Illinois roots. Each Official Selection is eligible for the Chicago Award. With the largest number of local film selections to date, this year’s City & State program is led by […]

Pop Art-Inspired 2015 Chicago International Film Festival Official Poster Designed by Tsung-Hui Kuo-Crary

The 51st Chicago International Film Festival held this October 15-29, 2015, has selected Tsung-Hui (aka “Mavis”) Kuo-Crary! from Taiwan, the winner of its first-ever international poster design competition. The pop art-inspired design is the 2015 Chicago International Film Festival Official Poster. “We were overwhelmed by the impressive quality of each poster submitted to our worldwide design competition,” said Michael Kutza, the founder and Artistic Director of the Chicago International Film Festival. “We can’t wait to do this again next year!” […]

2015 Chicago International Film Festival Reveals First 24 Films + Events incl. Cannes Winner DHEEPAN

The 2015 Chicago International Film Festival, revealed the first 24 films and events to be featured at the festival taking place this October 15 to 29 2015.

“THE IMITATION GAME” “RED ARMY” Among Winners of Audience Choice Awards at Chicago International Film Festival

THE IMITATION GAME

The 50th Chicago International Film Festival announced the winners of the Audience Choice Awards, THE IMITATION GAME (UK/USA), directed by Morten Tyldum won the Audience Choice Award for Best Narrative English-Language Feature, THE 100-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT THE WINDOW AND DISAPPEARED (SWEDEN), directed by Felix Herngren won the Audience Choice Award for Best Narrative Foreign-Language Feature, and RED ARMY (USA), directed by Gabe Polsky won the Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary Feature.

Mohsen Mahkmalbaf’s “The President” Wins Gold Hugo For Best Film at Chicago International Film Festival

The President

Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Mahkmalbaf’s “The President” received the Gold Hugo for Best Film, the Festival’s highest honor, in the 50th Chicago International Film Festival Competitions. In this dark satire of power, dispossession and revenge from Iranian New Wave master Mohsen Makmalbaf (Kandahar), a dictator comes face to face with the people he previously subjugated. When a coup d’état overthrows a leader’s brutal rule and the rest of his family flees the country by plane, The President becomes a fugitive, along with his young grandson, and confronts, first-hand, the hardships and anger experienced by his own people. The Silver Hugo, Special Jury Prize went to “Refugiado” directed by Diego Lerman.

LABOR DAY and THE SACRAMENT Added to 49th Chicago International Film Festival Lineup

Ti West’s THE SACRAMENT starring Amy Seimetz and Joe Swanberg

Jason Reitman’s LABOR DAY starring Kate Winslet, Josh Broslin and Tobey Maguire and Ti West’s THE SACRAMENT starring Amy Seimetz and Joe Swanberg have been added to the the 49th Chicago International Film Festival lineup. The festival runs ths year from October 10 to 24, 2013.

African Films Under The Spotlight at 49th Chicago International Film Festival

Black South-Easter

African films will get international exposure at 49th Chicago International Film Festival, thanks to a three-year grant from the Academy Foundation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Spotlight Africa Program, the third year of the World Cinema Spotlight Program will highlight films from across the African continent including MANDELA: A LONG WALK TO FREEDOM, OF GOOD REPORT and the World Premiere of BLACK SOUTH-EASTER. The 49th Chicago International Film Festival runs October 10 to October 24, 2013.

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