Chicago International Film Festival

CHICAGO – One of the best and more emotional films of 2019 is “Waves,” the third film of director Trey Edward Shults (“It Comes at Night”). The eclectic filmmaker explores the viability of family when a crisis occurs, especially through the young actors portraying brother and sister, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Taylor Russell.

CHICAGO – It has almost become a sure fact of life that film documentaries have become a focused way to receive vital news/information. Documentarian Lauren Greenfield (“Generation Wealth”) exposes a revelation in “The Kingmaker” … that the Marcos family, once part of a dictatorship, is coming back to power in the Philippines.

CHICAGO – Closing Night of the 55th Chicago International Film Festival was a celebration of a great one, the legendary Blues Man Buddy Guy, who came to Chicago in 1957 and made his mark on music from then on and forever. Filmmaker Jim Farrell captures it all in “The Torch,” the Closing Night documentary.

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Gigi Pritzker, Producer of Opening Night film ‘Motherless Brooklyn.’

CHICAGO – That’s a wrap! The 55th Chicago International Film Festival, which concluded on Sunday, October 27th, brought glam and excitement to a high energy audience of Windy City film buffs. And they brought the star power to the Red Carpet, including Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne, WWE legend C.M.

CHICAGO – It was a Tribute Night at the 55th Chicago International Film Festival on October 26th, 2019, and the honoree was actor Gael García Bernal (“Mozart in the Jungle,” “Coco”), who was showcasing his latest film as director, “Chicuarotes.” A large gathering of his ardent fan base surrounded his walk on the Red Carpet before the screening.

CHICAGO – The Chicago International Film Festival is competitive, and the 55th edition presented its awards on October 25th, 2019, at CHEZ venue in Chicago. The winner of the Gold Hugo as Best International Film was “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” (France), directed by Céline Sclamma.

CHICAGO – Closing Night at the 55th Chicago International Film Festival will have a decidedly Chicago-centric feel. The legendary Buddy Guy, the Blues guitar man from Louisiana – who made his mark in the South Side clubs of the Windy City, and then internationally – is the subject of a new documentary, “The Torch,” which is directed by Jim Farrell.

CHICAGO – A little known part of Chicago history has been revived in a new documentary called “The First Rainbow Coalition.” Filmmaker Ray Santisteban tells a comprehensive story of the first people-powered activist group that rose from the coming together of races and city sectors to fight police brutality and poverty.

CHICAGO – Thomasin McKenzie is a 19-year-old actress with a purposeful, intellectual and historical approach to her craft, and those characteristics are on display in her latest film, “Jojo Rabbit.” McKenzie portrays Elsa, a teenage girl who is hiding from the Nazis during World War II, and is aided by the title character.

CHICAGO – When a director makes her international debut, there is a certain magic in the air. German director Miriam Bliese chose the 55th Chicago International Film Festival for that particular showcase, with her first feature film “The Components of Love.” The film will have its second screening at the Fest TODAY, October 25th at 5:30pm.