Feature: Navigation Guide to the 54th Chicago International Film Festival, Oct. 10-21, 2018

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CHICAGO – Having an international film festival is one of the reasons Chicago became an international city, and the 54th Chicago International Film Festival is about to crank up the projection machines for 11 days of amazing cinema treats, from October 10th through the 21st, 2018. How does an film buff or curious participant navigate the waters of the festival? HollywoodChicago.com is here to guide you.

October 10th-21st, 2018
Photo credit: Chicago International Film Festival

Stick with the Film Guide

Pick Up (or Click onto) the Guide to the 54th Chicago International Film Festival
Photo credit: Chicago International Film Festival

A first time festival goer will certainly come across, in paper or digital, the film guide that is essential for keep tabs on the 54th fest. All of the over 120 movies, from over 50 countries can be found in the guide, both in categories and alphabetical order. Pick up the guide at the AMC River East Theatre, in many kiosks around Chicago or tap into the digital format (click here) and see the world.

Watch for the Stars

Carey Mulligan Tribute on October 16th, 2018
Photo credit: Chicago International Film Festival

During the Festival period, Chicago becomes the center of the cinema universe, and the stars, filmmakers and influencers of the movies descend onto the scene. There will be special tributes to actress Carey Mulligan; Red-Carpet tributes to director Steve McQueen, Viola Davis and Michelle Rodriguez of “Widows”; the legendary actor Robert Forster walks the carpet for “What They Had” (filmed in Chicago); and three amazing directors… Joel Edgerton (“Boy Erased”), Jason Reitman (“The Front Runner,” on Closing Night) and a tribute to William Friedkin, all appearing at the Fest.

Themes, Spotlights and Perspectives

One of the Exciting Spotlights of the 54th Fest
Photo credit: Chicago International Film Festival

If you have specific interests, the Film Festival can fulfill them. Take a deep breath, and indulge in International, New Directors and the Documentary Competitions. Take in the Gala Presentations (highly anticipated Fall 2018 films) U.S. Indies, World Cinema and the extremely popular “After Dark” series. Get illuminated by the “Spotlight” category, honoring Women in Cinema and Comedy. Engage in the Festival’s panorama on local “City & State” films, Black Perspectives, the LGBTQ+ Outlook Competition, the Cinemas of the Americas and the Short film programs, which encompass all of those subject categories in a more compact running time. For complete details, click here.