Red Carpet: ‘Art and Pep’ Doc at 58th Chicago Intl. Film Fest

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly versionE-mail page to friendE-mail page to friendPDF versionPDF version
Average: 5 (1 vote)

CHICAGO – A legacy in Chicago LGBTQ+ history took center stage at the 58th Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF) on October 13th. “Art and Pep” is a documentary about life partners Art Johnson and Pepe Peña, the proprietors of Sidetrack, the largest gay bar in the Midwest. There will be one more screening on October 16th, click ART/PEP for location/tickets.

CIFFAP
Art Johnson (right) and Pepe Peña of ‘Art and Pep’
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

Art Johnston and Pepe Peña are civil rights leaders whose celebrated gay bar Sidetrack has helped fuel movements and create community on Chicago’s Halsted Street for decades. Bringing together a wealth of archival video footage, photographs, and lively animated sequences, the documentary is the story of Sidetrack, beginning with its humble origins in 1982 as a single storefront, and the lives of its proprietors.

CIFFAP
Director Mercedes Kane of ‘Art and Pep’
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

The couple fought on the frontlines of the AIDS crisis, helped co-found Equality Illinois, and have continued to serve as a beacon for equal rights through the pandemic and beyond. Director Mercedes Kane (“Breakfast at Ina’s”) returns to CIFF with another tribute to Iconic individuals who have transformed their passion into a haven of joy and solidarity. Both the documentary’s subjects and director walked the Red Carpet, with portraits by photographer Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com.

In a Red Carpet interview with Art Johnson, Pepe Peña and director Mercedes Kane of “Art and Pep” by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, the doc and issues related to it are observed (Pepe speaks first, Art next and Mercedes) …

”Art and Pep” will screen at the 58th Chicago International Film Festival on Sunday, October 16th (1pm), click link above for details. The 58th CIFF runs through the 23rd, 2022. Click ChicagoFilmFestival.com for tickets, schedules and details.

HollywoodChicago.com senior staff writer Patrick McDonald

By PATRICK McDONALD
Editor & Film Critic/Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2022 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

User Login

Free Giveaway Mailing

TV, DVD, BLU-RAY & THEATER REVIEWS

  • Manhunt

    CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.

  • Topdog/Underdog, Invictus Theatre

    CHICAGO – When two brothers confront the sins of each other and it expands into a psychology of an entire race, it’s at a stage play found in Chicago’s Invictus Theatre Company production of “Topdog/Underdog,” now at their new home at the Windy City Playhouse through March 31st, 2024. Click TD/UD for tickets/info.

Advertisement



HollywoodChicago.com on Twitter

archive

HollywoodChicago.com Top Ten Discussions
tracker