56th

CHICAGO – The 2018-19 mayoral campaign in Chicago was a historic moment for the city, as the first woman of color (Lori Lightfoot) was elected. Director Steve James, of the legendary “Hoop Dreams,” takes on the events leading up to this history and beyond, in “City So Real.”

CHICAGO – In this challenging year the 56th Chicago International Film Festival provided a sense of normalcy, within the context of the “new normal.” Offering virtual, online and in-person drive-in screenings, it succeeded in doing what its 2020 slogan said, “Film Will Take You There.”

CHICAGO – The Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF) is competitive, and the 56th edition presented its awards on October 23rd, 2020, as a live virtual and online event on the CIFF YouTube page. The winner of the Gold Hugo as Best International Film was “Sweat” (France), directed by Magnus von Horn.

CHICAGO – The Chicago International Film Festival was founded in 1965 by Michael Kutza, and is the longest running “competitive film festival” in North America. So with that in mind it’s time for the 56th festival to confer those awards.

CHICAGO – The mercurial genius of filmmaker Stanley Kubrick is a cinephile’s dream, and his films continue to influence. A new documentary, “Kubrick by Kubrick,” directed by Gregory Monro, uses Kubrick’s actual words from past interviews.

CHICAGO – One of the most influential documentary makers in film history is Chicagoan Steve James of Kartemquin Films. His lens has commented upon not only the seminal “Hoop Dreams” (1994), but “Stevie” (2002), “The Interrupters” (2011), the Roger Ebert bio doc “Life Itself” (2014) and the recent “America to Me.”

CHICAGO – One of the prime Chicago-centric documentaries at the 56th Chicago International Film Festival is “For Madmen Only: Stories of Del Close.” Del Close was a legendary instructor in the Chicago comedy improv scene, and director Heather Ross created this multi-layered doc of his comic force.

CHICAGO – The 56th Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF) is virtual and online RIGHT NOW, so go download some movies! This is your last chance for INDUSTRY DAYS (through October 18th), where you can rub virtual elbows with some of the movers and shakers in the film industry here in Chicago.

CHICAGO – Just because the majority of the 56th Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF) will be virtual and online, doesn’t mean that there won’t be filmmaker and talent appearances. Highlights for appearances for the 56th CIFF include “The Marvelous Mrs.

CHICAGO – The 56th Chicago International Film Festival will honor a prime comic force on its Opening Night on Wednesday, October 14th, 2020. The premiere of the Showtime documentary “Belushi” is a chronicle of John Belushi, directed by R.J. Cutler.