‘The Search For Sexy’ at the 2009 Chicago International Film Festival

Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 26, 2009 - 12:53pm

CHICAGO – The Chicago International Film Festival celebrates its 45th Anniversary with “The Search for Sexy,” a revitalization of the Festival’s famous Skrebneski collectible poster series.

The Festival will conduct a search for aspiring models wishing to join the ranks of celebrities such as Cindy Crawford, Dolph Lundgren, Anna Nicole Smith and Christina Gidwitz, who have graced these legendarily provocative posters featuring models posed seductively in Festival T-shirts.

Chicago’s men and women ages 21 and up are invited to a special open call at the Wit Hotel, the official headquarters of the Chicago International Film Festival, (201 N. State St.) on Wednesday, September 2nd beginning at 10am. Twenty finalists will be selected from the casting to be featured on Metromix.com for a special online vote.

Chicago International Film Festival Posters Featuring Dolph Lundgren (left) and Cindy Crawford (right)
Photo credit: Victor Skrebneski for The Chicago International Film Festival

Based on the Metromix.com results, a winner will be chosen to receive the grand prize, which includes, a photo shoot with famed photographer Victor Skrebneski, an exclusive poster reveal party at Rockit Bar & Grill as well as VIP passes to this year’s Chicago International Film Festival.

The history of the sexy Chicago International Film Festival posters dates back to 1966 when Festival founder Michael Kutza returned from the Cannes Film Festival wishing to bring a touch of the Riviera’s sizzle to the lively young festival in Chicago. To do this, Kutza enlisted the help of famed photographer Victor Skrebneski, known for his dramatic black and white celebrity photography and commercial work with elite fashion and cosmetic lines such as Estee Lauder.

Chicago International Film Festival Posters Featuring Anna Nicole Smith (right)
Photo credit: Victor Skrebneski for The Chicago International Film Festival

Skrebneski’s Festival posters had for years brought a steamy elegance to the Chicago International Film Festival that has become part of the Festival’s iconic history. In an effort to reinvent sexy for the 45th anniversary of the Festival, Kutza and Skrebneski have partnered once again and are determined to bring sexy back with the help of the new talent discovered in “The Search for Sexy.”

Proceeds from the sale of the Skrebneski posters supports the year-round programming of Cinema/Chicago, the presenter of the Chicago International Film Festival. Cinema/Chicago is a not-for-profit cultural and education organization dedicated to fostering better understanding between cultures and to making a positive contribution to the art form of the moving image.

For more information and to download an application for “The Search for Sexy,” click here.