Cinema

CHICAGO – In filmmaking, the short film is usually the medium where most potential directors do their first works or present a shorter version of what they hope will become a longer film or simply that they prefer that length of story-telling. One of the short films fests that has been around Chicago for several years is the “Big Teeth Small Shorts” presentation, and the founder of Big Teeth Productions … Gregg Jaffe …will be facilitating their Summer ’24 Live Screening on Thursday, July 18th, at FACETS Cinema in Chicago’s DePaul Neighborhood. For details and tickets, click BIG TEETH.

CHICAGO – In a program that launched during the pandemic, the Chicago/Mexico City Cinema Exchange began highlighting works from Chicago and Mexico City Filmmakers. Continuing forward with in-person screenings, the theme this year is displacement, and one of the curators of the event is Chicago film influencer Raul Benitez. The screenings will take place on three days at three Chicago venues, beginning June 12th, 2023 at (click for tickets) the Gene Siskel Film Center.

CHICAGO – Often on my weekly appearances on WGBR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin), there is a topic associated with that week’s reviews. I don’t usually publish them, but the result of May the 4th was special. Host Dan Baker and I did a ranking of our favorite superhero movies on “Guardians 3” release day, and the talk was lively and surprising.

CHICAGO – The future is now at the 2023 CineYouth Film Festival, taking place this upcoming weekend April 21st-23rd, at FACETS cinema in Chicago, CineYouth features 65 local, national and international short films from creators that are children, teens and young adults up to 22 years old.

CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on December 8th, 2022, reviewing “Empire of Light,” the latest from director Sam Mendes, about a memory of the cinema. Currently In theaters.

CHICAGO – An incisive look at disability perceptions at the movies is on tap at the Midwest Film Festival with “Code of the Freaks” on June 7, 2022. The film is directed by Salome Chasnoff and co-written by Aly Patsava. For ticket info, click MFF FIRST TUESDAY.