Gene Siskel Film Center

CHICAGO – One of the most honored recent films of Hong Kong, “Still Human,” will have its Chicago Premiere in a co-presentation by Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema and the Hong Long Economic & Trade Office. The emotional drama, about a disabled Hong Kong man (Anthony Wong) and his Filipino caregiver (Crisel Consunji), recently won accolades from the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Udine Far East Film Festival. First-time feature director Oliver Chan – she is a female filmmaker, despite the moniker – and lead actress Crisel Consunji will appear on behalf of the film at the Gene Siskel Film Center, on May 13th, 2019 (8pm). Click here for tickets and details.

CHICAGO – Filmmaking is a collaborative art, the melding of technical skill and creative energy. Proving that collaboration on a very high level is the new film “Rendezvous in Chicago,” written and directed by Michael Glover Smith. This passion project, shot in eight days, brought together a production crew and cast who perfectly meshed to create the “romance-in-the-Windy-City movie the world has been waiting for.” For the rest of the 5-Star review from HollywoodChicago.com, click here.

CHICAGO – The film ”Boy Erased” was released in November, a star-studded “based on real events” memoir film about the topic of “gay conversion therapy” (the rejected-by-the-medical-world notion of using techniques to convert a gay individual to straight). Director Richard Yeagley has produced a documentary on the same subject, “The Sunday Sessions,” which has more authenticity because it’s completely real. One more screening of the film will take place on January 16th, 2019, part of Gene Siskel Film Center’s “Stranger Than Fiction” series. Click here for tickets and details.

CHICAGO – The art of the documentary film gets a different spin in the Gene Siskel Film Centers January series, Stranger Than Fiction. As part of this series, the Chicago Premiere of “The Sunday Sessions” – a film about so-called “gay conversion” therapy from the inside – will screen on Friday, January 11th, 2018. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

CHICAGO – The Gene Siskel Film Center is screening a Chicago premiere, and it’s the debut director effort of producer/cinematographer Sanghoon Lee. “Banana Season” is the story of friendship and redemption through two dreamer souls. The premiere is set for 8pm on Friday, October 5th, 2018, and director Lee will make an appearance on behalf of the film. For more details and tickets, click here.

CHICAGO – What is an Irish “Hooley”? What do you think? It’s just another name for a good old shamrock shindig. Founder/Producer Mike Houlihan, the Gene Siskel Film Center and Hibernian Transmedia presents the 4th Irish American Movie Hooley 2018, September 28th through the 30th, with special screenings and appearances each of the three nights. For more details and tickets, click here.

CHICAGO – The jewel of Chicago’s cinema community, the Gene Siskel Film Center, will have a latin flair on Saturday, September 22nd, 2018, when its “Panorama Latinx” outreach program presents the Cortadito Short Film Festival. Short films representing Argentina, Columbia, Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela will be presented, in an eight shorts program. For more details and tickets, including the list of films, click here.

CHICAGO – HollywoodChicago.com will be on the road in the Windy City this weekend, as Patrick McDonald (Editor and Film Writer) makes two appearances in different venues. The first will be a “Power Breakfast” sponsored by Women in Film Chicago, on the topic of “Giving and Receiving Feedback” at 10am September 8th, 2018, at Noisefloor Post Production House on Erie Street. For more details and tickets, click here.

CHICAGO – The month long celebration that is the 2018 Black Harvest Film Festival is coming to a close on August 30th with a special revival screening of 1993’s “Fear of a Black Hat.” The ahead-of-its-time hip hop “mockumentary” chronicles the misadventures of the group NWH. Director Rusty Cundieff will make an appearance of behalf of the film’s 25th Anniversary. Over its run, the Black Harvest Film Festival featured a cornucopia of African American themed features and shorts celebrating stories, dreams, history and legacy.

CHICAGO – One of the Windy City’s greatest annual cultural events will open its 2018 edition at the Gene Siskel Film Center. The 24th Black Harvest Film Festival runs from August 4th through 30th, 2018, and features a cornucopia of African American themed features and shorts celebrating stories, dreams, history and legacy. Many of the screenings will include filmmaker appearances, including the Opening Night short film overview, “A Black Harvest Feast,” featuring “Training Wheels” (directed by Sanicole), “Shotgun Wedding” (Derek Dow), “Stuck” (Praheme) and “Riverment” (Shaya Racquel).