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+.
Opening Night
Via Zoom: Filmmaker Nicholas Eliopoulos on Colin Higgins Doc at REELING40, Sept. 24, 2022
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 23, 2022 - 5:37pmCHICAGO – Mention the name Colin Higgins and it might draw a blank. But mention the film “Harold and Maude” (1971) and any cinema room will light up with passion. Higgins took his Grad Thesis screenplay from his late 1960s USC days and created (with director Hal Ashby) a legitimate 1970s classic. This film, and many other fan favorites, are in the documentary The Life and Films of Colin Higgins” … directed by Nicholas Eliopoulos. Click COLIN for info and tickets.
Film News: Reeling40, Chicago’s International LBGTQ+ Film Fest, Opens on Sept. 22, 2022
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 20, 2022 - 2:46pmCHICAGO – The 40th edition of the REELING International LBGTQ+ Film Festival kicks off on Thursday (9-22-22) with the film “The Shiny Shrimp Strike Back,” at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre, followed by a legendary After Party. For info/tickets on both, click REELING40.
Film News: Tickets Available for Virtual 2022 Sundance Film Festival, January 20-30
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 17, 2022 - 10:44amCHICAGO – As was announced earlier in the month, the 2022 Sundance Film Festival morphed from a hybrid (online and in person) to a strictly virtual festival beginning January 20th through the 30th. For all information, including tickets and ticket packages, click SUNDANCE 2022.
Film Fest Preview: Chicago’s LGBTQ+ Reeling39, Sep. 23-Oct. 3, 2021
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 23, 2021 - 3:51pmCHICAGO – The 39th edition of the REELING International LBGTQ+ Film Festival kicks off on September 23rd, 2021, offering 33 feature films and nine short film programs. The Opening Night film is “Firebird,” and will screen at the historic Music Box Theatre beginning at 7pm. For more info and tickets, click REELING39.
Via Zoom: REELING39 LGBTQ+ Fest Opener is ‘Firebird’ with Tom Prior
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 22, 2021 - 11:19amCHICAGO – Opening Night is near – Thursday, September 23rd, 2021 – for the 39th edition of Chicago’s REELING film festival, an International LGBTQ+ showcase. The Opening film is “Firebird,” a based-on-truth gay love story set in Cold War Russia. It features actor Tom Prior, who co-wrote the film with director Peeter Rebane. For more info and tickets, click REELING39.
Film News: Chicago's Asian Pop-Up Cinema Opening Night, Sep. 15, 2021
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 14, 2021 - 8:17pmCHICAGO – Season 13 of Chicago’s Asian Pop Up Cinema (APUC) is about to launch on Wednesday, September 15th, 2021, at the AMC River East in Chicago. The Opening Night film is “Ascension” – directed by Jessica Kingdon – an artistically cinematic documentary on the new Chinese Dream. For ticket information, click here.
Film News: Virtual 2021 Sundance Film Festival Opening Night
Submitted by PatrickMcD on January 28, 2021 - 5:42pmCHICAGO – The 2021 Virtual Sundance Film Festival opens tonight (January 28th) with six films … “CODA,” “In the Same Breath,” “Flee,” “Summer of Soul” “One for the Road” and “Censor” will kick off the fest, available online tonight and Saturday for the second viewing. For descriptions, ticket information and schedules, click here.
Podtalk: Actor Rula Gardenier of ‘Breaking Fast,’ screening at the 38th REELING Virtual Film Fest
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 27, 2020 - 11:17amCHICAGO – The 38th edition of Chicago’s REELING LGBTQ+ fest – virtual and online in 2020 – kicked off on September 24th with the film “Breaking Fast.” Portraying the mother of main character Mo is Rula Gardenier, a former Chicago actor who now lives in Los Angeles.
Film News: 38th REELING LGBTQ+ Virtual/Online Film Fest from Sept. 24 thru Oct. 4, 2020
Submitted by PatrickMcD on September 24, 2020 - 4:16amCHICAGO – Like many of the other film festivals in 2020, the 38th edition of Chicago’s REELING LGBTQ+ fest will be virtual and online. Over the course of 11 days, 30 features and 54 short films from 21 countries will be presented. Click here for details.
DAY FIVE Podtalk: Producer Gigi Pritzker at the 55th Chicago International Film Festival
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 20, 2019 - 1:23pmCHICAGO – Another member of the notable Pritzker family has been making a name, in this instance the film business. Gigi Pritzker is a veteran producer who has guided films like “Drive,” “The Way Way Back” and “Hell or High Water.” She walked the Red Carpet on Opening Night (October 16th, 2019) of the 55th Chicago International Film Festival for her new film as producer, “Motherless Brooklyn.”