The last 12 days in Chicago have been a cinephile’s dream. In its 60th year, Chicago International Film Festival, North America’s longest-running competitive international film festival, featured many classic and new films.
The festival included 122 feature films and 71 shorts, four world premieres, 19 North American premieres and 16 U.S. premieres produced in more than 60 countries. Once again, AMC NEWCITY 14 served as the festival hub, joined by other theaters including Music Box Theatre and Gene Siskel Film Center.
This year I went in a completely new direction when picking my films. Starting with The Piano Lesson on opening night, I chose movies I ordinarily wouldn’t pick. The result was mostly good, with only a couple leaving me underwhelmed. My favorites were After Dark Shorts: Disturbing Diversions, Hard Truths, We Were Dangerous and After the Storm. It felt good to get out of my comfort zone and watch films I never would have selected at home.
Malcolm Washington receives the Breakthrough Award at the Chicago International Film Festival; photo credit Barry Brecheisen.
Special events are also a big part of CIFF. Aside from the glitz of opening night, the best event easily was An Evening with Mike Myers. Hosted brilliantly by actor Dave Foley, it featured a conversation with Myers, who was presented with a career achievement award.
Dave Foley and Mike Myers; An Evening with Mike Myers; photo credit Rob Grabowski.
Mike Myers accepts the Career Achievement Award; photo credit Rob Grabowski.
I always look forward to CIFF because it makes movie-going seem special again.
—John Wroblewski, special projects manager
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