We Came. We Saw. We Ran Amok.
ChicagoFilm descended on Saugatuck for the Waterfront Film Festival. More...
Update: July 20, 2004

Weatherman
Some star-studded, top secret pics from the set of "The Weatherman," including some in-action shots of Nicolas Cage. More...
Update: May 31, 2004

Update: October 7, 2004

Shameless Self-promotion
In case you've been hiding under a rock, the Chicago International Film Festival is currently underway, with two weeks of top-notch international fare from all corners of the world. For the in-depth scoop, check out the ChicagoFilm CIFF Journal, our up-to the minute blog on the festival.

Great Oogly Boogly
When the Saturday night Halloween's Eve party hangover has subsided, head over to the Music Box for a spooky movie extravaganza on H-day proper. The theater is pairing up with the Silent Film Society to present the legendary 1927 silent thriller "The Cat and the Canary," with live accompaniment from organist Dennis Scott. Creaky mansions, lunatics on the loose, booming organ tunes - it's bound to be downright ghoulish.

CICFF Toasts Shel Silverstein, the Reading Rainbow
When the CIFF winds down towards the end of the month, toss in an extra C (that's for cookie, and for children) and head on over to the Chicago International Children's Film Festival. They call themselves the "Cannes for Kids" and have been doing it for 21 years. This year, they're screening more than 200 animated and live action flicks from 40 countries. Highlights include a tribute to my personal Jesus, Shel Silverstein, and a special appearance by Reading Rainbow stud Levar Burton. I dare you to do better than that. Screenings take place at Facets Multi-Media, the Vittum Theater, AMC City North 14 and the Village Burnham Plaza.

Iran, I Ran So Far Away
I know, I know, pun humor's the worst. For the past 15 years, Gene Siskel Film Cemter Programming Director Barbara Scharres has made an annual trek to the increasingly hostile climes of Iran to seek out cinematic gems from one of the world's most fertile filmmaking nations for the Festival of Films From Iran. From now until October 31st, check out the fest's extensive offerings of films, panels and in-person appearances, as well as a celebration of their 15th Anniversary. Highlights of the fest include 10 on Ten, a new autobiographical documentary from "Taste of Cherry" director Abbas Kiarostami and Venice Film Festival entrant "From the Land of Silence".

The Sound and the Fury
Marlee Matlin hosts the 3rd Annual International Festival of Cinema for the Deaf, put on by the Chicago Institute for the Moving Image. From October 14 - 17, 2004, the festival features international films created for a deaf audience, captioned Hollywood films, and films created by children, with the stated purpose of challenging "filmmakers from all backgrounds to work with members of the deaf community." Screenings take place at Piper's Alley and Columbia College.

Primer
The mind-boggling Grand Jury Prize Winner "Primer" screens at the CIFF this month. If you can't catch the screening, don't sweat it. The film hits theaters later this month and ChicagoFilm will be giving away passes to a handy dandy preview screening. We'll keep you posted on further developments.

Update: October 7, 2004

Michigan, Man
The East Lansing Film Festival and the Lake Michigan Film Competition are now accepting submissions for the 8th annual East Lansing Film Festival. Films of all genres and lengths are accepted. To be eligible for the Lake Michigan Film Competition, the film must be 1/4 filmed, produced and financed from the states that border Lake Michigan - Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. Cash prizes are offered. The deadline is December 1, 2004. Organizers also remind us that they're aiming to get submissions of 15 second trailer for their "Turn off Your Cell Phone" previews, which are the best idea since drink holders in chairs if you ask me.

Gone 'Til November
Due to some scheduling issue with Excalibur, the Chicago Community Cinema postponed its October event. They'll be kicking it zombie style next month with "Living Dead Girl" featuring "American Movie" alum Mark Borchardt. They'll also be screening IFP Production Fund winner "King of the Tango" on top of their usual boozin' and schmoozin' reception for local filmmakers. Always a good time.

Poster Panache
Are you a closet Klimt? A secret Seurat? Unveil yourself to the world at the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago annual poster contest for the Chicago International Latino Film Festival. Win $500 and have your face on the cover of one million newsprint schedules that are inserted in various Chicago newspapers. The artwork will also be featured on invitations, t-shirts, a film trailer, advertisements and the ILCC website. Entries must be received by Friday, November 12, 2004 and the winning poster will be unveiled in January 2005 in Chicago.

IFP Brings Filmmakers to Chi-Town
The 13th Annual IFP Chicago Filmmaker's Conference features panels with some of the most respected experts in the independent film community, previews of much-awaited independent films and opportunities for Midwestern filmmakers to push their projects ahead. This year's highlight will be a sneak preview of the film PS, with director Dylan Kidd (Rodger Dodger) and Academy Award nominee Laura Linney attending. The fest also coincides with the Flyover Film Festival, where Student Films, Comedy Shorts, Dramatic, Non-Fiction and Experimental Shorts compete for "Best of the Fest" honors.

Wide Angle Graphics
The Chicago Motion Graphics Festival goes down October 22nd at the Chicago Historical Center, putting "a wide-angle lens at the motion graphics landscape, searching for the most innovative designs." This year's fest will be juried by a who's who of the local ad world, with reps from DDB Chicago, BBDO, Ogilvy and Mather and more. As if that's not enough, the winning entries will go on to be screened at several festivals around the country, including the Austin-based South by Southwest. Tickets are 10 bucks.

The Continued Works
Chicago Scriptworks moves from the warm and divey confines of the Hideout this month into the far tonier Chicago Cultural Center. Their October 13th reading is "Brother's Keeper," written by V. J. Brooks, about "sibling rivalry that heightens between four young brothers when the tragic death of their father leaves them struggling in a single-parent household." After a reading of the screenplay, which also apparently involves poetry, the First Act of the theater version will be performed. Theater, poetry, film, it's enough to make your head spin. The Event kicks into gear from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at 77 E. Randolph.