Actors, directors fete 5 years of Chicago Critics Film Fest
Five years! My, how quickly time folds in on itself!
I can't believe the Chicago Critics Film Festival will be turning 5 on Friday, May 12, when it opens for a week's run at Chicago's historic Music Box Theatre.
Back in 2013, Elk Grove Village film critic Erik Childress had this wild and crazy idea to create a film festival operated by Chicago film critics, who would run the festival and select all the movies shown.
The Chicago Film Critics Association board of directors said why not? So the fest (CCFF) began with a few movies and appearances by filmmakers William Friedkin and Sarah Polley at the Muvico Rosemont 18 Theaters.
“For the CCFF to celebrate its fifth anniversary and be the only film festival organized by the biggest champions of film - critics - is some kind of miracle!” Childress gushed.
This week, the CCFF's opening-night presentation will be “The Little Hours,” a comedy to be attended by director Jeff Baena and stars Aubrey Plaza and Kate Micucci.
For closing night, May 18, Oscar-winning actor Casey Affleck is as white as a sheet in David Lowry's “A Ghost Story,” co-starring Rooney Mara as a grieving widow visited by the spirit of her deceased husband.
Maybe you've heard of Richard Kelly's cult classic “Donnie Darko”? Kelly will be at the fest to discuss his quirky 2006 sci-fi/comedy “Southland Tales,” which will be shown in its original 35 mm.
Actor John Carroll Lynch will present his directorial debut “Lucky” starring Harry Dean Stanton. Director Brett Haley will introduce “The Hero,” his follow-up to his sleeper “I'll See You in My Dreams.” Pat Healy will attend “Take Me,” a dark comedy in which he directs himself.
Filmmaker Kogonada will screen his directorial debut “Columbus,” a drama starring John Chu, Haley Lu Richardson and Parker Posey. Actress Noel Wells will pull double-duty by appearing with director James Strouse for their comedy “The Incredible Jessica James.” Wells also will present “Mr. Roosevelt,” her comedy debut as a writer-director.
“One of the founding principles of the CCFF was to give moviegoers the opportunity to see every film we program,” Childress said. “Films aren't forced to compete with each other as they are at other larger festivals. If you want to see all 23 features and great programs of short films, you can.”
Among the choices:
“Band Aid” - A bickering married couple (Zoe Lister-Jones and Adam Pally) come up with a brilliant idea: start a band and use their domestic squabbles as songwriting inspiration.
“Beach Rats” - An aimless Brooklyn teenager begins hooking up with guys while simultaneously conducting a cautious relationship with a young woman.
“B****” - The provocative story of a woman (Marianna Palka) who snaps under life's crushing pressures and assumes the psyche of a vicious dog.
“Birdboy: The Forgotten Children” - An animated feature depicting a post-apocalyptic world in which a teenager and her friends form a dangerous plan to escape a deserted island, in the hope of finding better lives.
“We have had more people discover this fest and support what we are trying to do every year,” Childress said.
“As long as there is breath in the bodies of those putting it together, the show will go on.”
Chicago Critics Film Festival
When: Friday through Thursday, May 12-18
Where: The Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport St., Chicago, (773) 871-6604
Tickets and info: $10-$12; festival passes cost $150.