EbertFest, the annual celebration of film and panels curated by renowned Sun-Times movie critic Roger Ebert, was held last week - Wednesday through Sunday - in Champaign. The fest included screenings of films small (Munyurangabo, Song Sung Blue), large (Apocalypse Now/Redux, Pink Floyd's The Wall), and local (Vincent: A Life in Color, about Vincent Falk). The fest included panels made up of filmmakers, actors, producers, critics, and writers, a smörgåsbord of film for the movie-lover. Friend of Chicagoist Sandra Kofler paid a visit to the fest and snapped some photos for us. more ›

Mr. and Mrs. Chicago, since you aren't going to see The Scissor Sisters this evening, we have suggested a few other things that may whet your appetite. The ArtWalk Ravenswood was so good we are suggesting it for a second day in a row. more ›

Now in its 13th year, the Chicago Underground Film Fest is almost becoming an institution. Yet after more than a decade of presenting challenging, weird and hilarious films, CUFF still manages to seem fresh. Music videos are no longer the delivery system for underground music. But many filmmakers still use film as a way to explore how one art form enhances the other. Several film series at the fest including Jeff Krulik’s "The Maryland Trilogy",... more ›

There’s been a lot of ink spilled about Chicago’s cornucopia of music events this summer, but yesterday’s RedEye also clued us in to several film festivals that are happening in the next three months, including ones we’ve covered like the Silent Film Festival and the Chicago Outdoor Film Festival as well as upcoming events we haven’t like Reeling’s Gay Games fest, the Onion City Experimental Film Festival and the Chicago Underground Film Festival. Here are... more ›

Oh, Chicagoist readers: we’re mighty conflicted this morning. On the one hand, we want to tell you about these two amusing video clips posted on the Tribune’s site. Critic Robert Elder gives a brief tour of some famous Chicago movie locations while other Trib staffers re-create—with mixed results—scenes from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. We’re wondering where they managed to find a white fringed jacket for “Sloane.” (Confidential to Trib web geeks: It’d be nice if... more ›

If you’re willing to hit the road, Roger Ebert’s Overlooked Film Festival has some gems worth seeing. This year’s festival at the Virginia Theater in stately Champaign, IL runs from April 26th through the 30th. Though all the festival passes are sold out, you can still purchase tickets to individual screenings of some of Ebert’s favorite films including My Fair Lady and the criminally ignored David Mamet film Spartan as well as recent fare like... more ›

The old saw is that you don’t do theater or film in Chicago to make money—you do it for art’s sake. But to get all philosophical on you: if art is created and there’s no one around to witness it, does it still exist? As Keanu Reeves would say: “Woah.” Lucky for you, Mr. or Ms. Aspiring Indie Filmmaker, there are plenty of opportunities to get your work seen in town. The Chicago Underground Film... more ›

Some people might describe love as a wild, untamed beast. Tomorrow, a short film premiering at I.O. (nee ImprovOlympic) examines what happens when someone falls in love with a wild, untamed beast. more ›

The Chicagoist Arts and Entertainment department has been suffering from a month long movie news drought that officially ends this week. more ›

In the last several years, media offerings like the Independent Film Channel and iFilm.com have made it easy for anyone to see indie films from the comfort of their own home. But for the last 28 years, Chicago indie film lovers have been enjoying interesting and provocative films from the comfort of their couch thanks to WTTW’s Image Union. Its new season begins on October 4th and Image Union is celebrating by bringing the films... more ›

Dear Chicago International Film Festival: more ›

As the kids start heading back to school, it’s time to close the books on the summer movie season. We’ll leave it to the New York Times to do the post-mortem on Hollywood. Apparently some movies are not very good, which may lead to decreased attendance and box office receipts. In other news, scientists have learned that water is wet and children like candy. With the days getting shorter, there are a few notable screenings... more ›

Much of the ink spilled over Chicago’s renaissance as a filmmaking hotspot touts all the big Hollywood productions that have set up shop here like Batman Begins and the currently in production Stranger Than Fiction. But independent artists are the ones who are keeping the scene viable and giving local crews the chance to work and network. Several small fests showcase the work of guerilla filmmakers; recent gatherings include Fast Forward, the Really Short Film... more ›

With apologies to Noah Baumbach: Chicagoist is too nostalgic, we admit it. This week’s European and Irish film fests had us nostalgic for last October, which was similarly chockablock full of fests. Then yesterday Maia Entertainment announced May 7th as the date for the 2nd Annual Chicago “Really” Short Film Fest at the Abbey Pub, which made us nostalgic for a Guinness we had last night. Once we came out of our misty water-colored... more ›

Bronzeville seems to be getting all the pre-gentrification/new-business-opening buzz these days, but Chicagoist remembers a time (all the way back in the springtime) when Pilsen was the place to be for the hippest of Chicago hip. more ›

Chicagoist has been knocking itself out keeping you informed about today’s election and providing you with opportunities to party with like-minded folks of every political persuasion. But let’s face it: voting is hard work. You’ve been downloading ballots, checking the Chicago Bar Association website to see which judges to retain and weighing heavy policy matters for months! You need a break, hoss. Or maybe you’re one of those folks who thinks all politicians are crooks so what’s the point in voting? Well Chicagoist isn’t here to pass judgment on you, Eeyore. Whatever your reason, allow us to present some hideouts if you’re looking to avoid all of tonight’s election craziness: more ›

Chicagoist makes this solemn promise to you: this is the last post we will be writing about any film fests that are running in Chicago. At least until next week. But we’d be remiss in our reporting duties if we failed to alert you to the 13th Annual Independent Filmmakers Conference at the School of the Art Institute. more ›

It’s the event that Chicago film geeks and star watchers wait all year for: The Chicago International Film Festival. This year the fest celebrates its 40th Anniversary with an expanded program featuring more galas and historical retrospectives as well as films that please both your mom and your college film professor. Opening Night is this Thursday, October 7th as the film Kinsey starring Liam Neeson lights up across the Chicago Theatre. Screenings are held at... more ›