A few days ago we unwittingly created a monster when we expressed our frustration about having to wait to see the schedule for this year's Chicago International Film Festival, which runs October 4-17. Well, we finally have a copy of said schedule in our hot little hands. What follows is a very brief, cursory summary of what you can expect this year (the full schedule will be online within the next few days). Regardless of... more ›

You'll have to forgive us if it seems like we've got a one-track mind when it comes to film lately: CIFF is one of our absolutely favorite things about Chicago, and every year brings the thrill that comes from attempting to see as many movies as possible in its two weeks. The Opening Night feature at the Chicago Theater last night was Stranger Than Fiction, directed by Marc Forster (Monster's Ball) and starring Will Ferrell,... more ›

In the biggest celebrity-related Chicago film news story since Crazy Tom Cruise hit town to kiss-and-make-up with Uncle Steven, the organizers of the Chicago International Film Festival announced that their annual lifetime achievement award will go to Dustin Hoffman. This year’s fest will run from October 5th through the 19th and will screen Hoffman’s Stranger Than Fiction, which lensed here back in May and co-stars Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, and Maggie Gyllenhaal. It was written... more ›

Squeezed in between Adrianne Curry and the newest Miss America (mmmm…), Terry Armour's column offered a sneak peek into movies that will be filming in Chicago in 2006. Armour predicts 2006 is going to be a slim year for film and television productions. He notes that Barbershop producers Bob Teitel and George Tillman’s My Ride With Gus is “in limbo.” But this is likely due to new projects both have in the works: an untitled... 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 ›

Having finished their work at UIC last week, the makers of the film Stranger Than Fiction move downtown to Daley Plaza this June and are looking for some authentic city background. This means you. If you’re looking to gaze longingly at Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Dustin Hoffman (from a respectable, non stalker-y distance and God help you if you ask for an autograph!), then why not become an extra in the film? Alert reader... more ›

Chicagoist was sitting around with some of our comic-geek friends the other day and talking about the new Keanu Reeves movie Constantine that hits the big screen this weekend. We thought we’d share some of the comments overheard during that conversation from people looking forward to this film: ... Anyway, the filmmakers seem to have made every effort to replace all the interesting aspects of the Alan Moore-penned comic with the most common denominator. Sting-resembling... more ›