They're REEL and They're Spectacular

By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 29, 2006 6:46PM

October is almost upon us, which means it’s time for cool weather, trick-or-treating and more film festivals than you can shake a sprocket at. The Chicago International Film Festival begins next week with the Humanities, Reeling and Music Box Masascre fests soon to follow. This weekend is the appetizer to that full-course meal as the Chicago International REEL Shorts Festival begins tonight and runs through Sunday.

The schedule is impossible to find through their main page, but we managed to track it down here. Though often as international as a house of pancakes, the fest prides itself on its slate of “films that are not for the snobby, ‘nose in the air’ crowd.” And nothing says anti-snob like a film starring Melanie Brown a.k.a. Scary Spice (Love Thy Neighbor on Friday).

With some theaters throwing in the towel due to crap offerings at the multiplex, REEL Shorts offers new twists on the usual indie subjects like revenge, rock and roll, meta-movies about making movies and sci-fi/horror. La La Land shows us what happens when a Chicago actor hits Hollywood, The World’s Most Dangerous Polka Band visits with some badass accordianists and if you’ve been wondering what Melissa Joan Hart has been doing with herself lately, you can see Mute, a film about sisterly revenge directed by none other than Sabrina herself. Attention 90210 fans: Jennie Garth appears in ‘Till Death, a Double Indemnity-style thriller showing on Saturday and co-starring Fat Tony.

The Chicago International REEL Shorts Festival starts tonight at 5:30 p.m. at the Davis Theater (4614 N. Lincoln) in Lincoln Square and runs through Sunday. See the full schedule here. Tickets are $7 per series or $25 for a weekend pass.