A Few Film Events
By Rob Christopher in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 23, 2007 2:45PM
Here's a trivia question for you: what is North America's oldest competitive international film festival? Answer: the Chicago International Film Festival, which has been going strong for 43 years. A lot has changed since 1964 (well OK, there's still a Daley in the mayor's office). For a great peek at the past there's nothing better than the photographs of Gary Stochl. But, we digress. Much of the credit for CIFF's longevity must go to Michael Kutza, its founder and Artistic Director. He was barely twenty years old when the festival got off the ground. Since then he's been a tireless defender and promoter of film in Chicago.
The actual festival isn't until October, but tomorrow you have a chance to hear him talk about what it takes to keep it going year after year. In a talk at the Chicago History Museum at 6:30 p.m. In a discussion with Bill Kurtis, Kutza will discuss "five decades of dreams, deals, scandals, politics, and discoveries." Tickets are $10. For more information click here or call (312) 642-4600.
Meanwhile on Wednesday, the eclectic arts collective Middle Mind Project will be offering up a smorgasboard of short films, documentaries and motion graphic pieces at Acme Studios. Una Pantalla Film Festival is free but donations will be accepted for financing of the micro-budgeted mockumentary Off the Cuff, a co-production between MMP, Avant/Chicago and Mas Menos Film. Acme is at 1741 N. Western; more info here.
Image via SWISS FILMS.