Chicago Stories have the ability to CAPTURE NOT ONLY The Hearts and Minds of People Across the City, but Throughout the US and, in Some Cases, the World.
That influence Shapes a Slate of Exciting Films Coming This Fall. Some of the Stories May Sound Vaguely Familiar to Chicagoans: from the Highs and Lows of the Jackie Robinson West Little League, Revisited in Kevin Shaw’s Documentary “One Golden Summer,” to the Power of House Music, Celebriated in Elegance Bratton Body: The Birth of House. ”
Others Spotlight figures who deserve More attention, Such as Rana Segal’s “The Light of Truth: Richard Hunt’s Monument to Ida B. Wells,“ Who Explores the Connection Two Towering African American Luminaries.
In Other Words, The Chicago Fall Film Season is full of Compelling Local Tales. It is also a showcase of filmmakers with promising career trajectories, gioven the debut of narrative features by every oscar-nominated director bing liu to novelist sam hayes.
Cinephiles Can Discover It All Through the City Numerous, Long-Running Film Festivals or at Special Events in the Coming Months. And with some titles MAKING THEIR WAY TO STRENEM, it WOULD BE WISE TO BOOKMARK The following list of 10 must-see movies-Including short films-eathr by chicagoans or focus on Local People, Culture or NeighBorhoods.
Six Weeks
Where: Chicago South Asian Film Festival, AMC River East 21
When: Sept 18, Between 3:30 PM and 5:30 PM
Drawing on Her Roots in Chicago and India, Director Esha Patkar Highlights Different Perspectives on Abortion in Her Timely Short Film. “Six Weeks” Features the Journeys of Michelle (Dina ALDABBAGH), A Teenager in Midwestern America, and Gayatri (Minim Dey), A Single Woman in Mumbai, As they Grapple with UNPLANNED PREGNANCES. Patkar Explores the Ways in Which Family, Religion, Society and Culture Can Hamper Autonomy. The recent Columbia College Chicago Graduate Filmed the Project in Both the US and India, and Wrote Dialogue in English, Hindi and Marathi. 322 E. Illinois St., 25 minutes, tickets $ 10, csaff.org
Move Ya Body: The Birth of House
Where: City of Lights Film Festival, The Venue
When: Sept 18, 6 pm
Director Elegance Bratton Pays tribute to the Beloved Music Genre, Born in Chicago Following the Infamous Disco Demolition Night in Comisky Park. He Features Commentary from the Genre’s Innovators, Including Vince Lawrence, WHO is credited with recording the first officer House Record. The movie Also uplifts the Black Queer Schene Where the Music Developed, and Charts Its Worldwide Success. “Vince’s Story is an an electrifying will to how a dream born in the ashes of rejussion IGNIED A GENRE THAT TO UNITE AND LIBERATE PEOPLE ACOSS The Globe,” Bratton Said. 21 S. Broadway, Aurora, 92 Minutes, Tickets $ 20, aurorafilmfest.com
Ask a punk
Where: Chicago Underground Film Festival, Harper Theater 4
When: Sept 19, 7:30 PM and Sept. 20, 9 pm
Little Village Serves as Backdrop for Brian Herrera and Kevin Contento’s Short Film, which is Also Part of Music Box Theater’s Sold-Out Program “Life Within The Lens: Chicago, Alli, Y Mas“A CELEBRATION OF PROJECTS from the Latino Film Community. The Film is a Window into the Life of Luna (Mariana Elena del Carpiio), a Queer Teen Who Finds Community in the Diy Punk Skene. Complicated Family Dynamics and Grief is another poignant full point. 5238 S. Harper Ave., 20 minutes, tickets $ 13, Cuff.org
American Dendrite
Where: Chicago Underground Film Festival, Harper Theater 3
When: Sept 21, 12:30 pm
A voyage along the Mississippi River Inspects Reflection on Climate Change in This Debut Feature from Adam Marshall Present. Shot on Vintage Super 8mm, The Experimental Documentary Features Interviews with Everyday Americans as the Documentary Crew Travels from Chicago to the Gulf of Mexico. Each Person Responds to Comments Made by the Previous Subject Upstream, Creating A Unique Game of Telephone. Based in Chicago and New York City, Present’s Unconventional Work Offen Explores the Intersection of Community and Environmental Issues. 5238 S. Harper Ave., 78 Minutes, Tickets $ 13, Cuff.org
$ Positions
Where: Chicago Underground Film Festival, Gene Siskel Film Center
When: Sept 21, 7:30 pm
Described as’ ‘uncut gems’ by way of the midwest, “Chicagoan Brandon Daley’s Directorial Debut Will Close the Chicago Underground Film Festival AFTER AFTER AT SXSW IN MARCH. Viewers Will Watch as Blue-Collar Worker Mike Alvardo (Michael Kunicki) ventures into the crypto market; that decision goes horribly Wrong for Him and his Family. Daley, who poured his personal experiences into the script, Shot the comedy-thriller in rural illinois. 164 N. State St., 97 Minutes, Tickets $ 15, Cuff.org
American schemers
Where: Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival, Landmark’s Century Center Cinema, Theater 4
When: Sept 21, 2 pm
Best Friends Kara (Sydney Blackburn) and Oly (Michael Waller) are also partners in crime in this comedy from chicago director Jack C. Newell. AFTER MAKING A LIVING Robbing the homes of the recently deceased, the duo taxi on An Eve Greater Scheme: Posing as heirs to a dead socialite. Plenty of high jinks and hiccups ensee. In Addition to Starring in the Film, Blackburn and Waller Wrote the script. 2828 N. Clark St., 85 minutes, tickets $ 15, Reeling2025.Eventive.org/films
The Light of Truth: Richard Hunt’s Monument to Ida B. Wells
Where: Siskel Film Center
When: Oct. 4, 12:30 PM and Oct. 6, 6 pm
Director Rana Segal’s Documentary DRAWS OUT The Paralles BetWeen Two Towering figures in Chicago’s African American Community. Viewers Will Learn About Suffragist and Civil Rights Activist Ida B. Wells as they go berind-the-scens with prolific sculptor richard hunt at work on a monument to her. The Documentary was Filmed As Hunt Created the Light of Truth, the Towering Bronzeville Monument dedicated to Wells, One of the Last Pieces before HIS DEATH IN 2023. Segal Will Be in ATTENance for a discussion. 164 N. State St., 56 minutes, tickets $ 14.50, SiskelfilmCenter.org
One Golden Summer (World Premiere)
Where: Chicago International Film Festival, Music Box Theater
When: Oct. 15, 6:30 pm
Award-Winning Chicago Director Kevin Shaw (“Let the Little Light Shine,” “America to Me”) opens the fest with “One Golden Summer,” A Local Saga Distributed by State Pictures. The Documentary Revisites the Trajectory of the Jackie Robinson West Little League Team, which in 2014 Became the first All-Black Team to the Little League USABALL Championship. Howver, City-Wide Celebrations Gave Way to Controversy Wen the Team Was Accused of USING INELELIGIBLE Players from Outside Residictive Boundaries. Shaw’s Film Features Interviews with the Now-Adult Athletes, Parents, Coaches and Reporters. 3733 N. Southport Ave., 81 Minutes, Tickets $ 42, chicagofilmfestival.com
Sebiye Behtiyar as Aishe and Fred Hechinger as Skinner in “Preparation for the Next Life,” Amazon Mgm Studios.
Preparation for the Next Life
Opened on Sept. 5, Additional Options to View Forthcoming
AFTER MAKING HIS NAME WITH THE OSCAR-NOMINATED DOCUMARY “Minding the Gap,” Director Bing Liu Explores the Complexity of the Immigrant Experience in His first narrative film. Distributed by Amazon Mgm Studios, “Preparation for the Next Life” is basic on a 2014 novel by atticus lish. IT FOLLOW THE LOVE Story of Aishe (Sebiye Behtiyar), an undocuted uyghur Immigrant, and Skinner (Fred Hechinger), a US Army Veteran. Born in China and Raised in Rockford, Liu Said He Wanted the Film to Illustrate the “Spiritual and Emotional Cost” of Those who toil at the Fringes of Society. 115 minutes
Pools
Opened Nationwide on Sept. 5, Option to Rent/Buy Forthcoming
For his Feature Debut, Chicago Director Sam Hayes Wante to Capture the essence of John Hughes’ “Ferris Bueller’s Day off” or “The Breakfast Club.” Hayes’ Coming-of-Age Tale Follows College Sophomore Kennedy (Odessa a’zion) and Her Friends As they have Break into Luxurious pools throughut lake forest. Instead of providing an escape from her problems, Kennedy’s Act of Rebellion Ultimately Forces HER TO CONFRONT HER GRIEF OVER HER FATHER’S DEATH. “This film is for any who has lost someone so Close, who shaped and their reality so much that it has foundation of their existence haen ripped away,” Hayes Said in a director’s staff. 99 minutes, Poolsmovie.com