After not going to a movie theater in a couple years, I made up for lost time at the Chicago International Film Festival. I am happy to report I enjoyed every movie I saw.

Opening Night screening of THE FRENCH DISPATCH at the 57th
Chicago International Film Festival. Photo by Timothy M. Schmidt.

Started in 1964 by filmmaker and graphic artist Michael Kutza, it is North America’s longest-running competitive film festival. All of the festival’s films are Chicago premieres. Some are even U.S. and world premieres. More than half of the theater screenings featured actors and directors introducing their films and hosting discussions upon the conclusion of the film.

Sir Kenneth Branagh on stage before a Special Presentation of
BELFAST. Photo by Barry Brecheisen.

This year, the 57th Chicago International Film Festival held screenings of more than 80 movies at four theaters across the city, as well as virtually on the festival’s streaming platform. I saw movies at Gene Siskel Film Center and Music Box Theatre, two iconic Chicago theaters. My favorites were horror film Antlers, biopic The Velvet Underground and biopic Julia.

Gianfranco Rosi receives the Artistic Achievement Award. Photo by Timothy M. Schmidt.

One interesting note involves the festival logo. While some speculate the eyes are Charlie Chaplin’s or Liza Minnelli’s, they are a combination of silent screen sirens Theda Bara, Pola Negri and Mae Murray. Director Kutza created the logo.

Photo by Chicago International Film Festival.

— John Wroblewski, online writer