2021

CHICAGO – The virtual/online 2021 SXSW Festival began on March 16th, and continues through March 20th. In the participation of its film festival part of the fest, many of the newest and most cutting edge voices are creating new cinema perspectives. Below are capsule reviews of three new films.

CHICAGO – After garnering a major honor at the Sundance Film Festival – the Audience Award in the NEXT category – “Ma Belle, My Beauty” will screen at the virtual/online South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival in yet another opportunity to see the modern and emotional expression of love. Idella Johnson and Hannah Pepper are two/thirds of a past polyamorous relationship.

CHICAGO – The Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC) series of Chicago opens their Season 12 on March 15th, 2021, through their virtual/online platform, with the Japanese film “The Town of Headcounts.” You can access the film here through March 19th.

CHICAGO – It obviously won’t be the same, but the 2021 South by Southwest Film, (SXSW) Music, Media and Conference Festival gathering will take place virtually and online in a five day format, March 16th through the 20th. For information on joining in via passes or tickets, click SXSW2021

CHICAGO – The resilient Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC) series of Chicago will begin Season 12 on March 15th, 2021, and will offer a unique three-part hybrid presentation culminating on May 1st. It opens with virtual/online films, then presents an “Oscar Contenders” event and concludes with films at the Lincoln Yards Drive-In.

CHICAGO – The Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC) of Chicago wishes everyone a HAPPY CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR … the Year of the Ox. To celebrate the day, how about a FREE Chinese Film Series, and an interview via Zoom with the President of APUC, Colin Hara. Mr. Hara has been part of the Governing Board of the cinema series since 2018, and is in his third year as president.

CHICAGO – It was one week of 73 feature films and 50 shorts, and it was shared with a virtual and online audience. The 2021 Sundance Film Festival will be remembered as within the pandemic sphere, but it also was notable for the depth and breadth of their film offerings, and how it reached a larger cinema universe.

CHICAGO – The 2021 Sundance Film Festival will be long remembered as the “virtual” version due to the pandemic, but there are always the real films, and the festival announced their competition honorees on February 2nd, in a virtual ceremony hosted by comedian Patton Oswalt.

CHICAGO – The compact 2021 Sundance Film Festival is on the sixth day of seven, but the offerings are still coming. This year’s festival is virtual and online, meaning anyone with a ticket or a pass can indulge in the film offerings throughout the festival, which runs until Wednesday, February 3rd.

CHICAGO – The 2021 Sundance Film Festival is winding down on Day Five, after a huge weekend of film premieres. This year’s festival is virtual and online, meaning anyone with a ticket or a pass can indulge in the film offerings throughout the festival, which runs until Wednesday, February 3rd.