CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.
Film News: Chicago Film Cancellations & Postponements
CHICAGO – In this most unprecedented of times, the film community of Chicago has been affected profoundly by the coronavirus pandemic. The spring film festivals were just getting into gear, and obviously as gatherings have been discouraged the cancellations and postponements have started to come in. Here are the updates …
Chicago Independent Film (+TV) Festival STATUS: CANCELED
Chicago Independent Film (+TV) Festival
Photo credit: ChicagoIndependentFilmFestival.com
Scheduled: March 20th-21st, 2020
Description: Now in its seventh year, the Chicago Independent Film (+TV) Festival supports international and national filmmakers and showcases strong independent work in the city of Chicago.
Official Statement: As we anticipated Columbia College [the location of the Fest] has closed indefinitely. We are glad we got the word out to you as early as we possibly could. We started this festival to support the independent film community. These are strenuous times. Please continue to support one another and lift each others spirits.
Asian Pop-Up Cinema STATUS: POSTPONED
The Asian Pop-Up Cinema
Photo credit: AsianPopUpCinema.org
Scheduled: March 10th-April 9th, 2020
Description: The Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC) is a twice-a-year film series that cultivates an interest in and understanding of Asian cultures via a diverse offering of Asian films and connects the Asian film industry with local Chicago film professionals, educators and students. Begun in 2015, it had just started Season Ten.
Official Statement: The safety and well being of APUC attendees, staff, volunteers, international filmmakers and stakeholders is a top priority. As an immediate effect, APUC’s Season Ten screenings and events are postponed until next season, Season 11.
22nd EbertFest [Roger Ebert’s Film Festival] STATUS: CANCELED
22nd EbertFest
Photo credit: EbertFest.com
Scheduled: April 14th-17th, 2020
Description: EbertFest, Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, is held every April in Champaign, Illinois, and organized by the College of Media at the University of Illinois. Roger Ebert, the TV and Chicago Sun-Times film critic, was a native of the adjoining town of Urbana, Illinois and is an alumnus of the University, and founded the festival in 1999.
Official Statement: The University of Illinois announced that all university-sponsored events with more than 50 attendees – which included the film festival – would be suspended indefinitely. “The audience and our filmmakers help make our festival so special and so beautiful that it hurts to cancel it, but we must put concern for health and welfare foremost.” Chaz Ebert said in a statement.
5th DOC10 Film Festival STATUS: POSTPONED
5th DOC10 Film Festival
Photo credit: Doc10.org
Scheduled: April 16th-19th, 2020
Description: The 5th DOC10 Film Festival is Chicago’s only all-documentary film festival and provides an engaging experience for its audiences, reaching thousands of local cinephiles over the last four years.
Official Statement: Amid concern regarding COVID-19, we have made the decision to postpone the Doc10 Film Festival. We take the health and safety of both our audience and staff very seriously and we are taking preventative steps to ensure the well being of our community. We will be reaching out to ticket holders to arrange refunds in the coming days, and all of us at CMP look forward to welcoming guests and filmmakers to Doc10 this summer.
36th Chicago Latino Film Festival STATUS: POSTPONED
36th Chicago Latino Film Festival
Photo credit: ChicagoLatinoFilmFestival.org
Scheduled: April 16th-30th, 2020
Description: The Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) is produced every April by the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago (ILCC), a pan-Latino, nonprofit, multidisciplinary arts organization dedicated to developing, promoting and increasing awareness of Latino culture among Latinos and other communities by presenting a wide variety of art forms.
Official Statement: After monitoring the progress of the outbreak as well as recent developments, we came to this inevitably hard and difficult, but right, decision. The health of our attendees, staff members and the hundreds of dedicated volunteers who contribute their time and energy to our event is of paramount importance. We hope to announce our next steps soon.
8th Chicago Critics Film Festival STATUS: POSTPONED
Chicago Critics Film Festival
Photo credit: ChicagoCriticsFilmFestival.com
Scheduled: May 1st-7th, 2020
Description: The Chicago Critics Film Festival presents a selection of recent festival favorites and as-yet-undistributed works from established voices and talented newcomers alike, curated by the CFCA membership. The festival is held annually at Chicago’s historic Music Box Theatre.
Official Statement: At this time, CFCA leadership are evaluating the best course forward and no determination has been made regarding whether the Chicago Critics Film Festival will take place later in the year, if at all. Instead, like all of us, organizers are monitoring the situation closely and adjusting plans on a near-daily basis in order to balance both their desire to present the best event possible and the very real public health concerns around COVID-19.
By PATRICK McDONALD |