Chicago

CHICAGO – It’s rare to see a director debut that is nuanced, anarchistic and different, but the high school coming-of-age comedy “The Crusades” – by first-timer Leo Milano – scores with its solid comedic script, unique characters and passionate homage to Chicagoland’s Northwest Burbs, as well as featuring hot actor Rudy Pankow (Netflix’s “Outer Banks”).

CHICAGO – In a fulfillment of his destiny, gay activist Gary G. Chichester was Grand Marshall of the Chicago Pride Parade in 2022, to celebrate his consistent contribution to LGBTQ+ causes, including organizing and participating in the first Gay Liberation March in Chicago on June 27th, 1970. One year later in 1971, he helped put together the first Pride Parade.

CHICAGO – In a program that launched during the pandemic, the Chicago/Mexico City Cinema Exchange began highlighting works from Chicago and Mexico City Filmmakers. Continuing forward with in-person screenings, the theme this year is displacement, and one of the curators of the event is Chicago film influencer Raul Benitez. The screenings will take place on three days at three Chicago venues, beginning June 12th, 2023 at (click for tickets) the Gene Siskel Film Center.

CHICAGO – Omi Hopper is competing … and still survives … on the second season of “Next Level Chef,” the TV cooking show on FOX hosted by Gordon Ramsay. The social media viral star, who created a following with her approach to traditional Puerto Rican dishes, is still in play as the show winds down to the finale on May 11th.

CHICAGO – The future is now at the 2023 CineYouth Film Festival, taking place this upcoming weekend April 21st-23rd, at FACETS cinema in Chicago, CineYouth features 65 local, national and international short films from creators that are children, teens and young adults up to 22 years old.

CHICAGO – Carla Bruni is a Chicago preservationist, and had a unique idea for a Fellowship within her discipline. Her idea became “Community Glue,” a gathering of repair artists and seamstresses to … you guessed it … repair/mend broken and damaged items, instead of throwing them away.

CHICAGO – The world broke open and came to a more evolved place after the digital campaign of #MeToo and #TimesUp late last decade. In the entertainment industry especially, the stories of institutional sexual harassment was legion and pervasive.

CHICAGO – To indicate how the timeline is off during the pandemic period, Karen Cardarelli has been Executive Director of FACETS cinema since February of 2020, but impact began post pandemic. Besides reformulating FACETS, she also is spearheading the beginnings of the Chicago Alliance of Film Festivals.

Previous | Image 1 of 9 | Next

Michigan Rattlers Rock Thalia Hall in Chicago.

CHICAGO – The Michigan Rattlers are a group of uncompromising folk-rock musicians who have captured the hearts of audiences everywhere with their timeless sound, rich, deep vocals, and memorable nostalgic performances. The band is composed of lifelong friends and deep-north natives Graham Young (guitar), Adam Reed (bass), Christian Wilder (piano), and Tony Audia (drums).

CHICAGO – The Asian Pop Up Cinema (APUC), a Chicago cultural institution, launched Season 16 this past week with a sensational pre-season event featuring Hong Kong superstar Aaron Kwok and the Japan Cinema Showcase. Wrapping up the showcase is “Unami,” CLICK HERE for details.