Music

CHICAGO – As the 2022 SXSW Festival wraps up this weekend, many filmmakers brought their new works, and one that stood out is a new documentary on Voyager, the space probes (1 & 2) that were launched in 1977 and still miraculously are exploring the interstellar galaxy. Filmmaker Billy Miossi profiles the crew keeping tabs on the probes in “it’s Quieter in the Twilight.”

CHICAGO – Groundbreaking filmmakers often start at the South by Southwest Festival. Influencers like the Duplass brothers, Chicago’s Joe Swanberg and Lena Dunham got their first prominent notices at the fest. In that spirit, the 2022 SXSW Grand Jury Awards were announced on March 15th.

CHICAGO – The 2022 SXSW Festival opened Friday with in person events for the first time in THREE years, with its unique mix of music, film, VR and associative networking opportunities. The Opening Night Film on Friday was the Asian American sci-fi film “Everything Everywhere at Once.” There are also participatory online opportunities, for information on joining in, click SXSW2022.

CHICAGO – To discover a truly unique interpreter of cabaret is rare and exciting. Natalja Aicardi is a Chicago singer and performance artist, by way of her native Italy. Her multi disciplinary practice of music, movement, singing and energy practice is adds to a mesmerizing performance base, intimate and inviting.

CHICAGO – It’s Day Two of the just-begun 57th Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF), and the spotlight shines on local short films at the CITY & STATE program, which includes ”Sink” directed by Curtis Matzke, with music composed by Tony Scott-Green. Click the titles for more information.

CHICAGO – One more time, virtual and online. YippieFest 2021 will air on Twitch TV and through their website on Sunday, September 26th (7pm start). The freewheeling festival is usually a live theater and music event every August, but with the pandemic still lingering the show must go on, virtual and online. For more info, click YippieFest.com.

CHICAGO – The virtual/online 2021 SXSW Festival wrapped up on March 20th, after a compacted five day run. The Award Winners were announced on March 19th, and contained themes of redemption, joy, loneliness and reckoning.

CHICAGO – The latest cinematic visionaries are often discovered at the South by Southwest Festival. Filmmakers like the Duplass brothers, Chicago’s Joe Swanberg and Lena Dunham got their first prominent notices at the fest. In that spirit, the 2021 SXSW Grand Jury Awards were announced on March 19th.

CHICAGO – The virtual/online 2021 SXSW Festival began on March 16th, and continues through March 20th. The independent films in the festival touch upon relationships, mother-to-society, sister-to-sister and adult-woman-to-younger-self. Three more film capsules are below.

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.