The Chicago International Film Festival, the oldest competitive film festival in North America, will bring 111 feature films and 54 short films from 44 countries to Chicago, Oct. 7-21. The 2004 Festival received more than 1,500 submissions and includes two world premieres, 13 North American premieres and 22 U.S. premieres. Presented by Bank One, this year's program will feature more films, new venues, bigger panel discussions and a showcase of directors the festival has championed in celebration of its 40th Anniversary.
"Anniversaries are often a time to pause and look back. But we've always focused on discovery. So at 40 years young, we're still fixed on the future with a twist," said festival founder and artistic director Michael Kutza. "This year we're pulling out all the stops with an expanded program that celebrates our history and looks ahead."
The festival's grand finale, to be held Oct. 21 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.), will feature an on-stage tribute to Academy Award-winning director Robert Zemeckis (FORREST GUMP) hosted by Tom Hanks. Following the tribute, the festival will screen the duo's latest collaboration, THE POLAR EXPRESS, the story of a young boy who journeys to the North Pole, discovering along the way that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.
In other animation screenings, Don Hertzfelds REJECTED will screen in Flashback Shorts section and Richard Goleszowskis CREATURE COMFORTS - "CATS OR DOGS? will compete in the Short Films Competition.
Most festival films will be shown at AMC River East 21 (322 E. Illinois St.), Landmark's Century Centre Cinema (2828 N. Clark St.) and Northwestern University's Thorne Auditorium (375 E. Chicago Ave.). Individual tickets for all regular festival screenings cost $11 for the general public and go on sale Sept. 23. For more information, visit www.chicagofilmfestival.com or call (312) 332-FILM.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
