New film movements always undergo the torture of critical labeling and mislabeling but whatever you want to call it, DIY, Mumblecore, Slackavettes, Chicago’s Joe Swanberg is at its forefront. With such notable independent films of recent years as Kissing On the Mouth, LOL and Hannah Takes the Stairs, Swanberg, a former staff member of the Chicago International Film Festival, has made a career of portraying life and relationships in a way that audiences can relate to. Join us for an open discussion with Joe Swanberg about the ins and outs of indie film production in Chicago, followed by a Q&A.

90 min

The 47th International Communications Media competition (INTERCOM) recognizes the incredible creativity found in corporate, industrial, and educational filmmaking. Showcasing select winners from this year’s competition, the program is headlined by IBM’s They Were There. Directed by Errol Morris (Tabloid, The Thin Blue Line) and scored by Phillip Glass, this fascinating documentary celebrates 100 years of breakthroughs and innovation at IBM, told by the employees and leaders who made it all happen.

60 min

First rule of Club Zeus: women feel what they want to feel. This Shanghai male host club caters to the emotional (and sexual) needs of its professional clientele and Leonardo, its youngest host, understands those needs perfectly. But his mentor and “big brother” Sly wants a better future for Leonardo and is willing to pay any price to free him from his duties. Shot in just ten days, Club Zeus is a visually striking exploration of the need for companionship in this digital age.

Mandarin with subtitles 75 min

Every year, we love to surprise our audience with a top-secret film that will keep them talking for days. What will that film be this year? Will it be the first Chicago showing of a hotly anticipated Hollywood blockbuster? Maybe the first look at a foreign film making waves around the world? How about a potential Oscar® winner for Best Picture? You won’t know what you’ll see until the lights go down. Are you excited yet? Well here’s the best part: It’s FREE! The only catch is that you’ve gotta wear our Festival t-shirt or sweatshirt to get in. So you get to look awesome and see a great film. What more could you ask for?

90-120 min

A tale of competition at its most cutthroat, Butter surveys the raw ambition of Laura Pickler (Jennifer Garner), the wife of Bob Pickler (Ty Burrell), Iowa’s long-reigning champion butter carver. For 15 years, Laura has relished her high-profile role as the beautiful, loyal helpmate to her affable, artistically gifted husband. But when Bob is pressured to retire and allow someone else a chance at glory, an indignant Laura decides to enter the competition herself. In the tradition of Best In Show and Election, Butter can be enjoyed as a straightforward, albeit merrily twisted, comedy about American life and culture.

English 91 min