Festival Archives: Chicago Intl Film Festival

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A man in a dark trench coat stands on a hill overlooking a vast landscape and open sky. A winged statue sits behind him.

Anselm

  Wim Wenders

  Germany     93 minutes

Synopsis

A majestic follow up to his 2011 tour-de-force Pina, Wim Wenders’ latest 3D documentary is another luminous portrait of an iconoclastic artist, Anselm Kiefer, one of the most innovative painters and sculptors of our time. Wenders traces Kiefer’s path from his native Germany to his current home in France, connecting his life and controversial work over five decades in a mesmerizing visual experience.

While Wenders’ 6K high-resolution cameras track around monumental installations, sculptures, and enormous paintings, capturing in lucid detail all their mythic splendor and elemental power, the film also touches on the personal history of the man. Featuring stylized dramatic reenactments (with Wenders’ grandnephew Anton and Kiefer’s son Daniel portraying the artist), the film explores Anselm’s complicated relationship with his country’s Nazi past and his outsized impact on contemporary art.

  

 English, German with subtitles 

Screenings & Events

In-Person Screening

Thu, Oct 19 @ 6:00pm CDT

at Logan Center for the Arts 2

Film Credits

  •   Karsten Brünig
  •   Anselm Kiefer, Daniel Kiefer, Anton Wenders
  •   Road Movies

Sponsors

Documentary Program Sponsors

Logo: WTTW (2019)Cynthia Stone Raskin

Film Supporter

Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation

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A woman emraces a girl, kissing the side of her head, and holds a small black dog in her other arm.

Bad Living Mal Viver

  João Canijo

  Portugal, France     127 minutes

Synopsis

Five women across three generations are struggling to keep their decaying family hotel afloat. When Piedade’s daughter Salomé arrives on the scene, old resentments begin to bubble to the surface. The film’s wounded characters collide with one another in frank confrontation as layers of generational trauma are laid bare. The deteriorating architecture of the hotel looms over the action, reflecting the characters’ inner turmoil and embodying the fraying ties of a family on the verge of being torn apart.

 Portuguese with subtitles 

A dark haired woman leans over the shoulder of another woman, her shoulder strap sliding down, as they look out a window.A masterwork of overlapping perspectives, Bad Living is the reverse shot of Living Bad (also included in this year’s program). Taken together, the two form a rich narrative labyrinth as the events of the story are observed from different angles and interpreted through the lens of different characters. The result is a cinematic experience of unprecedented depth.

Learn more about Living Bad

Content Considerations
Self harm
Learn about Festival content considerations...

Screenings & Events

In-Person Screening

Sun, Oct 15 @ 1:45pm CDT

at Siskel Center, Screen 1

Accessibility options for this screening:
  • Assistive Listening Devices available
Learn more about accessibility options...

In-Person Screening

Mon, Oct 16 @ 3:45pm CDT

at Siskel Center, Screen 2

Accessibility options for this screening:
  • Assistive Listening Devices available
Learn more about accessibility options...

Media

Film Credits

  •   Pedro Borges
  •   João Canijo
  •   João Braz
  •   Leonor Teles
  •   Anabela Moreira, Rita Blanco, Madalena Almeida, Cleia Almeida, Vera Barreto
  •   Pedro Borges
  •   Midas Filmes
  •   https://malviver-vivermal.pt/

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A man and woman lay in the grass, gazing at each other.

Banel & Adama

  Ramata-Toulaye Sy

  Senegal, France, Mali     87 minutes

Synopsis

In a remote village in northern Senegal, the introspective Adama finds himself drawn to Banel, a passionate and rebellious spirit. Together, they make the bold decision to carve out their own destiny, opting to live independently from their respective families and be with each other. When Adama refuses to step into the role expected of him as the village’s future leader, it sets off a chain reaction that challenges tradition and tests the strength of their love.

With striking cinematography enriched by subtle elements of magical realism, Banel & Adama presents a visually enthralling journey.

 Pulaar with subtitles 

Screenings & Events

In-Person Screening

Wed, Oct 18 @ 5:30pm CDT

at AMC NEWCITY, Screen 5

Scheduled to Attend:
Director Ramata-Toulaye Sy

In-Person Screening

Thu, Oct 19 @ 5:30pm CDT

at AMC NEWCITY, Screen 5

Scheduled to Attend:
Director Ramata-Toulaye Sy

Media

Film Credits

  •   Eric Névé, Margaux Juvénal, Maud Leclair Névé
  •   Ramata-Toulaye Sy
  •   Vincent Tricon
  •   Amine Berrada
  •   Khady Mane, Mamadou Diallo
  •   Bachar Mar-Khalifé
  •   La Chauve-Souris, Take Shelter, Astou Films, Astou Production, DS Productions, Canal+ International, Arte France Cinéma

Sponsors

Black Perspectives Program Sponsors

logo: Allstate 199x50

New Directors Program Sponsors

Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation

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Under a tent lined with string lights, a man and a woman stand closely. He looks down while she gazes as him.

Because We Have Each Other

  Sari Braithwaite

  Australia     90 minutes

Synopsis

In this wondrous and warm-hearted portrait, director Sari Braithwaite (ChicagoIFF winner [Censored]) follows a very unique Australian family. Middle-aged and deeply in love, thoughtful and witty couple “Buddha” Barnes and Janet Sharrock live in a dusty working-class Melbourne suburb, still caring for their five adult kids from separate marriages. Adding to the complexities of a mixed family is the fact that they are all neurodivergent, living with a range of conditions from autism to depression to extreme dyslexia.

Sharing their deepest thoughts, fears, and dreams, we get to know each of the family members as they confront their vulnerabilities. And of course life, in all of its joys, misfortunes, and traumas, gets in the way. Blending the mundane with the universal through intimate verité footage and poetic shots of starry nighttime skies, Because We Have Each Other is a tender chronicle of the most normal, extraordinary lives.

 English 

Screenings & Events

In-Person Screening

Sun, Oct 15 @ 1:30pm CDT

at AMC NEWCITY, Screen 5

In-Person Screening

Thu, Oct 19 @ 1:00pm CDT

at AMC NEWCITY, Screen 5

Accessibility options for this screening:
  • Open Captions
Learn more about accessibility options...

Virtual Screening

This film will be available to stream from October 16 at 12:00pm CT to October 22 at 11:59pm CDT, available only in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Learn more about streaming…

Accessibility options for this screening:
  • Closed Captions
Learn more about accessibility options...

Media

Film Credits

  •   Chloé Brugalé
  •   Patrick McCabe
  •   Jeremy Virag
  •   Janet Barnes, Buddha Barnes, Rebecca Sharrock, Jessica Sharrock, Kylie Barnes, Brendan Barnes, Dylan Barnes
  •   Munro Melano
  •   Robert Connolly, Robert Patterson
  •   Arenamedia
  •   https://becausewehaveeachother.com/

Sponsors

Documentary Program Sponsors

Logo: WTTW (2019)Cynthia Stone Raskin

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Two black cyclists, in full kits, ride past camera on a flat road.

Bike Vessel

  Eric D. Seals

  United States     92 minutes

Synopsis

Pulled pork, ribs, and liverwurst sandwiches — these are a few of the Southern delicacies filmmaker Eric D. Seals grew up eating alongside his father, Donnie Seals, Sr. But after facing death and undergoing the first of three quadruple bypass operations, the elder Seals decided to completely overhaul his life. Bike Vessel chronicles Donnie’s new chapter after becoming an avid cyclist, and follows the two men as they set out on an epic bike ride from St. Louis to Chicago.

Filled with flat tires, GPS snafus, and fast-food detours, the documentary is both a funny document of a father-son road trip and a powerful social statement. Through Eric and Donnie’s relationship, it takes a hard look at health disparities in the Black community and the systemic racism plaguing the well-being of Black men in America.

 English 

Screenings & Events

In-Person Screening

Sat, Oct 14 @ 5:00pm CDT

at AMC NEWCITY, Screen 13

Scheduled to Attend:
Director Eric Seals

Community Cinema Screening

Fri, Oct 20 @ 6:30pm CDT

at Hamilton Park

Free admission. Advance ticket registration is not available or required.

Seating is general and on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to theater capacity.

Scheduled to Attend:
Director Eric Seals
Accessibility options for this screening:
  • Open Captions
Learn more about accessibility options...

In-Person Screening

Sat, Oct 21 @ 12:45pm CDT

at AMC NEWCITY, Screen 13

Virtual Screening

This film will be available to stream from October 16 at 12:00pm CT to October 22 at 11:59pm CDT, available only in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Learn more about streaming…

Accessibility options for this screening:
  • Closed Captions
Learn more about accessibility options...

Media

Film Credits

  •   Donnie Seals, Resita Cox
  •   Eric D. Seals
  •   Cai Thomas
  •   Donnie Seals Sr., Sharon Seals, Donnie Seals Jr., Nicole Newsome, Eric D. Seals, Dr. Terry Mason, Dr. Medell Briggs-Malonson, Dr. Stanley K. Frencher
  •   Zo!
  •   Eric D. Seals
  •   Digife
  •   https://bikevessel.com

Sponsors

Documentary Program Sponsors

Logo: WTTW (2019)Cynthia Stone Raskin

Black Perspectives Program Sponsor

logo: Allstate 199x50

Film Sponsor

logo: SRAM 330x50

Live Captioning

Logo: Caption Consulting 164x150