Shannon Walsh’s documentary ADRIANNE & THE CASTLE at Music Box Theatre with filmmakers’ Q&A Nov. 23rd

Films On Our Radar:

Music Box Theatre & Intuitive Pictures present director Shannon Walsh’s fantastical documentary 

ADRIANNE & THE CASTLE

beginning November 22, 2024, with filmmakers’ Q&A November 23rd

On Saturday, Nov. 23, director Shannon Walsh, film subject Alan St-George, composer Richard Reed Parry, co-writer/creator Laurel Sprengelmeyer, and actress SLee will be in attendance for a post-film Q&A after the 7:15pm screening.

For showtimes and information, click here: https://musicboxtheatre.com/films-and-events/adrianne-the-castle.

“It’s a truly fascinating story taken to a transcendent level with a wholly original approach to the filmmaking.” — Den of Geek

“The film challenges jaded perspectives and invites viewers to reconsider the possibility of timeless, unwavering devotion. It reminds that perhaps, even in our most cynical moments, extraordinary love can still be found.” — In Review Online

“In keeping the fantasy alive, Walsh seems to honor Adrianne's wishes to forge a magical world of her own. That's what makes ADRIANNE & THE CASTLE feel so very special.” — RogerEbert.com

About ADRIANNA & THE CASTLE:

A true story of love and loss, ADRIANNA & THE CASTLE documents the unique life of the St-Georges, who built a castle to their love in rural Illinois. Now facing the future without the love of his life, Alan grapples with his grief through creative musical re-enactments of their story, transporting him into the fantasy world they created together.

Pricing: Ticket prices are $11 ($8 for Music Box members).

Become a member: https://www.musicboxtheatre.com/membership/become-a-member

About Music Box Theatre:

Operating since 1929, the Music Box Theatre has been the premier venue in Chicago for independent and foreign films for more than four decades, playing host to over 200,000 patrons annually. It currently has the largest theater space operated full time in the city. The Theatre is independently owned and operated. Its sister company, Music Box Films, is dedicated to curating a diverse repertoire of films from around the world and distributing them throughout the US. Music Box Theatre and Music Box Films both engage audiences with exciting alternatives to mainstream entertainment.

Regular events produced, presented, and hosted at Music Box Theatre include the 70mm Film Festival; Music Box Christmas Sing-a-long and Double Feature, the annual 24-hour horror-movie marathon Music Box of Horrors; and Noir City: Chicago, co-presented by the Film Noir Foundation.

Follow the Music Box Theatre on Facebook (www.facebook.com/musicboxchicago/), Twitter (@musicboxtheatre), Instagram (@musicboxchicago), TikTok @musicbox_chicago

Music Box Theatre to Play Wim Wenders’ 3-D Documentary ANSELM beginning February 2, 2024

What We're Watching: Wim Wenders’ 3-D Documentary 

ANSELM 

Shot in 6K Resolution

Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar

Music Box Theatre & Janus Films present director Wim Wenders’ 3-D documentary ANSELM, beginning February 2, 2024!!! Shot at 6K resolution and in the 3D format. the film chronicles the art of German painter and sculptor Anselm Kiefe. I'll be out January 30 for a press preview, so check back soon for my full review.  

“Much as he did with his 2011 documentary, PINA, Wenders uses three dimensions in almost sculptural fashion, allowing us to take in the weight and texture of a work, or a movement.” — New York Magazine

“As unique and thought-provoking as Kiefer’s own epic works.” — The Austin Chronicle

“As Kiefer’s monumental art decays, “Anselm” can endure as his memorial.” — The Washington Post

“The director has fashioned a mesmerizing engagement with Kiefer’s art, including just enough face time with the subject to elevate the work’s immersive, bleak majesty, rather than give it an aggrandizing spin.” — Los Angeles Times

About ANSELM:

In ANSELM, Wim Wenders creates a portrait of Anselm Kiefer, one of the most innovative and important painters and sculptors of our time. Shot in 3D and 6K resolution, the film presents a cinematic experience of the artist’s work which explores human existence and the cyclical nature of history, inspired by literature, poetry, philosophy, science, mythology and religion. For over two years, Wenders traced Kiefer’s path from his native Germany to his current home in France, connecting the stages of his life to the essential places of his career that spans more than five decades.

Pricing:

Ticket prices are $11 ($8 for Music Box members). For showtimes and information, click here.

Become a member: https://www.musicboxtheatre.com/membership/become-a-member

About Music Box Theatre:

Operating since 1929, the Music Box Theatre has been the premier venue in Chicago for independent and foreign films for more than three decades, playing host to over 200,000 patrons annually. It currently has the largest theater space operated full time in the city. The Music Box Theatre is independently owned and operated by the Southport Music Box Corporation. SMBC, through its Music Box Films division, also distributes foreign and independent films in the theatrical, DVD, and television markets throughout the United States; and through its Music Box Direct subsidiary, operates an online streaming service offering the best of foreign and independent films.

Regular events produced, presented and hosted at Music Box Theatre include the 70mm Film Festival; the annual 24-hour horror-movie marathon Music Box of Horrors; and Noir City: Chicago, co-presented by the Film Noir Foundation.

Follow the Music Box Theatre on Facebook (www.facebook.com/musicboxchicago/), Twitter (@musicboxtheatre), and Instagram (@musicboxchicago)

FEST ALERT: Chicago Comedy Film Fest This Weekend

It's a big weekend for indy film in Chicago. Come in from the cold and enjoy a few laughs with these highlights of the Chicago Comedy Film Festival.

The Manny (29 Min) (USA) Pilot Saturday 12pm The New 400 Theater

Starring: Monty Franklin, Buddy Lewis, Pippa Black, Rob Schneider. A laissez faire Aussie surfer finds himself answering to Malibu's most desperate housewife after marrying her for a green card during a drunken night out.

For fans of Miranda, Outsourced


Something Out of Nothing (51 min) (Chicago) Saturday 1pm The New 400 Theater



Starring: Young talent at Chicago Public Schools, Deonna Griffin (The Second City Outreach Program) and Susan Messing (Messing with a Friend)

Art is as incredibly important aspect of society. However, not everyone has access to art programs or the means to express themselves through art. This film takes a look at an afterschool program that provides kids an opportunity to explore their talents in improv – and pays them a stipend upon completion.

For fans of Hoop Dreams and Waiting for Superman.


For the Love of George (89 Min) Saturday 8:30pm The New 400 Theater




Starring: Nadia Jordan , Rosanna Arquette, Rex Lee, Kristen Johnston

After moving to Los Angeles to get away from a cheating husband, Poppy attempts to have an encounter with George Clooney, the man of her dreams. After many failed attempts to meet him, she realizes that it isn't a new location or a handsome man she needs to make her happy, it's herself.
For fans of George Clooney, Serendipity, and Bridget Jones's Diary.

Love in Moreno Valley (80 Min) (United States) Saturday 3:30 pm The New 400 Theater


Starring: John Ennis.

James Watson is a high schooler who struggles with his self-image and budding sexuality in a Christian school that doesn't make things any easier for him. As he attempts find humor in his life and pursue his passions, he's constantly met with doubt and the hand of authority putting him down.

For fans of Super Bad and angsty teen movies where boys struggle to get girls.

Room for Rent (89 Min) (Canada) Friday 7pm The New 400 Theater



Starring: Bret Gelman, Mark Little, Stephanie Weir, and Carla Gallo.

After blowing through three and a half million dollars won in the lottery, a dead-ended Mitch devises a plan to rent a room from his parent's house to afford living expenses after his father takes an early retirement. hings start off great, but the new roommate proves to be weirder and weirder, landing Mitch in situations that spiral out of his control. In the end, Mitch has to confront more than just a bad living situation.

For fans of Step Brothers.
Bernard and Huey (90 Min) (United States) Friday 8pm The New 400 Theater



With a screenplay by legendary Oscar®- and Pulitzer-winning author and cartoonist Jules Feiffer (Mike Nichols’ “Carnal Knowledge,” Robert Altman’s “Popeye”), “Bernard and Huey” is a comedy about two old friends who reconnect after 30 years apart. The film features Feiffer's recurring characters Bernard and Huey, who first surfaced in the Village Voice in 1957 and made frequent appearances over the years in Voice and Playboy cartoons, a play, and a novel. Middle-age men behaving badly, former nebbish Bernard (Oscar®-winning screenwriter and actor Jim Rash of “Community”) and lothario Huey (David Koechner of “Anchorman”) still view women from the immature perspective of their undergrad selves (played in flashback by Jay Renshaw and Jake O’Connor). Those retrograde attitudes lead to complicated relationships with the women in their lives, who include Zelda (Mae Whitman of “Parenthood”) and Mona (Nancy Travis). “Bernard and Huey” is directed by award-winning filmmaker and Slamdance Film Festival co-founder Dan Mirvish, a Washington U. grad and SLIFF alum (his debut film “Omaha” and 2012’s “Between Us”).

Passes and tickets are now onsale at www.chicagocomedyfilmfestival.com

FEST ALERT: CIMMfest Is Back This Thursday Through Sunday November 9-12th

Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we live for rock/punk/metal and love film, so it's no wonder we've been covering CIMMfest from the start! Now entering year 9, we'll be back again, shooting stills, and reviewing shows. Got your tickets? You can do a full on festival pass good for everything, like we have, or catch individual showings, and a few hybrid passes in between.



Thankfully, everyone's taste in tunes is different, and CIMMfest has something for everyone, happening simultaneously, all over town. Click HERE to check out the full lineup. Then check back with ChiILLiveShows.com early and often, on line and social media, for our top picks, recaps, and more.

 

Highlights Opening Night: 

Friday: 

 

Saturday:

 Sunday:

Click Image And Get Yours: 

Chicago International Movies & Music Festival (CIMMFest) No. 9 Announces Full Film Lineup

The Annual Four-Day Festival Runs November 9-12 Throughout Chicago

Penelope Spheeris 2017 BAADASSSSS Award for Lifetime Achievement Honoree and Film Retrospective, Celebrating Daptone Records and Remembering Chicago’s Classic Neo Era

The Chicago International Movies & Music Festival (CIMMfest) announces its full movie and music lineup for the ninth edition, running November 9-12, 2017, centered at the Davis Theater and running across multiple  venues throughout Chicago, including Martyrs’, Old Town School of Folk, GMan Tavern, Subterranean and others. Individual tickets for most events start at $10; 4-day festival passes start at $79. Festival passes and a la carte tickets are available at CIMMfest.org.

This year’s multimedia festival features more than 40 events including two world premieres, 4 U.S. premieres, 5 Chicago premieres and 8 Midwest premieres; musical acts representing a wide variety of genres; and CIMMcon, CIMMfest’s dynamic professional and creative industry conference.

On Thursday Nov. 9, CIMMfest and CHIRP Radio present opening night with the Midwest Premiere of Living on Soul, a heartfelt hybrid documentary/concert film which wraps the story of soul-music powerhouse Daptone Records around electric Apollo Theater performances by label stalwarts like Antibalas, Budos Band, and the late Charles Bradley and Sharon Jones. The screening at Martyrs' will be followed by the official opening night afterparty, featuring a  live performance by Chicago soul diva Lili K, paying tribute to Sharon Jones, and DJing by Daptone co-founder Neal Sugarman.

Actress and podcaster Aisha Tyler makes her feature directorial debut with Axis, also screening on opening night at 7 p.m. at the Davis Theater. With an original score by Silversun Pickups, Axis stars Irish actor Emmett Hughes as a reformed Hollywood bad boy who finds his life unravelling in a series of phone calls as he drives across LA.

The weekend’s Penelope Spheeris’ retrospective begins with the first two installments of her Decline of the Western Civilization trilogy, playing back to back at 7:15 p.m. & 9:30 p.m., respectively, at the Davis Theater. 

Rounding off opening night is the story of John Lydon’s arguably more influential second band, told largely by Mr. Rotten himself, in the documentary The Public Image Is Rotten. Director Tabbert Fiiller joins PiL drummer-turned-Chicago music maven Martin Atkins for a post-screening conversation, at the Davis Theater. 

Full Schedule:

Films with strong Chicago ties include 2350 Last Call: The Neo Story, The Chicago Mixtape, It Never Ends, Karl Wirsum, Red Line Lounge, Bill's Records, Do U Want It?, Electric Heart, Piano Players Rarely Ever Play Together, Psychogenic Fugue, Queercore: How to Punk a Revolution and Horn From the Heart: The Paul Butterfield Story, the first comprehensive screen portrait of one of Chicago blues' greatest native sons and CIMMfest No. 9’s closing film (Davis Theater, Sunday, November 12, at 7:30 p.m.). Join director John Anderson (Born in Chicago, Sam Lay in Bluesland) and producer Sandra Warren for a post-film Q&A. 

Closeup: Tank and the Bangas, a short doc about one of New Orleans’s most acclaimed new bands, will be screened in tandem with NOLA?, in which Big Easy artists, writers, and scene mainstays talk about the city’s musical past and post-Katrina present. A Q&A with Closeup director Charlie Steiner will follow the films, which screen at 2:40 p.m. on Sunday, November 12.

MOVIES AND MUSIC

This year’s films accompanied with Live Music Performances include:

Living on Soul 

Thursday, November 9

See Opening Night listing above.

Hello Hello Hello : Lee Ranaldo : Electric Trim

Friday, November 10

An intimate portrait of a bold musical mind at work as the Sonic Youth guitar genius collaborates with novelist Jonathan Lethem, fellow axe innovator Nels Cline, and other creative fellow travelers to produce his new album Electric Trim. Q&A with filmmaker Fred Riedel to follow screening at the Davis Theater. Prior to the screening, Lee Ranaldo will perform at Subterranean on November 5.

Six Strings of Separation / Dark Star Originals

Saturday, November 11

Six Strings of Separation documents how luthier Tom Lieber, who began his career apprenticing with Jerry Garcia’s guitar maker, commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead with a custom line of axes modeled on Jerry’s classic “Wolf” and “Tiger” guitars. Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Star Originals, featuring John Kadlecik, Mike Maraat, Kevin Rosen, Ahmer Nizam, and special guest John Kattke, will perform after the screening at Martyrs.

Tom Rush: No Regrets

Sunday, November 12

Folk troubadour Tom Rush takes residence at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk on CIMMfest’s closing day and evening with a screening of the documentary Tom Rush: No Regrets at 2 p.m, featuring a Q&A with the iconic singer, and an intimate live performance at 7 p.m., both in Old Town’s Szold Hall.

2350 Last Call: The Neo Story

Sunday, November 12

A recollection of the iconic Lincoln Park club that was a haven for goths, punks, and adventurous misfits for more than three decades before closing in 2015. There will be a Q&A with filmmaker Eric Richter, and longtime Neo DJs Suzanne Shelton, Jeff Moyer, and Scary Lady Sarah will spin after the screening at Gman Tavern on closing night.

The Third Root 

Sunday, November 12

Co-presented with the Chicago Latino Film Festival

Mexican guitarist Camilo Nu goes adventuring in search of his musical roots, crossing the Atlantic to find the Andalusian, Arab, and African antecedents of son jarocho, the traditional folk style of his native Veracruz. Camilo Nu will give a short acoustic performance after the 7 p.m. screening at the Davis Theater.

The Last Hot Lick / Cowboy Drifter

Saturday, November 11

Americana takes center stage at the Davis Theater with these back-to-back narrative films, beginning at 3:10 p.m.. The Last Hot Lick features Jaime Leopold, the charter bassist for psychedelic jug band Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, playing a fictionalized version of himself in this sweet, sad drama about an aging troubadour on a never-ending tour. Post-screening Q&A with Mahalia Cohen, producer Deborah Cohen, Jaime Leopold, and Jennifer Smieja, followed by a live performance by Leopold and Smieja at the Davis Theater.

Cowboy Drifter is the tale of a boozing, brawling rogue who gets more than he bargained for when he heads west in search of his old man, a failed country singer who abandoned his family decades ago. The killer soundtrack features the Revivalists, the White Buffalo, John Hiatt, Taj Mahal, and co-star Aubrey Peeples, formerly Layla Grant of TV’s Nashville. Post-screening Q&A with Peeples, writer/star Chuck Carrington, director Michael Lange, and producer/music supervisor Jonathan McHugh. 

Later that evening, Jaime Leopold and his band, the Short Stories, will perform at the Grafton Pub, followed by an intimate set by Aubrey Peeples.

A full list of CIMMfest’s movie and music events, in addition to the CIMMcon roster, can be found  at CIMMfest.org.  

Highlights of confirmed films and musical acts at CIMMfest No. 9 are below:

 ________

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9

OPENING NIGHT

Axis (USA) MIDWEST PREMIERE

Thursday, November 9, 7 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Aisha Tyler 

83 minutes

With an original score by Silversun Pickups, Criminal Minds and Archer co-star Aisha Tyler's directorial debut is a taut drama about a Hollywood bad boy who finds his life unravelling in a series of phone calls as he drives across LA. 

The Decline Of Western Civilization (USA) 

Thursday, November 9, 7:15 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Penelope Spheeris 

100 minutes

A preeminent artifact of American punk and one of the most influential music docs ever made, Spheeris's first feature unflinchingly captures the scene that emerged from Hollywood’s subterranean art culture of the late 1970s and the furor it spawned. Featuring concert footage and memorable interviews with punk pioneers Black Flag, X, the Circle Jerks, Catholic Discipline, Fear, and the sweet, sad, brilliant wreck that was Darby Crash and the Germs. 

Forty-Five: The Search for Soul (USA) 

Thursday, November 9, 7:30 p.m. (with Living on Soul)

Martyrs, 3855 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Anthony Ladesich

11 minutes

Johnny Starke is a DJ on a mission: to dig in every dusty thrift-shop record crate he can find until he unearths the great lost soul dance single. 

The Decline Of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (USA) 

Thursday, November 9, 9:30 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Penelope Spheeris 

93 minutes

Spheeris's follow-up to her stunning documentary on Los Angeles punk depicts LA's metal scene from 1986 to 1988, when hair bands ruled the Sunset Strip. While tracking the fortunes of would-be glam gods like Odin, Seduce, and London, Decline II features interviews with actual hard-rock gods like Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper, Steven Tyler, Lemmy, and Paul Stanley and notoriously captures the era's aura of excess, misogyny, and sleaze.

The Public Image Is Rotten (USA) CHICAGO PREMIERE

Thursday, November 9, 9:15 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Tabbert Fiiller 

104 minutes

When the Sex Pistols imploded in early 1978 after a disastrous gig at Winterland in 

San Francisco, their controversial and misunderstood frontman ditched his Rotten 

nom de punk for his birth name and formed Public Image Ltd. John Lydon chronicles 

his own journey from sickly kid in a London council flat to international music 

legend, leading the postpunk cult band that was arguably more influential than his 

notorious first group. Post screening Q&A with director Tabbert Fiiller & former PiL drummer Martin Atkins.

Living On Soul (USA) CHICAGO PREMIERE

Lili K plays Sharon Jones / Neal Sugarman DJ Set

Thursday, November 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Martyrs, 3385 N Lincoln Ave

96 minutes

In December 2014, Daptone Records celebrated its 20th anniversary with a three-night revue at the Apollo Theater, the first multi-night residency at the historic Harlem hall since James Brown did it in the ’70s. Anchored by galvanizing performances by Antibalas, Budos Band, Como Mamas, and the dearly departed Charles Bradley and Sharon Jones, this concert film/documentary blend tells the Daptone story in words and music and captures the family dynamic driving this funk/soul powerhouse. Lili K plays Sharon Jones / Neal Sugarman DJ Set to follow. 

________

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10

The Chicago Mixtape (USA) 

Friday, November 10, 6 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Paola Piers-Torres

27 minutes

Opening CIMMcon Friday evening, this short documentary spotlights the teen poets of Louder Than a Bomb, fusing hip hop performance and social activism in the footsteps of mentors like Rhymefest and Chance the Rapper. Q&A with Kevin Coval and others after the screening. CIMMcon opening reception to follow. 

It Never Ends (France)  

Friday, November 10, 6:10 p.m.

Constellation, 3111 N Western Ave

Directed by Thomas Carillon

32 minutes

Drummer Avreeayl Ra, an acolyte of Sun Ra and an anchor of Chicago's free-jazz scene for decades, takes a tour of the city places that shaped his life and music in this short documentary. Q&A with Thomas Carillon and Avreeayl Ra to follow. 

The Decline Of Western Civilization Part III (USA) 

Friday, November 10, 7:30 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Penelope Spheeris 

86 minutes

Largely unseen for nearly two decades after its brief release, the third installment of Spheeris's Decline trilogy chronicles homeless teenage "gutter punks" living on the streets of Los Angeles and explores her relationship with one such kid, called Eyeball. While retaining the LA music frame of its predecessors, Decline III is as much about a generation deeply alienated from mainstream society, and Spheeris’s own journey toward becoming a foster parent to her once-blighted subjects. Introduction by Penelope Spheeris. 

Dudes (USA) 

Friday, November 10, 9:40 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Penelope Spheeris 

90 minutes

Introduced by Penelope Spheeris. 

Hello Hello Hello : Lee Ranaldo : Electric Trim (USA)  MIDWEST PREMIERE

Friday, November 10, 7:15 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Fred Riedel

76 minutes

An intimate portrait of a bold musical mind at work as the Sonic Youth guitar genius collaborates with novelist Jonathan Lethem, fellow axe innovator Nels Cline, and other creative fellow travelers to produce his new album Electric Trim. Q&A with filmmaker Fred Riedel to follow screening. 

Queercore: How to Punk a Revolution (Germany) MIDWEST PREMIERE

Friday, November 10, 9:30 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Yony Leyser

83 minutes

John Waters, Kathleen Hanna, and Peaches features in this kinetic fanzine of a doc tracing how a pair of Toronto underground filmmakers created a musical and cultural movement that opened up punk to radical queers. Q&A to follow with director Yony Leyser.

The Nth Power / Ghost Note / MonoNeon

Friday, November 10 at 9 p.m.

Martyrs, 3385 N Lincoln Ave

________

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11

How They Got Over (USA) CHICAGO PREMIERE

Saturday, November 11, 11:30 a.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Robert Clem

86 minutes

A long-overdue look at journey of young black men who found a way out of poverty through spiritual music in the first half of the 20th century. Tastefully mixing vintage clips, archival images, and interviews with members of the Blind Boys of Alabama, the Soul Stirrers, the Dixie Hummingbirds, and other groups, this is the quintessential history of gospel music’s legendary quartets and their enduring influence on rock, soul, and R&B.

Cassette: A Documentary Mixtape (USA) CHICAGO PREMIERE

Saturday, November 11, 12 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Zack Taylor, Georg Petzold

92 minutes

A deep dive into the rise, fall, and future – yes, we said future – of “music’s worst format” (the filmmakers’ words, not ours): the clunky, crap-sounding, revolutionary cassette, the first technology that made your tunes portable and shareable. Cassette limns the pre-digital joy of mix-making and the way cheap tapes gave early indie rockers and rappers a crucial path to market, but it transcends sprocket nostalgia in its portrait of the now-elderly Dutch engineer who invented the goddamned things.

Geordie Jazz Man (UK) NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

Saturday, November 11, 1:30 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Abi Lewis

50 minutes

Keith Crombie was the cranky, contrarian spirit of Newcastle jazz, presiding for decades over the English city’s premier dive — Jazz Café, a home away from home for anyone from Eric Burdon and Wynton Marsalis to generations of young Geordie misfits. This atmospheric portrait recounts his early adventures in the music business (and, just maybe, the mob) and celebrates a life dedicated to keeping the blue note beat alive. Post screening Q&A with director Abi Lewis.

Red Line Lounge (USA) 

Saturday, November 11, 1:30 p.m. (with Geordie Jazz Man)

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Jens Ericson

9 minutes

A portrait of Chicago drummer Dave Russell, a former Son Seals and Jimmy Johnson sideman who’s fallen on hard times. Now homeless, he keeps the music alive with the Red Line Lounge Band, providing daily entertainment for Chicago commuters.

Scream for Me Sarajevo (USA) CHICAGO PREMIERE

Saturday, November 11, 2 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Tarik Hodzic

94 minutes

In a city besieged by shelling and sniper fire, it seemed a fantastical rumor: Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson was coming to Sarajevo play. An unlikely and inspiring story of people who risked their lives to perform for people who risked their lives just to live them.

The Icarus Line Must Die (USA) CHICAGO PREMIERE

Saturday, November 11, 3:10 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Michael Grodner

82 minutes

Fifteen years ago, the Icarus Line was rocketing to the top of the LA underground with a hot debut album and a major-label deal. Now frontman Joe Cardamone is 36 and broke, and the record companies won’t touch his new stuff. Plus, he’s getting death threats by text. Cardamone wrote the script and plays a thinly veiled version of himself in this No Wave-style noir about navigating the modern music biz, co-starring Ariel Pink and Keith Morris. Post screening Q&A with director Michael Grodner.

The Last Hot Lick (USA) WORLD PREMIERE

Saturday, November 11, 3:10 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave 

Directed by Mahalia Cohen

86 minutes

Jaime Leopold, the charter bassist for psychedelic jug band Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, plays a fictionalized version of himself in this sweet, sad drama about an aging troubadour on a never-ending tour. Post-screening Q&A with Mahalia Cohen, producer Deborah Cohen, Jaime Leopold, and Jennifer Smieja, followed by a live performance by Leopold and Smieja.

We Sold Our Souls For Rock ‘N Roll (USA) 

Saturday, November 11, 4:00 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave 

Directed by Penelope Spheeris

90 minutes

This nooks-and-crannies exploration of Ozzfest played a handful of film fests upon release and his been virtually unseen since. Spheeris captures everything, from the observations of fans, groupies, tour-bus drivers, and pyrotechnicians to Ozzy’s backstage oxygen treatments, Slipknot visiting the Lincoln Memorial in full regalia, and performances by Black Sabbath, Primus, System of a Down, and many more. A rare treat for devotees of metal and backstage tour docs. Introduction and post-screening Q&A with Penelope Spheeris.

Cowboy Drifter (USA)  CHICAGO PREMIERE

Saturday, November 11, 5:30 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Michael Lange

103 minutes

A soulful Americana soundtrack featuring the Revivalists, the White Buffalo, and Keb’ Mo’ accents this brooding, dark-humored drama about an aging rogue looking to shake the legacy of his dissolute country-singer dad. Q&A to follow with writer/star Chuck Carrington, co-star Aubrey Peeples, director Michael Lange and producer/music supervisor Jonathan McHugh.

Gregory Porter: Don't Forget Your Music (UK/USA)  MIDWEST PREMIERE

Saturday, November 11, 7:50 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Alfred George Bailey

85 minutes

A personal, visually striking chronicle of the soft-spoken, sartorially splendid singer's rise from Bakersfield to Brooklyn to late-blooming global fame as one of the most distinctive voices in jazz.

Six Strings of Separation (USA) 

Saturday, November 11, 8 p.m.

Martyrs, 3855 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Robert Liano

26 minutes

Acclaimed luthier Tom Lieber, who began his career apprenticing with Jerry Garcia’s guitar maker, commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead with a custom line of axes modeled on Jerry’s classic “Wolf” and “Tiger” guitars. Performance by Dead tribute band Dark Star Originals to follow.

Covadonga (USA) CHICAGO PREMIERE

Saturday, November 11, 10 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Sean Hartofilis

70 minutes

Martin Ravin lives alone in a secluded lake house, mourning his murdered wife and consoling himself with Irish airs. One night he spies a trysting young couple commandeering his canoe for a moonlight ride; when only the boy returns, Martin takes matters into his own hands. Is he seeking justice? Vengeance? A way to keep his past at bay? A brisk, surprising thriller marked by dark humor and beautifully sinister musical interludes. Post- screening Q&A with Director/writer/actor Sean Hartofilis.

Electric Heart (USA) NORTH AMERICA PREMIERE

Saturday, November 11, 9:45 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Benjamin Mattingly

75 minutes

The first EDM-powered "silent" narrative film uses a wall-to-wall soundtrack (featuring Dash Berlin, Armin van Buuren, and many more) rather than spoken dialogue to steer a story about two Portland buds on a very trippy road trip to a big Vegas music festival. Post-screening Q&A with director Benjamin Mattingly, actors Amick Vicciello and Johnna, producer Scott Little.

Live Performance by Matt Muse

Saturday, November 11 at 5:00 PM

Gideon Welles, 4500 North Lincoln Avenue

NEWVICES / Various Blonde / Mesha Arant

Saturday, November 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Oromo Cafe, 4703 North Lincoln Avenue

Dark Star Originals / Six Strings of Separation

Saturday, November 11 at 8 p.m.

Martyrs, 3385 N Lincoln Ave

Lera Lynn

Saturday, November 11 at 8 p.m.

Old Town School, 4544 N Lincoln Ave

________

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12

Piano Players Rarely Ever Play Together (USA) 

Sunday, November 12, 12 p.m.

Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Stevenson J. Palfi

76 minutes

Made for public television, this effusive documentary gathered three generations of New Orleans piano legends — blues and boogie man Tuts Washington; his protégé, R&B pioneer Professor Longhair; and the great songwriter and producer Allen Toussaint, a Longhair disciple — for an historic keyboard summit. A film as rich in flavor as New Orleans's musical culture itself that will have you grooving and bouncing in your seats.

June Falling Down (USA) CHICAGO PREMIERE

Sunday, November 12, 12 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Rebecca Weaver

115 minutes

A young artist eking out an aimless existence in San Francisco tries to sort out a battery of conflicting emotions upon returning to her small Wisconsin hometown, a year after her father’s death, for her best friend’s wedding. Weaver, who also wrote, edited, and stars as June, makes an assured feature debut in this sharply observed seriocomic character study; her husband, Wisconsin singer-songwriter Chris Irwin, composed the rootsy score. Post screening Q&A with director/writer/actor Rebecca Weaver, producer/composer Chris Irwin.

Covers (USA) CHICAGO PREMIERE

Sunday, November 12, 12 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Malcolm M. Mays

96 minutes

Writer/director Mays, currently co-starring in Snowfall, and rapper/actor Tristan “Mack” Wilds (of The Wire and Adele’s “Hello” video) are X and Nisha, childhood friends from South Central who turn a game of crooning smooth R&B versions of rock and pop classics into a series of viral tracks. A canny mix of urban drama, romance, bromance, and cautionary tale on the perils of returning to the ’hood.

Tom Rush: No Regrets (USA) 

Sunday, November 12, 2 p.m.

Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Rob Stegman, Todd Kwait

85 minutes

The New England troubadour credited with launching the singer-songwriter movement and introducing audiences to the work of Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, and Jackson Browne tells the story of his musical life. Tom Rush will take part in a Q&A after the screening and before his Nov. 12 live performance at the Old Town School.

It Must Make Peace (Canada/Mali) US PREMIERE

Sunday, November 12, 2:15 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Paul R. Chandler

82 minutes

Oxfam America and CIMMfest present a journey deep into the music and dance traditions that have framed life in Mali for generations but are under threat from poverty and war. A panel on Oxfam's work in Mali will follow the film, including a Q&A with Bob Ferguson and Jackie Nelson of Oxfam America.

NOLA? (Spain) NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

Sunday, November 12, 2:40 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Fermin Muguruza

65 minutes

A people’s history of New Orleans culture wrapped in a making-the-album doc as Basque rocker and filmmaker Muguruza – known in Spain for his radical politics and multiculti musical blending – records in NOLA with local luminaries ranging from Preservation Hall to zydeco great Sunpie Barnes to bounce queen Katey Red. Between sessions, Big Easy artists, writers, and scene mainstays talk about the city’s musical past and post-Katrina present. Post screening Q&A with director William Miller.

David Bowie: The Last Five Years  (UK) 

Sunday, November 12, 4:30 p.m.

Comfort Station, 2579 N Milwaukee Ave

Directed by Francis Whately

90 minutes

Screening for free at Comfort Station, this BBC music doc goes behind the scenes at the making of Bowie's The Next Day and Blackstar albums, offering an intimate look at the final phase of one of the defining creative lives of our time.

Straight Into a Storm (USA) CHICAGO PREMIERE

Sunday, November 12, 4:45 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by William Miller

106 minutes

Let’s all go to the bar! Deer Tick’s 10th-anniversary gig on New Year’s Eve 2015 provides the spine for this time-shifting, beer-soaked chronicle of the indie rockers’ evolution into one of America's premier cult bands. Q&A to follow with filmmaker William Miller.

Do U Want It? (USA) CHICAGO PREMIERE

Sunday, November 12, 5 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Sam Radutzky, Josh Freund

96 minutes

Papa Grows Funk was the quintessential Crescent City groove band, a supergroup of local players who drew fans from around the world for their renowned Monday-night residency at the Maple Leaf Bar. Percolating with electric performances, this doc wraps the tale of the band and its breakup into a larger story about New Orleans music, crystallizing the tension between the ease of being a working musician in a city that supports homegrown talent like no other and the frustration that can come with wanting more than that.

The Third Root (Mexico) CHICAGO PREMIERE

Sunday, November 12, 7 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by Reed Rickert and Camilo Nu

68 minutes

Mexican guitarist Camilo Nu goes adventuring in search of his musical roots, crossing the Atlantic to find the Andalusian, Arab, and African antecedents of son jarocho, the traditional folk style of his native Veracruz. Followed by a performance by Camilo Nu.

2350 Last Call: The Neo Story (USA) WORLD PREMIERE

Sunday, November 12, 7 p.m.

GMan Tavern, 3740 North Clark Street

Directed by Eric Richter

46 minutes

Opened in 1979 as Chicago's first alternative dance club, Neo reigned for 36 years as a sanctuary for misfits, weirdos, and outcasts and ground zero for an explosion of fashion and music trends. Richter's labor-of-love documentary debut is a true testimonial of a club that not only outlasted its competitors but never lost its attitude, or its reputation as a place where people celebrated their individuality and danced their asses off. Q&A with Director Eric Richter, Neo DJs Suzanne Shelton, Jeff Moyer, and Scary Lady Sarah, Metro/Gman Tavern owner Joe Shanahan. Presented with CHIRP Radio.

Horn From The Heart: The Paul Butterfield Story (USA) 

Sunday, November 12, 7:30 p.m.

Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave

Directed by John Anderson

96 minutes

Live Performance by Rich Jones and Fess Grandiose

Sunday, November 12 at 5:00 PM

Gideon Welles, 4500 North Lincoln Avenue

Individual advance tickets range between $6-$12 for festival screenings and events. Stay tuned for more information on cimmfest.org and by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter and Instagram.

ABOUT CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL MOVIES AND MUSIC FESTIVAL (CIMMfest)

The Chicago International Movies and Music Festival (CIMMfest) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization dedicated to bringing together filmmakers, musicians, artists, industry leaders and audiences from diverse cultures around the world. In addition to producing year-round film screenings, concerts, and professional development programming, the organization produces one of Chicago’s most highly anticipated and largest cultural events of the year: CIMMfest. The four-day, 100-plus multimedia event features film premieres, live concerts and a dynamic professional and entrepreneurial industry conference. CIMMfest serves a growing, diverse community of artists, industry and fans, in order to reveal the transformative power of music to foster creativity and communication,educate, enlighten, and entertain.