From March 4 through 31, the Gene Siskel Film Center welcomes you to our 19th Annual Chicago European Union Film Festival. It’s your ticket to experiencing the creativity and vibrant cultures of twenty-eight nations from the comfort of your theater seat. Chicago premieres of 62 new features distinguish this largest showcase in North America for cinema from European Union nations.
According to the tradition of our festival, the opening night is presided over by the nation currently holding the presidency of the European Union. On Friday, March 4, our host is Consul General of The Netherlands Klaas
van der Tempel. Our special guest is actor Issaka Sawadogo, featured in the openingnight film THE PARADISE SUITE, a powerful drama in which the compromised lives of five strangers intersect in today’s Amsterdam.
This is a banner year for festival guests. MacArthur genius award-winning novelist and screenwriter Aleksandar Hemon appearsto discuss his spicy comedy LOVE ISLAND on March 5 and 14. Irish screenwriter and actor Mark O’Halloran appears with VIVA on March 13, and again on March 14 in a Movie Club event. Lithuanian American director Aldona Watts will discuss her documentary LAND OF SONGS on March 19 and 21. Writer/executive producer Briona Nic Dhiarmada and executive producer Christopher Fox will conduct a Q&A
at the March 21 screening of 1916: THE IRISH REBELLION. Czech director Slavek Horak andactress Alena Mihulova are tentatively slated to discuss HOME CARE on March 12.
For the fourth year, we incorporate the Festival of New Spanish Cinema, organized by Pragda, as a five-film sidebar. Director Daniel Guzman discusses his film NOTHING IN RETURN on March 17 and 18.
The festival closes on Thursday, March 31 with PHANTOM BOY, a crowd-pleasing, family-friendly, noir-tinged tale that does for Manhattan what the directors’ Oscarnominated A CAT IN PARIS did for the City of Light.
The Gene Siskel Film Center thanks the consulates, the consuls general, and the cultural institutions of the European Union in Chicago,and their embassies in Washington, D.C., for their enthusiastic participation. Special thanks to our Gene Siskel Film Center Community Council, Sara Hall and Eva Penar, Co-Chairs.
Barbara Scharres and Martin Rubin
164 North State Street.
Tickets available at www.siskelfilmcenter.org
For more information, visit website or call 312-846-2800.
