Film festivals are a lot like travel, in that they can greatly enhance our sense of the world as a diverse yet interactive community in a relatively short time. But I’ve just returned from a spate of actual travel (some of it film-related, some of it not) during which it became more apparent to me than ever that this community is livid about the direction Bush’s so-called war on terrorism is taking–and this is already starting to have an impact on the important cultural exchanges that the festivals foster.
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In New York, where I was attending a conference on Iranian cinema at Lincoln Center, word came through that Abbas Kiarostami would not be able to attend the New York Film Festival, which is running concurrently with Chicago’s: he had been told in Paris that because he’s from an Islamic country, under new U.S. security measures a three-month background check would be required before his visa could be approved. While I was in London, an estimated third of a million people–about as many as read this paper–turned out to demonstrate against a U.S. invasion of Iraq. And then, on a brief vacation in Paris, I ran into my old friend Peter von Bagh, a Finnish film critic and programmer, who told me that Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismaki had just refused to attend the New York festival himself as a gesture of solidarity with Kiarostami. Later that day at a cybercafe I discovered that Kaurismaki’s clever and noble move had finally goaded the New York Times into reporting on Kiarostami’s hassles–which had made the front page of Le Monde 11 days earlier.
Screenings this year are being held through October 17 at Landmark’s Century Centre (2828 N. Clark) and the Music Box (3733 N. Southport); there will also be two special screenings of Speedy at the Gateway (5216 W. Lawrence) on October 18. Single-ticket prices are $6 for weekday matinees (Monday through Friday before 5 PM); $7 for weekend matinees (Saturday and Sunday before 5 PM); $10 for all shows after 5 PM ($8 for Cinema/Chicago members). Special presentations, including the critic’s choice programs, cost $15 ($13 for Cinema/Chicago members). Passes good for anything except closing night, awards night, and special presentations cost $50 (six tickets, seven for Cinema/Chicago members), $110 (16 tickets, 18 for Cinema/Chicago members), or $250 (50 tickets); pass holders may use one or two tickets per screening. Tickets can be purchased at Cinema/Chicago’s office (address below); at theater box offices (cash only), open an hour before the first screening; or at the Borders Books & Music stores at 2817 N. Clark and 830 N. Michigan. They can also be ordered by mail (from Cinema/Chicago, 32 W. Randolph, suite 600, Chicago 60601), by fax (at 312-425-0944), by phone (at 312-332-3456 or through Ticketmaster, 312-902-1500), or on-line (www.ticketmaster.com/venue/57437). For more information call 312-332-3456.
