The 61st Annual Chicago International Film Festival is slated for this October, continuing the ongoing fall festival season. As North America’s longest-running competitive film festival, CIFF presents a diverse and varied slate of films to the city of Chicago year after year through its unique programming, such as its After Dark and Black Perspectives series, as well as its International, Documentary, and OutLook Competitions.
In addition to some previously covered festival titles such as Hamnet, No Other Choice, and Sound of Falling, here are some of our team’s most anticipated titles:
Adam Patla on International Features
This is my fourth year attending CIFF and my first time as official press. Every year, CIFF continues to blow me away with the wide array of films it brings to the Chicago area, especially in the international slate. My goal every year is to see a good number of international features and broaden my cinematic scope.
The Voice of Hind Rajab, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania
The highest priority on my list is The Voice of Hind Rajab, the harrowing true story of six-year-old Hind Rajab’s phone call to emergency responders as she is trapped in the line of Israeli military fire. Oscar nominee Kaouther Ben Hania merges documentary and narrative styles to honor Hind Rajab’s story with unsettling and urgent detail.
It Was Just an Accident, directed by Jafar Panahi
This year’s Palme d’Or winner comes to us from Jafar Panahi with incisive political dissection and an intricate rumination on revenge and trauma. In addition to his bold commentary, Panahi brings biting wit to a story that will surely stay top of mind for film fans. Panahi previously brought his feature No Bears (2022) to CIFF and won the Award for Cinematic Bravery.
The Holy Boy, directed by Paolo Strippoli
A religious horror film set in the “happiest town in Italy”, The Holy Boy tells the story of an ominous town where the people gather in a church to meet with a fifteen-year-old boy named Matteo. The pressures of being the town’s angel soon get to Matteo as he yearns to explore his own mounting desires. The Holy Boy sounds like a melting pot of genres that will surely provide for a unique cinematic experience.
Jacob Diedenhofer with Biggest Releases and New to the Watchlist
This will be my very first in-person film festival, and I couldn’t be more excited! With Lanthimos’s darker and more satirical take on our current climate, and Baumbach highlighting the extreme highs and beauties within the world we live in, I am eager to catch some of the biggest releases of the year.
Additionally, I always like to expand my international taste, and Hong Sang-soo is a highlight as well. Similar to Baumbach, Sang-soo works well within the complexities of our world and the relationships that make us human. Chicago is a great chance for me to see a majority of the year’s finest films and some that are not even on my radar! It is always great when a movie that is not on your radar surprises you, and this festival allows me to meet a lot of friends in person for the first time!
Bugonia, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest feature follows two conspiracy-obsessed men kidnapping the CEO of a major company when they become convinced that she is an alien who wants to destroy Earth. Lanthimos is one of my favorite filmmakers; being able to see his commentary on the current state of the world in this biting satire with Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone is sure to be a highlight of the festival.
Jay Kelly, directed by Noah Baumbach
Baumbach’s Jay Kelly tells a story about a famous movie star, Jay Kelly (George Clooney), and his devoted manager, Ron (Adam Sandler), who embark on an unexpected, profound journey across Europe. Along the way, both men confront the choices they’ve made, relationships with loved ones, and the legacies they’ll leave behind. I love coming-of-age films, and Baumbach crafts one for adults, which is a great premise with the talent he has acquired. It should be a crowd-pleasing journey that will definitely have me smiling.
What Does Nature Say To You, directed by Hong Sang-soo
I have been a fan of Hong Sang-soo for years now, ever since I saw On The Beach Alone At Night in a film class in college. His humanistic style and long one-take sequences stand out, making him a filmmaker that you should always have your eye on. This film follows a young poet who takes his girlfriend to her parents’ home and is stunned by its sublimity. He encounters her father, meets her mother and sister, and they all spend the extended day together, filled with lively conversation, delicious foods, and drinks. This looks like another Sang-soo picture that looks at dissecting relationships and finding yourself in your work.
Article Courtesy of Adam Patla and Jacob Diedenhofer
Feature Image Courtesy of Chicago International Film Festival via Gene Siskel Center