The 61st Chicago International Film Festival is set to host a star-studded panel featuring renowned international directors. These directors represent their country's official submissions for the prestigious Academy Awards, taking place in March. The festival's 'International Contenders Panel: World Cinema Now!' will be moderated by Hollywood Reporter senior writer Seth Abramovitch, offering a unique opportunity to hear directly from these talented filmmakers.
The panel, scheduled for Saturday, October 18th at the AMC Newcity 14, is free but requires a ticket. It will showcase a diverse range of films, including 'A Useful Ghost' from Thailand, 'The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo' from Chile, 'Young Mothers' by Belgian directors Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, and 'Franz' from Poland, among others. These films are among the 16 selections that will represent their respective countries' Oscar submissions, with two additional films from last year's festival also in the running.
The festival's lineup also includes tributes, awards, and retrospectives for celebrated directors such as Spike Lee, Gus Van Sant, Joel Edgerton, and Nia DaCosta, among others. The full schedule can be found on the festival's website. Industry Days sponsors include Adobe, Chicago Film Office, CineCity Studios, and more, ensuring a well-supported and comprehensive event for the film industry.
