Thu Dec 10th 2009, 7.20pm
Landmark Theatres
2828 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60657

“Outrageously funny. An absolute laugh riot. A riotously funny, irreverent comedy. It’ll leave you in stitches.”
-Avi Offer, NYCmovieguru.com

Starring Dave Foley from the famed, The Kids in the Hall comedy troupe.

Come and celebrate independent filmmaking in Chicago with this FREE screening! “The Strip” was shot in Chicago in the summer of 2006 and was released this past Friday, December 4th. Please come enjoy this quirky comedy compliments of Bata Films. Seating is limited, so R.S.V.P. your name and guests to Richard Lederer: richled@me.com. Your name will be put on the complimentary pass list. Walk ups are welcome WITH THIS EMAIL provided seats are still available.

For more information, visit the film’s website!
http://www.thestripthemovie.com/

Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Screening at 7 pm; Debate follows: former Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich vs. Columbia College’s Dan Rybicky
Columbia College Chicago
Film Row Cinema, 1104 S. Wabash, 8th Floor
Free and Open to All

Columbia College Chicago’s Radio and Film & Video Departments present ROCK ‘N ROLL!:

The Film & Video Department of Columbia College presents more Rock ‘N Roll with the former Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, defending Elvis! A special addition to a semester of Sex * Drugs * Rock ‘N Roll features a screening of Viva Las Vegas starring Elvis Presley followed by a spirited debate.

Is Viva Las Vegas an example of the rock musical in high gear or just another wayward star vehicle running on empty? Who’s really better at singing, acting and hip shaking? Elvis Presley or Ann-Margret? Does it take a Gov to crown a King? Wise men say only cools rush in to this extra special Cinema Slapdown when former Governor of Illinois Rod (“Elvis lives!”) Blagojevich takes on Columbia College Chicago Film & Video faculty member Dan (“Elvis has left the building!”) Rybicky. Referee’d by Film & Video faculty member and Talk Cinema host Ron Falzone.

For more information contact Sandy Cuprisin, scuprisin@colum.edu, 312-369-6708

http://www.colum.edu/Academics/Film_and_Video/Events.php

Lee Daniels’ PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL ‘PUSH’ BY SAPPHIRE, is a vibrant, honest and resoundingly hopeful story of Claireece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), a sixteen-year-old African-American girl pregnant for the second time by her absent father. At home, her mother (Mo’Nique), a poisonously angry woman, abuses her emotionally and physically. Precious has reached the ninth grade with an awful secret: she can neither read nor write. Offered the chance to transfer to an alternative school, she begins a journey that will lead her from darkness, pain and powerlessness to light, love and self-determination.

For more information, visit the film’s website!

Set in the artsy Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, (UNTITLED) tells the story of Adrian Jacobs (Goldberg), a difficult composer of equally difficult music whose sparsely attended performances involve musicians breaking glass and kicking metal buckets. In contrast, Adam’s brother, Josh (Bailey), is a commercially successful painter of vapid canvasses that corporate clients snap up by the dozen.

But, Adrian’s luck appears set to change when Josh brings the stunning Madeleine (Shelton) to one of his concerts. Not only does she embrace his work and ask him to perform at her gallery, she invites him into her bed. As the two embark on a fiery affair, Adrian is introduced to a world of pretentious art collectors, dueling gallerists and eccentric artists, including Ray Barko (Vinnie Jones), whose bizarre creations include chandeliers of stuffed animals and dead cows draped with jewelry.

When Josh discovers Adrian and Madeleine’s relationship and Madeleine refuses to exhibit Josh’s paintings even though the money they bring in is what keeps the gallery afloat the stage is set for a showdown as comedic and discordant as Adrian’s music.

For more information and to watch the trailer, visit the film’s website!
http://www.untitled-themovie.com/

Cinema Slapdown Round 20
Columbia College Chicago’s Radio and Film & Video Departments present ROCK ‘N ROLL!:

Todd Haynes’ I’m Not There
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger
Rated R, 135 minutes

Thursday, November 19, 2009
Screening at 7 pm; Debate follows: WXRT Radio’s Terri Hemmert vs. WGN Radio’s Garry Meier
Film Row Cinema, 1104 S. Wabash, 8th Floor
Free and Open to All

Is Todd Haynes’ I’m Not There the vision of a star’s life as interpreted by an auteur or just six characters in search of an author? Does this explore the connection between the artist and his art or just disconnect the audience from any meaningful response to his work? Is the real Dylan left “Blowin’ in the Wind” and crying out “It Ain’t Me, Babe”? Join us for a screening and linear debate of this non-linear modern classic featuring two legends of Chicago Radio: Columbia College Radio Department faculty member and WXRT personality Terri (“Solid rock!”) Hemmert and WGN Radio’s Garry (“A hard rain’s a-gonna fall on this one”) Meier. Referee’d by Ron Falzone, Film & Video faculty member and host of Talk Cinema.

For More Information:
Sandy Cuprisin, scuprisin@colum.edu, 312-369-6708

http://www.colum.edu/Academics/Film_and_Video/Events.php

Cinema Slapdown Round 18
Columbia College Chicago’s Office of Latino Cultural Affairs with the Film & Video Department presents SEX (a semester of SEX, DRUGS AND ROCK ‘N ROLL):

Alfonso Cuaron’s Y Tu Mama Tambien
(2002) Featuring Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, Maribel Verdú
Unrated (contains strong sexual content and language) 105 m

Thursday, September 24, 2009, 7 pm
Columbia College Chicago
Film Row Cinema, 8th floor
1104 S. Wabash Ave

Is Y Tu Mama Tambien a classic tale of two young men being initiated by a wise older woman or just another example of teenage male wish fulfillment? Does it explore the character of the female guide or reduce her nothing more than a sex object?  Is it a new twist on the classic “coming of age” tale or just a Mexican variation on Beach Blanket Bingo with more than blankets being spread? Is it art pretending to be porn or vice versa – accent on the vice?  Join us for an eye-opening Slapdown of Alfonso Cuaron’s dissection of sex, death and hormones featuring Columbia College Spanish and Cultural Studies faculty member Carmelo (“hooray for the boys!”) Esterrich and Assistant Director, Office of Multicultural Student Affairs at the University of Chicago, Rosa (“Coming of age?  You’re joking, right?”) Yadira Ortiz. Referee’d by F&V faculty Ron Falzone.

For information call 312 369 6708 or e-mail scuprisin@colum.edu

CINEMA SLAPDOWN
SAVE THESE THURSDAY DATES:
Drugs 10/22/09 7pm Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Rock ‘n Roll 11/19/09 7pm I’m Not There

FREE & OPEN TO ALL!

Click here for more details!

In response to shiny, bigger, better American consumerism comes COLD SOULS, a surreal comedy in which souls can be extracted and traded as commodities. Balancing on a tightrope between deadpan humor and pathos, and reality and fantasy, the film presents Paul Giamatti as himself, agonizing over his interpretation of Uncle Vanya. Paralyzed by anxiety, he stumbles upon a solution via a New Yorker article about a high-tech company promising to alleviate suffering by extracting souls. Giamatti enlists their services — only to find out that his soul is the shape and size of a chickpea. On top of this discovery, complications arise when he becomes the unfortunate victim of “soul-trafficking” which leads him to Russia in hopes of retrieving his stolen soul from an ambitious but talentless soap-opera actress.

For more information and local listings visit the film’s website www.coldsoulsthemovie.com

Radical Disciple: The Story of Father Pfleger

Gene Siskel Film Center
164 N. State St.
Chicago, IL, 60601
Friday, August 28 at 8.15pm
Sunday, August 30 at 5pm

Bob Hercules and Father Mike Pfleger will be present for a Q&A after the screenings!

IFP/Chicago member Bob Hercules is premiering his newest film, “Radical Disciple: The Story of Father Pfleger,” as part of the Black Harvest Film Festival at the Gene Siskel Film Center on Friday, August 28 at 8.15pm. It will also show there on Sunday, August 30 at 5pm. The film chronicles the radical priest and his struggle against racism and injustice and how that struggle has brought him into direct conflict with Catholic hierarchy.

Six comedy TV pilots made by Chicago filmmakers will be featured during the
two shows of the event, on Thursday, July 23. Shows will start at 7pm and 9pm. Admission is $10 per show at The Chicago Cultural Center Theater, 78 E.
Washington St. The Festival line-up can be viewed at: www.witsendshorts.com.
Tickets are available only on the day of the event; the box office at the theater door
opens at 3pm on the day; cash sales only.

Thirty-nine comedy shorts by talented Chicago filmmakers will be featured
during the two shows of the event, on Friday, July 24. Shows will start at 7pm
and 9pm. Admission is $10 per show at The Chicago Cultural Center
Theater, 78 E. Washington St. The Festival line-up can be viewed at:
www.witsendshorts.com. Tickets are available only on the day of the event; the box office at the theater door opens at 3pm on the day; cash sales only.