The 2019 Chicago Critics Film Festival raises the curtain on 24 highly-anticipated new films running May 17-23 at the Music Box Theatre. Nine of these 24 feature films are written and/or directed by women, holding steady at 37.5 percent from last year’s representation of female filmmakers.
It’s a strong group of films, many of which have taken home Grand Jury Prizes and nominations from prestigious festivals such as SXSW and Sundance. From haunting horror flicks and comedies to thought-provoking and evocative dramas and insightful documentaries, the 2019 CCFF will give audiences reasons to rejoice and celebrate women in the writers’ and directors’ chairs.
Many of these writers and directors will be in attendance for Q&As following the screenings, making it a truly memorable filmgoing experience. Lulu Wang from The Farewell, a Sundance favorite, will be attending the festival and providing insight into this culturally beautiful creative narrative as well as writer Kelly O’Sullivan of the Chicago-set Saint Frances, another festival hit. If horror is more your genre, you’ll love Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale and Kent will also be in attendance. And if you’re feeling the need to laugh, Jocelyn Deboer and Dawn Luebbe’s “deliciously twisted comedy” is sure to satisfy that hunger in Greener Grass. Both women wrote, directed, and starred in this film and will be on hand to chat about wearing all three hats. And finally, the documentary Life Overtakes Me will give audiences a chance to hear co-director Kristine Samuelson talk about an intriguing yet traumatic syndrome occurring in Sweden due to the refugee crisis.
The festival will also include Wild Rose written by Nicole Taylor, Them That Follow, co-written and co-directed by Britt Poulton, The Short History of the Long Road, written and directed by Ani Simon-Kennedy, and Alice written and directed by Josephine Mackerras, the latter two films were featured in previous articles in FF2 Media.
While the percentage of women holds steady and the strength of the films here this year is exceptional, female filmmakers continue to fight for equitable 50-50 representation.
For more information about the festival and to purchase tickets, visit https://musicboxtheatre.com/events/chicago-critics-film-festival
© Pamela Powell (5/9/19) FF2 Media
Featured photo:
Jian Yongbo, Kmamura Aio, Chen Han, Tzi Ma, Awkwafina, Li Ziang, Tzi Ma, Lu Hong and Zhao Shuzhen appear in a still from The Farewell by Lulu Wang, an official selection of the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. Courtsey of Sundance Institute | photo by Big Beach
