43rd Chicago International Film Festival – October 4-17, 2007

The Chicago International Film Festival is a great festival celebrating the independent film movement and films made in Chicago. There will be 150 movies from 35 countries to shown in the 2007 festival in local theaters over two weeks in October. I have attended this event for the last 2 years and it has been amazing both times. I will be buying my tickets soon for the opening night event and the other movies that I think sound like they would be interesting and unique to the festival. This year’s festival is being dedicated to Roger Ebert and his contributions to the movie business and to Chicago over the years. He has helped put Chicago on the map in the movie business with his written reviews and TV movie review shows Siskel & Ebert and Ebert & Roeper. I don’t see the information updated on their site yet with the opening and closing gala events listed, but I will update the blog when I do.

I always like that you can usually see a few movies that will be released months later, at the festival. It is fun to go see a movie at an advance screening like this before anyone else has seen it. There are also so many films that are just otherwise not released in many cities so this may be your only chance to see them. Especially if they are from other countries and wouldn’t otherwise be shown here. Check out their schedule (it can be confusing because there are so many movies being shown at the same time at various theaters) and see what looks like an intriguing film to see.

The best advice I have for this festival is to buy tickets early. The gala events are usually sold out weeks before the actual event and usually feature a Q & A with famous actor or director on stage and then an advance screening of a film they will have for release soon. They had Susan Sarandon and Elizabethtown in 2005 and I saw Will Ferrell and Dustin Hoffman with Stranger than Fiction as the feature of the opening night gala event in 2006. They also showed The Weatherman and had Nick Cage there for the closing event in 2005. These tickets of course sell out quickly, so buy them now as soon as you can.

The Chicago Theater is usually where they show the opening night gala event and it is packed. I have heard that it holds 3,000 people and it is always difficult finding a way into the building and out of the building with that many people in a crowd. Your best bet is to go early and have a drink beforehand at the theater and then don’t be in a rush to get out. It just takes a lot of time to get 3,000 people through the exits.

You can buy tickets to the event in a bundle, or ala carte. They sell a 10 pack of tickets for $115.00 and a 40 pack for $400.00. (seeing 40 movies in 2 weeks is more than I could make time for). I usually go see the opening and closing night galas for around $30.00 each.  You can call their information phone 24 hour hotline at 312-332-FILM for more information.

The theaters they will be showing the Chicago International Film Festival movies at this year are:

AMC River East 21
322 E. Illinois St.
(Illinois & Columbus)

Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema
2828 N. Clark St.
(Clark & Diversey)

Music Box Theatre
3733 N. Southport Ave.
(Southport & Waveland)

Opening Night Premiere (Kite Runner)
October 4, 2007
The Chicago Theatre
175 N. State St.

Closing Night (The Savages)
October 17, 2007
Harris Theater
205 E. Randolph St.

Update 9/20/07: The full Chicago International Film Fesival schedule can be downloaded here, and the official Chicago International Film Festival calendar here.

Opening Night Event Feature: the U.S. Premier of “Kite Runner” with special guests Mark Forster and Roger Ebert. At the Chicago Theater on State Street, Starts at 7:00 pm 10/4/07. Tickets are $30.00 – $36.00 each. Buy in advance now, even with 3,000 seats, they sell out fast.

Closing Night Event Feature: “The Savages” with Laura Linney and Phillip Seymor Hoffman. The special Guest will be Laura Linney. Wednesday 10/15/07 at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park @ 7pm. Tickets are $20.00-25.00 each.

Various ticket prices are available for buying a pack for admission to 1, 10 or 40 movies during the festival.

Tickets on sale at these locations!
Festival stores: Borders 830 N. Michigan Ave on the 2nd Floor
Borders Book Store at 2817 N. Clark St.
The Festival box office @ 30 E. Adams St., Suite 800 HOURS: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Closed Saturdays and Sundays)

Theater Box Offices offer tickets for Cash Only
Beginning October 5, theater box offices are open one hour before each day’s first screening and close shortly after the last film is seated.
AMC River East 21 322 E. Illinois St.
Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema 2828 N. Clark St.
Music Box Theatre 3733 N. Southport Ave. (Music Box events only)
TICKETMASTER: 312-902-1500
FESTIVAL HOTLINE: 312-332-FILM

No refunds or exchanges unless film is canceled.  All programs are subject to change. You must be in the theater 15 minutes before the film’s published start time or they reserve the right to sell your seat. Advance sales must be placed at least 48 hours prior to showtime.