The Chicago Southland International Film Festival, presented by Governors State University, returns for its second annual Summer Showcase screening series. This series of screenings will showcase films from Chicagoland filmmakers followed by a live, in-person Q&A, with special guests in the attendance.
Presented in the GSU F1622 Amphitheater, tickets are $10 per film (plus $1.53 processing fee) or $20 for all three dates/films (plus $1.53 processing fee).
Opening Night is Thursday, June 29, from 7 – 9:30 p.m., and features “Love, Charlie: The Rise and Fall of Chef Charlie Trotter.” The film is directed by Chicago native and Northwestern University alumna, Rebecca Halpern.
Chef Charlie Trotter revolutionized American cuisine and paved the way for today’s celebrity chefs. His eponymous Chicago restaurant was one of the world’s top dining destinations. To his employees, Chef Charlie Trotter was an enigmatic guru. To the media, he was an overbearing perfectionist. But to those who loved him, he was Chuck, a fun-loving dreamer whose passion knew no bounds. With exclusive access to never-before-seen archival materials, LOVE, CHARLIE is a searing portrait of what happens when a person’s identity becomes intrinsically tied to their work and an epic cautionary tale of what can happen when that work fades away. Featuring Grant Achatz, Emeril Lagasse, and Wolfgang Puck.
Save the date for upcoming screenings later this summer.
July 13: “Art and Pep” – Documentary feature directed by GSU Alumna Mercedes Kane; Winner of the 58th Chicago International Film Festival’s Documentary Audience Choice Award, this film sheds light on the remarkable history and lifelong social justice advocacy work of Art Johnston and Pepe Peña, the owners of Chicago’s beloved LGBTQA+ bar, Sidetrack.
August 3: “Good Guy With A Gun” – Narrative feature directed by Chicago-based filmmaker John Mossman; This thought-provoking film tells the story of a family deeply impacted by Chicago gun violence, as they embark on a journey to rural Illinois, only to find themselves further entangled in the complex and prevalent gun culture of America. “Good Guy with a Gun” has been making waves at festivals across the country.