1300 Basswood Road, Suite 100 Schaumburg, IL 60173 (847) 310-1913 ONLINE ORDERS ACCEPTED 24 HOURS A DAY th Welcome to the 5 Annual Friday May 12 The Little Chicago Critics Film Festival Opening Night! Hours In 2013, the Chicago Film Critics Association attempted something that hadn’t been done Medieval nuns Alessandra (Alison Brie), Fernanda 7:00pm before. The prospect of working film critics premiering some of their favorite films from (Aubrey Plaza), and Ginevra (Kate Micucci) lead a the festival circuit for audiences in their hometown before being released into theaters was simple life in their convent. Their days are spent chafing unheard of at the time and remains so outside of our great city. Deemed everything from at monastic routine, spying on one another, and “unfeasible” to outright “crazy,” we were not interested in the negative thoughts and just berating the estate’s day laborer. After a particularly powered forward. In a collaboration of critics, volunteers, filmmakers, producers and studios, vicious insult session drives the peasant away, Father that first festival was such a success that it included appearances by Sarah Polley, James Tommasso (John C. Reilly) brings on new hired hand Ponsoldt, and William Friedkin. Massetto (Dave Franco), a virile young servant forced into hiding by his angry lord. Introduced to the sisters It’s hard to believe this is already our fifth anniversary. The industry is changing quickly, as as a deaf-mute to discourage temptation, Massetto further emphasis is placed on streaming services and rumors of the theater experience dying struggles to maintain his cover as the repressed out. As unsettling as this may be to cinephiles as well as the multitude of talented filmmakers nunnery erupts in a whirlwind of pansexual horniness, Director: who may never get to see their film played on the big screen, it only strengthens our desire substance abuse, and wicked revelry. Jeff Baena to continue bringing attention to great films. Our main purpose remains undeterred: to show ”It’s often hysterically funny, especially when allowing you films we love. Starring: its talented cast to play up to their individual strengths.” Alison Brie, Dave Franco, Of course, it couldn’t happen without you. Everyone who has attended this festival over the Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com Aubrey Plaza, Kate Micucci years has been integral to its success. As a not-for-profit organization, the CFCA depends on 90 minutes movie lovers like you to continue investing in our passion to put on the next year’s festival. Special appearance and Q&A with director The discovery of new voices and perspectives in the changing cinematic landscape is a Jeff Baena, stars Aubrey Plaza and Kate Micucci responsibility we share and continue to cherish. This is truly a collaborative project. Joining us once again in this quest is A24, a studio that had its first releases in theaters at Jeff Baena the same time our festival began. Just a few months ago they won their first Best Picture Writer/director Jeff Baena grew up in Miami, Florida, Oscar with Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight. The CCFF has been honored to show one or more of and studied film production at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. He co-wrote Fox Searchlight’s I Heart their films every year of our existence and this year we close with two, including one of the Huckabees with David O. Russell. His directorial debut, best films we have ever shown at our festival, David Lowery’s hauntingly beautiful, A Ghost Life After Beth, premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Story. It’s a perfect end to our fifth year, a film that holds an audience spellbound while Festival. Baena’s second feature, Joshy, played last commenting on where we’ve been and the beauty the future holds. year’s Chicago Critics Film Festival. Erik Childress & Brian Tallerico Aubrey Plaza Producers of Chicago Critics Film Festival Aubrey Plaza is an actress, best known for her work in the television shows Parks and Recreation and Legion. Follow us on She will next be seen starring in the upcoming features which premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival - Ingrid Goes West and The Little Hours which she also Web: www.chicagocriticsfilmfestival.com and produced. www.chicagofilmcritics.org Kate Micucci Facebook: The Chicago Critics Film Festival Kate Micucci is the co-creator and co-star with Riki Lindhome of the group Garfunkel and Oates, and her Twitter: @chicagocritics solo show Playin’ with Micucci has been selling out at the Steve Allen Theater and Largo nightclub since 2008. She recently appeared in Mike Birbiglia’s critically Notice: All titles, screening dates, times, and special appearances are subject to acclaimed Don’t Think Twice and Joe Swanberg’s change. Please visit ChicagoCriticsFilmFestival.com for schedule announcements, anthology Easy for Netflix. Micucci’s artwork has changes, and updates. appeared in solo exhibits in Los Angeles and Dallas. 2 Chicago Critics Film Festival 2017 Chicago Critics Film Festival 2017 3 Friday May 12 Saturday May 13 Score: A Patti Cake$ This documentary brings Hollywood’s premier Film Music Opening Night! 9:30pm composers together to give viewers a privileged Documentary look inside the musical challenges and creative Patricia “Killa P” Dombrowski drafts rhymes behind secrecy of the world’s most widely known music 11:00am the bar at a dingy dive, trying to pay off her coarse genre: the film score. but beloved Nana’s medical bills and support her hard-drinking mom, whose own musical aspirations “Terrifically engaging.” failed long ago. Patti and her rap partner/best friend Sheri Linden, Hollywood Reporter Jheri share dreams of fame, fortune, and escaping Dirty Jersey for good, but they haven’t found a producer with the “fire beats” they need. Unbroken “Easy to simply embrace Score as a jukebox of some of the greatest musical moments in film history, enjoying by the taunts of local goons, she unexpectedly the sweeping musical moments as they play out against gravitates to a reclusive goth-metal musician named dozens of classic films.” Basterd, a newcomer who just might be able to help Jason Gorber, Birth.Movies.Death Patti achieve hip-hop superstardom. Director: Director: Geremy Jasper Matt Schrader “Jasper’s dynamic debut crackles with energy and grass roots authenticity.” Starring: Starring: Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter Danielle Macdonald, Bridget Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman, Everett, Siddharth Dhananjay, “Music video director Geremy Jasper launches an Trent Reznor Cathy Moriarty unlikely rap star - and unforgettable indie underdog - in 93 minutes his high-energy feature debut.” 108 minutes Peter Debruge, Variety May 12 Friday Bitch Opening Night! Midnight Jill (Marianna Palka), a lonely, distraught housewife Upcoming Chicago Film Critics Association Events with four unruly children, paces on her dining room table with a belt around her neck, contemplating Critics Classics Series Screenings at 7pm | Tickets $5 a desperate end to her wretchedness. Focused on Elk Grove Theatre: 1050 Arlington Heights Road, his identity as breadwinner and an affair with a Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 lusty co-worker, her husband, Bill (Jason Ritter), is as oblivious to Jill’s pain as he is to the panic at his Held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. unraveling company. Meanwhile, dogs bark and Our critics choose a classic film and host a Q & A discussion afterwards. howl through the night, as one persistent mutt www.classiccinemas.com continually stalks the family’s yard. When Jill’s psyche finally breaks, she takes on a vicious new canine persona. Director: June 14: - E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, hosted by Erik Childress Marianna Palka “A deeply personal, intimate piece of storytelling that July 12: Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom, hosted by holds within it dark, uncomfortable humor and pain.” Starring: Patrick Bromley Steve Prokopy, Ain’t It Cool News Jason Ritter, Jaime King, Marianna Palka August 9: The Dark Crystal, hosted by Peter Sobczynski “Bitch won’t give you a moment’s rest, keeping you anxious and alert until its extremely satisfying and quite 93 minutes lovely conclusion.” Meredith Borders, Birth.Movies.Death 4 Chicago Critics Film Festival 2017 Chicago Critics Film Festival 2017 5 May 13 Shorts May 13 Saturday Saturday Band Aid Drawn and Recorded: Teen Spirit — From Animator Drew Program #1 Each at a standstill in their careers and having Christie tells the story behind one of the most iconic songs suffered a heartbreak neither wants to face, a 3:30pm ever written. 1:00pm married couple (Zoe Lister-Jones and Adam Pally) Approaching A Breakthrough — A man (Kieran Culkin) has fight constantly. But one day they come up with a a terrible argument with his girlfriend (Mae Whitman) just brilliant idea: Why not start a band and use their before running into a string of characters from his past. arguments as songwriting inspiration? Almost as soon as they dig out their old electric guitars Hopptornet (Ten Meter Tower) — depicts the fears of jumping from a great height. from the garage, their musical partnership starts to jell, but it soon becomes apparent this is only a The Dundee Project — Mark Borchardt explores UFO temporary distraction from their real problems. enthusiasts in Wisconsin. Kaiju Bunraku — A story of monsters is created with “Heartfelt, funny, and straight-up enjoyable.” marionettes. Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com Tough — New light is shed on childhood cultural Directors: Director: misunderstandings when a mother and daughter speak Noah Pritzker, Axel Danielson, Zoe Lister-Jones “Sweet and sincere Band Aid makes a convincing case as adults for the first time. Maximilien Van Aertryck, Mark that relationships are all about how you heal from Borchardt, Lucas Leyva, Jillian Mayer, Starring: Fry Day — An adolescent girl comes of age against the them.” backdrop of serial killer Ted Bundy’s execution in 1989.