FESTIVAL
Chicago International Movies & Music Festival
Returning for a third year, the Chicago International Movies & Music Festival runs Thursday through Sunday, April 14 through 17, with music-related screenings, live performances, and panel discussions. Seventy films from over 20 countries will be screened at 13 different venues, including Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington; Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee; Heaven Gallery, 1550 N. Milwaukee; Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia; Music Box, 3733 N. Southport; Nightingale, 1084 N. Milwaukee; Schubas, 3159 N. Southport; Society for Arts, 1112 N. Milwaukee; Subterranean, 2011 W. North; and Wicker Park Arts Center, 2215 W. North.
The festival opens with a world premiere of Douglas Freel’s documentary FIX: THE MINISTRY MOVIE (Thu 4/14, 7 PM, Music Box), hosted by Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot of WBEZ’s Sound Opinions. The movie, a profile of the local industrial music pioneers fronted by Al Jourgensen, includes interviews with Trent Reznor, Jello Biafra, and Lemmy (the last name seems extraneous). Freel and Ministry bassist Paul Barker will take part in a Q&A after the screening (for more, see Ed M. Koziarski’s story on page 36); a repeat screening without the hosts or guests follows at 10:30 PM.
Among the movies making their U.S. premieres at the festival are FREAKS IN LOVE (Fri 4/15, 10 PM, Society for Arts), which documents the 25-year career of psych-punks Alice Donut; THE BALLAD OF MOTT THE HOOPLE (Sat 4/16, 6 PM, Heaven Gallery), shot at the band’s 35th-anniversary reunion concert; and THE EXTRAORDINARY ORDINARY LIFE OF JOSE GONZALEZ (Sun 4/17, 2 PM, Society for Arts), which eavesdrops on the Swedish-Argentinean singer-songwriter as he records his 2007 album In Our Nature.
A number of screenings are paired with live performances. WE JAM ECONO: THE STORY OF THE MINUTEMEN (Fri 4/15, 7 PM, Schubas) will be followed by a Q&A with band cofounder Mike Watt and a performance by Mike Watt + the Missingmen (10 PM; see the List in Music). Local hip-hop/soul/dance label All Natural, Inc. will host a screening of its film ALL NATURAL (Fri 4/15, 8 PM, Subterranean), to be followed by performances from Tone B, Cap D, Animate Objects, MC Adad, and other All Natural artists. And CHICAGO PUNK NIGHT (Sat 4/16, 7:30 PM, Double Door) features a live performance by the primordial Chicago art-punk band Tutu & the Pirates as well as archival footage of the city’s punk, new wave, and power pop scenes, presented by documentary maker Joe Losurdo (You Weren’t There: A History of Chicago Punk, 1977-1984).
Festival passes are $45, single tickets $10, and most special events $15. Movies and panels at the Chicago Cultural Center are free, and musical performances are priced by the venues. For a full festival schedule see cimmfest.org. —Kevin Warwick