When Whole Foods arrived in the South Loop to satisfy the neighborhood’s craving for organic almond milk and chocolate-covered goji berries, few would have guessed the branch would help nourish the filmgoing masses as well. But last year it organized the first annual South Loop Film Festival at the brand new ShowPlace ICON Theatre, featuring shorts by national and local filmmakers. This year’s incarnation features some twenty films, all under ten minutes, representing some of the latest work by independent Midwestern and Chicago filmmakers.
The movies run the gamut from documentaries, music videos and trailers to experimental projects. Highlights include Amanda Daniels’ comedy “Aerosol D’Amour,” which screened at the Columbus International Film Festival; Josh Hope’s drama “The Singer”; and Nelson Carvajal’s web doc, “Skate Park.” The 100-minute program will conclude with a Q&A with some of the filmmakers and audience awards. In addition, Julia Thomas, Community Relations Specialist for Whole Foods South Loop, says to expect a “big swag bag of goodies” after the screening.
The festival’s proceeds will go to the South Chicago Art Center, which runs after-school arts programs and a community garden. There will also be a fair for local vendors on Monday at Whole Foods South Loop. “The festival supports the arts in our local communities on a few levels,” Thomas says. “By supporting the filmmakers looking for venues to screen their works, by offering a recreational opportunity for people in the community, and by giving back to an organization that is providing education for developing artists.” (Benjamin Rossi)
The South Loop Film Festival kicks off at 7:30pm, April 28, at ShowPlace ICON Theatre, 150 West Roosevelt. $10. The vendor fair takes place at Whole Foods South Loop, 1101 South Canal, from 4pm to 8pm. For more information, go to facebook.com/slpff
Talking Screens, October 15-21, 2021: The Best of the Chicago International Film Fest The fifty-seventh Chicago International Film Festival runs through Sunday, October 24. And, Michael Caplan's "Algren" has its Chicago theatrical run beginning this week via Music Box virtual cinema. Several movies open Friday, including David Gordon Green's "Halloween Kills," Ridley Scott's "The Last Duel," Mia Hansen-Løve's "Bergman Island" and Todd Haynes' "Velvet Underground."
