To help celebrate our 50th Anniversary, our new series, 5 Films/5 Decades/5 Critics, digs through our 50-year history to present bold arthouse and independent gems that we’ve discovered and championed over the years. Curated by Film Program Director, Charles Coleman, the series kicks off with Werner Herzog’s 1970s epic, Aguirre, the Wrath of God, with Newcity critic, Ray Pride.  But before we go into the cinema, let’s hear what Charles has to say about Aguirre, Herzog, and FACETS’ legacy:  In Aguiree, the Wrath of God, Herzog takes a page out of history. It’s the 16th century, a colonial Spanish expedition seeks the

We may in the final stretch of CICFF39, but the magic isn’t finished yet! There’s still time to have new experiences in both fictional and documentary realities, whether you want to get lost in a brilliantly-written screenplay or learn about a new topic as a family. Our first fully in-person festival since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person screenings are held at the FACETS Cinema and our partner venues. Virtual screenings are also accessible nationally across the United States for those wishing to watch from home. No matter your schedule or time zone, there’s always time to experience these exciting

On Tuesday, September 13th, the passing of cinematic icon Jean-Luc Godard was announced. Michael Phillips has a full appreciation published at the Chicago Tribune which includes excerpted words from Charles Coleman, our Film Program Director here at FACETS, among others. Here, we're publishing his full comments to commemorate the life and influence of Godard, someone whose enthusiasm for the art form at large could only compare to the influence he had on film as a whole.  Charles Coleman, FACETS Film Program Director Jean-Luc Godard may very well be the most important director and purveyor of influence to profoundly shape my perspective on

Since its founding in 1975–whether it be through educational film camps for children or through weekly screenings of classics, indie gems, and more–FACETS aims to help the surrounding community experience cinema as not just entertainment but as a source of education, a lens into another world, or a point of connection. In 1984, FACETS founded the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival–the first competitive festival for children’s films in the US. Since then, the annual CICFF has served as both a launchpad for award-winning children’s films and as an opportunity for families to come together over eye-opening, curated films. With each year

Today, video essays mark one of the most abundant and accessible mediums of film analysis. Look up your favorite movie title on Youtube, and you’re bound to find at least one or two videos delving deep into the development, history, or artistic content of each film. Combining captivating visuals and illuminating argumentation and analysis from the essayists themselves, video essays are a powerful opportunity for anyone to share their thoughts on a film all while showcasing their own cinematic flourish through their direction and editing of the video essay. And for consumers of video essays, these videos teach us even

Founded in 1975 by Milos Stehlik, FACETS is a Chicago institution, a destination for film enthusiasts everywhere to celebrate the art form with events, screenings, discussions, and even education. This year marks our 47th anniversary doing exciting non-profit work in the film landscape, so we’re excited to celebrate this milestone with the Chicago community whether they’ve just discovered what we offer or are longtime patrons. In the month of May, we’re holding a number of events that run the gamut of what FACETS has to offer everyone. In addition to our screenings of films such as The Color of Pomegranates, Life

FACETS is screening Joachim Trier's Oscar nominated comedy-drama, The Worst Person in the World (2021), April 16-17, 2022. We've paired this refreshingly nuanced character portrait with a film exploring similar themes, American Splendor (2003), available for FACETS Members to rent from our expansive rentals collection.

This April, come to FACETS and celebrate Earth Month with our Art House Environmentalism Screening Series running from April 1st-15th. Programmed by our Customer Service Rep Perry Ruhland, each selection contemplates humanity’s modern disconnection from the natural world. To accompany Perry’s screening series, here are ten films we have curated to reflect different elements of how humanity lives with nature… or has corrupted it. From across the world and via a variety of genres, each one makes a statement on a dimension of environmental concerns. From sustainability concerns to sheer disaster, these films reflect the vantage of their artists grappling with

Oscar season has arrived in earnest and while the Academy is in the news for shortening the ceremony, FACETS has the cure for the frustrations of the grand ceremony we both love and hate. The Oscars can’t reward everything in a given year but that doesn’t mean they’re perfect either! We see shutouts every year, films that were nominated but lost in the voting for one reason or another. But what about omissions, those films which are entirely overlooked by the Academy in a given year, despite seeming like a shoo-in for a specific category? To accompany our If We Picked