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

CHICAGO, IL–As FACETS celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025, the iconic Chicago nonprofit art house cinema is unveiling exciting changes, including a new name, a fresh slate of programming and ambitious plans for growth. Known for its pioneering role in international cinema and its world-renowned video library, FACETS is embracing the future while staying true to its mission of delivering powerful storytelling and community engagement through cinema.  In honor of this milestone, the FACETS Board has approved an institutional name change from FACETS Multi-Media to FACETS Film Forum, renewing its commitment to fostering meaningful conversations and cultural connections through film. The two logos

Charles Coleman, Film Program Director of FACETS Cinema, provides us with a list of his favorite films from 2024, which are not selected in order of importance. All We Imagine As Light and Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat will be shown at Facets in January, so please check the schedule for playdates and showtimes.  La Chimera Filmmaker Alice Rohrwacher (The Wonders, Happy as Lazzaro), creates a magical, humorous, and romantic adventure set in rural Italy, blending the ancient and modern, in her latest film, La Chimera. Josh O'Connor stars as Arthur, a grieving English archaeologist recently released from prison, joins a group of Italian tomb raiders (tombaroli) who profit from stolen Etruscan

FACETS’ Film Program Director, Charles Coleman, provides us a list of his favorite films from 2023. The list, which is not in order of importance, features Aki Kaurismaki’s Fallen Leaves, Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall, and Todd Haynes' May December, screening at FACETS this January & February. Fallen Leaves directed by Aki Kaurismäki Award-winning filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki (Shadows in Paradise, The Match Factory Girl) makes a brilliant return with Fallen Leaves, a timeless, hopeful and satisfying love story about two lonely people and their path to happiness, accompanied by the numerous hurdles they encounter along the way.   Set in contemporary Helsinki, this

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

This July, FACETS is as active as ever as we head on the road towards the 39th annual Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, running November 4-20, 2022 and continue screening the best new independent and international films in our cinema. To celebrate the greatness that is Chicago in the summer, we asked the FACETS staff what some of their favorite films with connections to Chicago are. Whether it’s directed by a filmmaker from the Chicago area or shot/set here, we offer this curated list from our staff with a little bit about why it stands among their favorites of the

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