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Some Kind of Heaven is currently available to watch at FACETS Virtual Cinema until February 4. For an interesting double feature, we suggest Jasper Mall, the new documentary about a slowly dying mall in the small town of Jasper, Alabama.   Some Kind of Heaven Directed by Lance Oppenheim Director Lance Oppenheim’s debut feature Some Kind of Heaven explores life inside America’s largest retirement community, The Villages. Known as the “Disneyland for Retirees,” this planned colony is home to over 130,000 mostly white seniors, who are provided with every medical convenience and a utopian vision of the American yesteryear: safe streets, manicured lawns, and countless activities—including canasta games

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Savage State is currently available to watch at FACETS Virtual Cinema until January 21. For a captivating double feature, we suggest Meek’s Cutoff, Kelly Reichardt’s 2010 Western with a star studded cast who give career defining performances. Savage State Directed by David Perrault French director David Perrault’s sophomore feature takes place in 1863, St. Louis, Missouri and follows a French family, attempting to abide by Napoleon’s strict rule of neutrality in the American Civil War. When American soldiers occupy the city and new laws disrupt the family’s ability to remain impartial, they make the difficult decision to return to France. Eschewing conventional Civil War narratives that

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Watch newly released independent and international films at FACETS Virtual Cinema here. If you’ve ever found yourself scrambling to watch the year’s best films before it’s over and award season sneaks up, you might ask yourself, “how in the world did I miss this many great films?” When every critic releases a Best of the Year list and deems a handful of new films essential, it’s no wonder the recommendations can pile up. Even in 2020, where we spent a majority of the year inside planted in front of a screen, the amount of great films available could tend to feel overwhelming for

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Use code MANUAL5 to redeem $5 off your virtual ticket for “Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol” until December 31. Watch the trailer here. To learn more about the performance and get your ticket, click here. In the unprecedented year that 2020 has been, arts organizations have to prove themselves once again by pushing their innovation forward. FACETS is proud to spotlight the adventurous theater company Manual Cinema and a unique piece they created just for the holidays based on Charles Dickens’ famous novel, “A Christmas Carol”. Manual Cinema combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and innovative sound and music to create immersive stories

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FACETS Winter Break Virtual Film Camp begins December 28 with a 3-Day crash course in Digital Animation for ages 8-12. To learn more and sign up, click  here.  What makes a character appealing? Why are we drawn to and invested in their stories and concerned about their outcome? These questions don’t have a single answer. In film, there are many reasons certain characters grab our attention. They can be relatable, have a certain charm, or a radiant individuality that inspires us. Sometimes, we even see ourselves in them.   The most obvious factor in making a character compelling is great acting, but that’s

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As a tumultuous 2020 draws to a close, we can look back on all the efforts we’ve all made to pave the way for a better 2021.  It’s been a year of turmoil, fear, and doubt, but also one of re-discovery, reinvention, and hope.  Even as we temporarily closed our Facets building, the staff and board have worked tirelessly to keep our film programming alive throughout the year, including successful presentations of: The 37th annual Chicago International Children’s Film Festival which virtually screened 262 films from 52 countries to more than _______ students, teachers, and parents. The new Facets Virtual Cinematheque where

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This holiday season, stay safe inside without missing out on the best films with FACETS DVD, Blu-Ray and VHS rentals by mail. By becoming a  FACETS Member, you have access to our vast library of films to rent for only $10/month.  As humans, our emotions are intertwined with our surroundings. We make choices about where to live, how to spend our time, and are even subconsciously affected by seasonal settings. It is only natural when the human mind is so connected to our physical environment that seasons would appear in prominent roles in artistic endeavors painting, music, photography and of course… film.   With

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CICFF37 will be presented virtually November 13-22, 2020. To browse the Virtual Festival Catalog and purchase tickets and passes click  here.  Film provides a window into a parallel world where viewers can live vicariously through characters. Sometimes these stories are joyous or humorous, and at other times they teach difficult lessons. When the viewer exits this world of film and returns to their own, they carry knowledge and opinions. They can be enlightened, learn new perspectives, history and customs.  This past year, millions were confined to their homes due to COVID-19. As borders shut down, wanderlust sat at an all-time high for many

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CICFF37 will be presented virtually November 13-22, 2020. To save 10% on your festival tickets and passes,  pre-order  them within our Early Bird discount window, ending October 30.  Do your earliest memories include watching classic children’s films with your parents and siblings? Perhaps it was going out to the movies as a family, or huddling around the TV in your living room that first led you to your love of film. For many of us, cinema has been a social tool throughout our lives.   Film reinforces social bonds and affirms mutual interests. Whether it’s a film’s genre, awards buzz, or star-studded cast that starts

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Taiwanese auteur Tsai Ming-liang’s 1998 film, The Hole, is an eerie analog to the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns. It is available to watch until October 1 at the FACETS Virtual Cinema.  As we predicted not too long ago, the COVID-19 crisis is already beginning to produce a number of films directly inspired by the ongoing global pandemic. Hollywood is reopening and producers simply don’t know what to do with themselves. A heist film/romantic comedy starring Anne Hathaway called Lockdown? Why not! What is perhaps more interesting and assuredly less depressing than observing the modern state of quarantine filmmaking is exploring what came before