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Saturday, June 6
1:00 PM
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$14 /General
$10 /Members
$40 /Saturday Pass
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ST. LOUIS BLUES
Dir. Allen Reisner | USA | Narrative | 1958 | 105 mins
This classic, rich with musical legends like Nat King Cole, Eartha Kitt, Mahalia Jackson, and Ella Fitzgerald, follows W.C. Handy’s journey to embrace the blues against his father’s wishes. Juano Hernández—the first Afro-Puerto Rican actor to break into Hollywood— delivers a memorable performance as Reverend Handy, the father.
Will Handy grows up in Memphis with his preacher father and his Aunt Hagar. His father intends for him to use his musical gifts only in church, but he can’t stay away from the music of the streets and workers. After he writes a theme song for a local politician, Gogo, a speakeasy singer, convinces Will to be her accompanist. Will is estranged from his father for many years while he writes and publishes many blues songs. At last the family is reunited when Gogo brings them to New York to see Will’s music played by a symphony orchestra.
BLACK MUSIC PROGRAM
The ADIFF Chicago 2026 Black Music Program celebrates the artistry and resilience of Black icons who shaped the global musical landscape. The series begins with the classic narrative St. Louis Blues, featuring a legendary cast including Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald to explore the journey of the “Father of the Blues,” W.C. Handy. It continues with the Chicago premiere of Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don’t Know Me, which chronicles the soulful rise and inspiring endurance of one of R&B’s greatest voices. The program concludes with Emmy-nominated The Disappearance of Miss Scott, a documentary detailing the extraordinary life and political struggles of jazz virtuoso and Hollywood trailblazer Hazel Scott.
ADIFF CHICAGO 2026
The ADIFF Chicago 2026 film festival features a diverse lineup of 14 films, including several Chicago premieres, spanning documentaries, narratives, and short films. The festival is scheduled from Friday, June 5, to Sunday, June 7, 2026. View full festival.
