Chicago International Film Festival – October 14 – October 25, 2026

CLUB KID – OPENING NIGHT – Writer/first feature director and actor Jordan Firstman in a savory yet sweet film about a wild gay party animal who suddenly finds out he has a 10-year-old son delivered on his doorstep. Firstman adds music, humor and pathos in a film using an amazing cast of fabulous friends who accept the boy for his own special DJ musical talent. Reggie Absolom is a standout as the the son who teaches his Dad a few things about relationships, music, and love. Touching, amusing and fun. Well done.

BEHEMOTH – Pedro Pascal learned how to play the cello for this role and actually carried it around for 6 months. Pascal became so attached he said he took “her” with him everywhere. Director Tony Gilroy has created a complicated film with incredible music about Alex (Pedro Pascal) the studio musician who toured playing in Europe, then returned to Los Angeles to pick up his life and women along the way. Starring Olivia Wilde as a looney, insistent, female who wants him back. Eva Victor (Sorry Baby) as a “fellow” musician and sexy important love interest. Hank Azaria plays Alex’s overbearing Dad, Jo Beth Williams,  his mother, and Will Arnett as Andy, his outrageous brother. All about love, good and bad relationships, and behind-the-scenes look at what session musicians have to deal with in the business of making music for movies. Egos abound and so does making their own kind of music in the bedroom that causes more problems.

WILD HORSE NINE– What a pair. Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich in a CIA buddy film that covers their relationship working together through history. You’ll be glued seeing these two work together and off each other playing agents who have encountered everything from hit men, to espionage, corrupt political leaders, and more. The film is set as they travel to Easter Island ahead of the 1973 Chilean Coup. As they banter with each other, they slowly reveal the undercover situations of international and national situations that created some of the most unnerving problems in history.

THE DEBUT – What a delightful film Written and Directed by Jessie Eisenberg, who sings in a small but significant role in a film that shows off talent you never expected from Julianne Moore . She plays Mona, a bored and unappreciated housewife who suddenly has the guts to audition for a community theater musical directed by the blunt Jerry (Paul Giamatti), known as the best around.  She unexpectedly lands the role of her dreams that lets you see her confidence soar. There are more dramatics off stage than on, resulting in a charming, inspiring, riotous, film.

INK– This is an inside look at how the British raunchy, sensationalist, newspaper, The Sun, owned by Rupert Murdoch (Guy Pearce) came to be and resulted in a public disaster of the highest order. Murdoch hired Australian Larry Lamb (Jack O’Connell) who was even more outrageous in the way he ran the paper and his bullied into doing whatever was necessary, including bare breasted photos on page 6, to boost circulation.  Claire Foy as the assistant who had to follow their orders creating the first sensationalist journalism. A kidnapping connected to the paper ending in murder got exactly what Lamb wanted, but that rocked how tabloid journalism came to be.

RAY GUNN – Oscar winning Brad Bird is at it again, this time with an animated, sci-fi, noir tinged detective story that will keep you guessing throughout. He creates unique characters, once again, set in a whole new world that is retro and futuristic at the same time. The unique methods of transportation and layered metropolis for the setting are mind boggling, as is the lead siren. Does she have a secret? Bird’s incredible animation include unique images that flow and a story to keep you completely engaged. Hear Scarlett Johansson sing! Voices include Sam Rockwell, Tom Waits, John Ratzenberg, Michelle Rodriguez, Bobby Cannavale, Patton Oswalt, Alan Tudyk and more.

THE ONLY LIVING PICKPOCKET IN NEW YORK – John Turturro is on camera every minute playing Harry, a smooth, talented pickpocket. He becomes desperate to return a stolen USB drive he’s managed to procure, or face violence to himself and his family from a very dangerous crime family looking for it…and him. Director Noah Segan shows some serious sleight-of- hand tricks you might find very enlightening.

FATHERLAND – B/W, Sandra Hüller as Erika the daughter of Thomas Mann, noted author. Erika is her father’s assistant and they learn much about each other as they travel together in 1949 through the Eastern part of Germany right after WWII. They have to adjust to a new Germany during the Cold War where the Russians and Americans call the shots. Along the way, they have to deal with family tragedy and the emotional details that follow.

CLARISSA – Oscar and Emmy Nominated, Sophie Okonedo (Mouse) stars in this film being touted as a reimagining of “Mrs. Dalloway. She is an officious woman with impeccable taste who orders her servants around as they prepare for a gathering of high society in Lagos. We find that she has compromised love for the trappings of this life. Okonedo reminded us of an Ann Bancroft or Lauren Bacall type woman of the 40’s who knew how to rub elbows with the richest and more important people in her circle. See Okonedo in a very different role in MOUSE. 

MOUSE –  This coming-of-age story Written and Directed by duo Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson (Saint.Francis, Ghostlight) has Minnie, a young high schooler doing it the hard way. Her mother, always on her back, makes her feel inadequate. Luckily she has a very popular friend who is Minnie’s very best friend and makes her feel like she belongs, not like the other kids who shun her. Sophie Okonedo (Clarissa, also at this festival) is remarkable as Callie’s Mom who is very loving cherishing her daughter Callie and has no problem having Minnie always around.

BEING HEUMANN- Academy Award winning Director Siân Heder (CODA) presents the story of Disability Rights Activist, Jane Heumann who got angry enough in 1977 to organize a huge historic protest . It lasted 28-days to bring attention to what was NOT being done to help people like her. She led a movement to gain accessibility, equal rights, consideration and respect for people with physical disabilities. Very moving.

We have been adding capsule reviews of films as we have screened them and will continue to do that during and after The Chicago International Film Festival. We will also post full reviews with Q & A’s and interviews as these and more films are released. Entertaining, engaging, scary, creative or funny. Watch this space!