CHICAGO — Starting with a Southport Avenue block party (food trucks!) for the Oct. 12 opening night, this year’s Chicago International Film Festival is handing out awards to, among others, Kathryn Hahn of “WandaVision,” soon to headline her own late 2023 Disney+ spinoff “Agatha: Coven of Chaos.”
A Westchester native and Northwestern University alum, Hahn is also featured in the new “Knives Out” mystery “Glass Onion,” scheduled for an Oct. 18 festival screening, at which she’ll pick up a Career Achievement award.
On Oct. 21, “Titans” co-star Anna Diop receives the Rising Star award in conjunction with another festival offering, the well-received horror film “Nanny.” As festival officials await confirmation on other guests, they’re announcing events including one showcasing the latest Jonathan Majors film, “Devotion” (Oct. 22). It’s a Korean War-era biopic about Jesse Brown, the first Black aviator in U.S. Navy history.
The full schedule of CIFF films and events will be announced Sept. 19.
This year’s list of venues resembles last year’s festival, with screenings at AMC River East 21, the Music Box Theatre and the Gene Siskel Film Center. New to the mix this year: the Chicago History Museum, along with pop-up screenings in Austin and Englewood. Many films also will be available virtually on the festival’s streaming platform.
Opening night takes place at the Music Box, and the film chosen to launch the 58th edition of the festival is Steve James’ latest documentary, “A Compassionate Spy,” which made its world premiere earlier this month at the Venice Film Festival.
Other titles already confirmed: Sam Mendes’ “Empire of Light”; Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale,” starring Brendan Fraser; and Martin McDonagh’s “The Banshees of Inisherin,” reuniting Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson in a tale of a friendship gone sour, and a village in the shadow of the 1923 “troubles.”
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The festival runs Oct. 12-23. Opening night tickets are $30 for Cinema/Chicago members, $35 for nonmembers. Festival passes go on sale Sept. 16, and range from $65 to $300. More information at chicagofilmfestival.com
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