(July 28, 2021 — Chicago, IL) Chicago Filmmakers, Gilead and AARP present The 39th annual Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival. Founded in 1981, the festival is the second longest-running film festival of its kind, and prides itself on showcasing the best LGBTQ+ films each year.
Reeling is very excited to introduce new films to audiences in Chicagoland and beyond. Reeling has always presented a range of genres that demonstrate the diversity of work being produced. In that fashion, this year you'll see international feature films, social documentaries, shorts, and more.
With the success of last year's all-virtual film festival, this year Reeling will implement a hybrid festival format for the first-time, with both in-person and virtual screenings. Opening night will be held at the Music Box Theatre on September 23rd, with in-person screenings taking place over the seven days at the Landmark Theatre, followed by virtual screenings.
"We're thrilled to get back to showing films on the big screen and look forward to seeing our audiences again, especially those familiar faces who attend the festival every year. And for those who've thrived on streaming movies at home during quarantine, we won't take that away from you - we'll be showing films virtually, too!" said Brenda Webb, Reeling Film Festival Founder, and Executive Director of Chicago Filmmakers. "After all, where would the world have been without movies for the last several months? Whether in the theatre or from the comfort of your home, it's time to celebrate filmmakers who've given us so much in our time of need!" said Webb.
More details will be announced soon along with the selected films, and we're happy to coordinate interviews with the filmmakers and actors.
Learn more about the Reeling Film Festival here, and follow Reeling Film Festival on Instagram, Twitter with the handle @reelingfilmfestival, and Facebook @reeling.filmfest. Also, follow this year's festival hashtag #Reeling2021.
About Reeling Film Festival
Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival is the second longest-running film festival of its kind, and prides itself on showcasing the best LGBTQ+ films and videos each year. From award-winning international feature films to social documentaries to experimental shorts, Reeling has always presented a range of genres that demonstrate the rich diversity of work being produced. Not only has Reeling become one of the most important cultural events for Chicagoans, it also attracts LGBTQ+ people from throughout the Midwest who consider the festival to be the highlight of their cinematic year.
About Chicago Filmmakers
Chicago Filmmakers is a not-for-profit media arts organization that fosters the creation, appreciation, and understanding of film and video as media for artistic and personal expression, as well as media of important social and community impact. Chicago Filmmakers' twofold mission is to serve independent film and digital video artists by supporting the creation and dissemination of new media artworks and to serve Chicago audiences by screening artistically innovative, socially relevant, and diverse films and videos.
Chicago Filmmakers nurtures the development of aspiring filmmakers of all ages by offering classes, workshops, and summer camps; empowers artists to create new work through production grants, equipment access, fiscal sponsorship, and other services and resources; and encourages the professional advancement of media artists through seminars, panel discussions, lectures, rough-cut and open screenings, as well as networking events and other opportunities for artistic exchange. Chicago Filmmakers develops diverse audiences through its year-round weekly film and video exhibition programs and its two annual film festivals, Reeling the Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival and The Onion City Experimental Film + Video Festival.