By Andre FransiscoPLAY Writer
It’s gritty.
Authentic, fresh and certainly not the West Coast. The directors, the producers, the panels, the audiences, and the films all speak of how Chicago film is real, dirty and good.
The 42nd Chicago International Film Festival opened on October 5 and runs until October 19. Founded in 1964, the Festival’s Web site (www.chicagofilmfestival.org) says it is “North America’s oldest competitive international film festival.”
Even before the films began to screen, the festival designated some of the awards it will hand out. Steven Spielberg was honored at this year’s Summer Gala with the Gold Hugo, the festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
This year also marks the 10th year of the film festival’s Black Perspectives category. Now a permanent part of the festival, Spike Lee will host the anniversary party and Andre Benjamin will be awarded with the Emerging Artist Award.
The centerpiece for this year’s festival, an already sold-out film, is Babel. In the same vein as Syriana and The Constant Gardener, the film features Brad Pitt, Gael Garc
