Nearly three dozen rare and independent films, including a number of local premieres, are set to screen at this annual flick fest that’s now celebrating its 14th year. From documentaries to animation, the festival programming has a little something for everyone, so peruse the schedule at www.cuff.org and gear up to go. Something to whet your appetite:
Delve into the indie film scene with a screening of “Llik Your Idols” (6 p.m. Sat., Chopin Theatre), a French documentary — here seeing its U.S. premiere — about an underground Super-8 film movement in 1980s post-punk New York City called “The Cinema of Transgression.”
“La Trinchera Luminosa del Presidente Gonzalo” (8 p.m. Sun., Chopin Theatre) by Jim Finn (“Interkosmos”) is a fictional tale set in the late ’80s about a Peruvian Maoist revolutionary-terrorist group called the Shining Path, and the prison-life culture and guerrilla ideology they maintain while locked up. The film features music by Jim Becker (Califone) and Colleen Burke (We Ragazzi).
Local “rock poet” Thax Douglas finds the spotlight yet again with this world-premiere documentary about his life by Alex MacKenzie. If you’ve seen him read poetry preceding a rock show, then you might think you know this robust, gray-bearded Chicago man. After seeing “Thax” (7:30 p.m. Fri., Chopin Theatre), you may realize how little you knew.
From the Atlantic Ocean to a Mexican circus and an Indian reservation, one homeless, nomadic family — led by 76-year-old Holocaust survivor Ron Israel — has seen it all from a very unique perspective. Step inside their bizarre world in Dana Levy’s documentary, “Random Lunacy” (2:45 p.m. Sun., Chopin Theatre).
POST-SCREENING PARTIES
Now let’s get down to business. Head over to Danny’s Tavern on Thursday (10 p.m.; 1951 W. Dickens) for drinks and mingling with other revelers, and perhaps some filmmakers and actors, or the Hideout on Friday (10 p.m.; 1354 W. Wabansia) to enjoy a set of ambient tunes — complete with eery accompanying video — by the Midwest Hackers. On Saturday the party continues post-screenings at the Hungry Brain (10 p.m.; 2319 W. Belmont Ave.), and Sunday’s closing night party and awards ceremony takes place at Rodan (10 p.m.; 1530 N. Milwaukee Ave.) where you can get the goods on which flicks picked up awards such as Best Short, Best Documentary Short, Best Animation, Best Experimental, the Audience Award and the Made In Chicago Award.
Chicago Underground Film Festival: Various times daily through Sun.; $7 per program, $50 for a festival pass (tickets: brownpapertickets.com). Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. (also at Elegant Mr. Gallery, 1355 N. Milwaukee Ave.); 773-278-1500, www.cuff.org.
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Compiled by Fauzia Arain
