The Chicago International Children's Film Festival is more than just a compilation of movies designed to educate and entertain kids of all ages. It is a celebration of youthful imagination itself, complete with workshops, media camps, book fairs and concerts. Traditionally well-attended, it is a chance for kids and parents to enjoy a diverse selection of films and videos together, many of them from foreign countries, while talking to the many writers, directors and stars who come in to present and discuss their work. The 18th Annual Chicago International Children's Film Festival will take place at Facets Multimedia and other undetermined venues. For the past 28 years, the American Museum of Natural History in New York has presented a film and video festival to honor the celebrated anthropologist who worked there before her death in 1978.
Tickets are free with museum admission.
The Polish Film Festival in America has gotten so popular over the past few years, it needs to keep finding new spots on its cinematic calendar to handle the overflow of films. In March, it hosts the Polish Springtime, and in September, the Taste of the Polish Film Festival, which serve as warm-up acts for the big event in November. The Chicago Lesbian and Gay International Film Festival, which celebrated its 20th anniversary just last year, has decided to move its event from the gloom of November to the sunshine of June. But according to festival organizer Brenda Webb, the shift has less to do with the weather than it does with making sure that the festival can nab some of the more popular films before they are purchased for theatrical release. As a result, there will be no festival in 2001, as they prepare for an even bigger and better event in 2002.