CIFF announces awards
Chicago International Film Festival founder/artistic director Michael Kutza was among those announcing the winners of the festival competitions.
Hosted by Chicago Sun-Times columnist and Fox News Chicago entertainment reporter and film critic Bill Zwecker, the ceremony was held Oct. 17 at The Sofitel Chicago Water Tower.
Among the winners were The President, which took the Gold Hugo for Best Film, and Anton Yelchin ( Star Trek ), who took the Silver Hugo for Best Actor for the film Rudderless.
LGBT films also made an impact. Geraldine Chaplin took the Silver Hugo for Best Actress for the lesbian-themed Sand Dollars, while the Danish film Speed Walking won the Gold Plaque for Best Costume Design.
Mavis Staples to receive Sandburg Award Oct. 22
Grammy Award-winning singer and civil-rights activist Mavis Staples will receive the inaugural Carl Sandburg Award in the Arts from the Chicago Public Library and Chicago Public Library Foundation at the upcoming 14th annual Carl Sandburg Literary Awards Dinner on Wed., Oct. 22, at The Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Rd.
Two Carl Sandburg Literary Awards for career achievement in literature will be presented to Doris Kearns Goodwin ( author of best-selling biographies of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson and the Kennedy family ) and Larry McMurtry ( Terms of Endearment, Lonesome Dove, Brokeback Mountain screenplay ). The 21st Century Award, encouraging new talent, will be given to Chicago author Veronica Roth ( Divergent series ).
Guests will have the opportunity to share a table with a featured writer or artist who has contributed to enriching the Chicago community, including Sara Paretsky, Scott Turow, Julia Sweeney and others.
Reservations are strictly limited. For information or to purchase tickets, tables or sponsorships, visit cplfoundation.org, or contact Louis Schermerhorn at 312-201-9830, ext. 25, or email lschermer@cplfoundation.org .
Chicago Zine Fest's Hallowzine Oct. 23
Chicago Zine Fest ( CZF ) holds its third annual Hallowzine fundraiser Thursday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. at Chicago Publishers Resource Center ( CHIPRC ), 858 N. Ashland Ave.
As CZF raises funds for its upcoming 2015 festival, Hallowzine celebrates the season with themed readings and performances by Chicago self-publishers.
The line-up includes zinesters Vicky Lim, ( Abstract Door zine ), Eric Bartholomew ( Junk Drawer zine ) and Nicki Yowell ( director of the Self Publishers of Chicago ), plus comics artists Grant Reynolds and Jen Rickert.
There will be a $5 suggested donation. Visit ChicagoZineFest.org .
Bennett, Gaga special Oct. 24
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek To Cheek LIVE!an evening of classic jazz standards in both vocal duets and solo performanceswill air on THIRTEEN's Great Performances, Friday, Oct. 24, at 8 p.m. CT on PBS.
Taped at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall on July 28, the concert features classic selections from the Great American Songbook, each handpicked by the artists, including "It Don't Mean A Thing ( If It Ain't Got That Swing )," "Sophisticated Lady," "Lush Life," "Anything Goes" and the title track from their chart-topping album Cheek to Cheek.