The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, and in association with the Queer Film Society, the Center on Halsted, Chicago Filmmakers (the presenting organization of Reeling: The Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival) and The Legacy Project present Cinema Q II, the second annual film series celebrating LGBT movies.
The free screenings will take place on four Wednesdays—March 7, 14, 21, and 28—at 6:30 p.m. in the Claudia Cassidy Theater at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. All screenings will feature a discussion and Q&A following the film. DVDs for some of the films will be available for sale in the lobby.
This series contains films with mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised. Media sponsors for the Cinema Q film series are Windy City Times, Time Out Chicago and the Chicago Reader.
—March 7: But I’m a Cheerleader: Lesbian director Jamie Babbit’s hilarious queer centric, comedic satire of a controversial “ex gay” camp for “confused” teenagers. Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, RuPaul, Michelle Williams, Melanie Lynskey, and Cathy Moriarty head the cast. (Directed by Jamie Babbit; 1999, 85 minutes)
—March 14: Blue Citrus Hearts: Out writer-director Morgan Jon Fox’s gritty, moving coming-out, coming-of-age story of teenagers Sam and Julien won kudos on the fest circuit, including Best Feature when it screened at Reeling in 2003. This screening generously underwritten by Ariztical Entertainment. (Directed by Morgan Jon Fox; 2003, 91 minutes)
—March 21: I Killed My Mother: Out French Canadian auteur Xavier Dolan stars in this critically hailed dramedy of a gay 16-year-old enfant terrible and the daily battles with his single mother. It has been unseen in Chicago since 2010. (It’s in French, with subtitles.) The Quebec Government Office in Chicago is underwriting this screening. (Directed by Xavier Dolan; 2009, 100 minutes)
—March 28: Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin: Out writer-director-producer Bennett Singer will attend this screening of his acclaimed documentary portrait of the openly gay civil-rights activist (in honor of the 100th anniversary of Rustin’s birthdate) followed by a complimentary dessert reception in the G.A.R. Rotunda (courtesy of Ann Sather). Affinity Community Services is co-sponsoring the screening, with travel arrangements courtesy of Orbitz.
For more information on Cinema Q and other film programs at the Chicago Cultural Center, please visit www.ChicagoCulturalCenter.org. Further information about the Queer Film Society at www.QueerFilmSociety.org.