KRIS SWANBERG’S SUNDANCE HIT indie drama “Unexpected,” will start its limited theatrical release at the Music Box Theatre, July 24, following screenings at 13 US and international film festivals since January.
The story is about Samantha (Cobie Smulders), a dedicated teacher at an inner city Chicago high school who faces an unexpected pregnancy. She also learns that Jasmine (Gail Bean) one of her most promising student is in a similar but different situation.
Also starring Evanston native Elizabeth McGovern (“Downton Abbey”) as Samantha’s mother and Anders Holm as the baby’s father.
Swanberg directed and co-wrote with Megan Mercier. Distributor is Film Arcade.
See the trailer here.
LCA’S INVALUABLE WORKSHOP on all the important factors involved in obtaining Nonprofit Incorporation and Tax Exemption Status will be comprehensively covered by legal experts Wednesday, Aug. 5 at LCA’a office, 213 Institute Place at 5:30 p.m.
Fee is $100 for one or $125 for two attendees from the same organization. A full package of materials will be provided. Space is limited; call Sarah Concannon, 312/649-4111 to register.
FILMMAKER JOHN PSATHAS. also an assistant DePaul professor, amassed a crew of 25 from among DePaul’s Cinema Studies and a cast of 12 from the Theatre School to produce “Bernadette,” a coming-of-age indie feature. They shot for 27 days on North Shore locations and at DePaul’s stage at Cinespace.
Logline: In the summer of 1994, an awkward teenage boy enlists the help of the Park District’s least valuable employee, a lothario and local suburban legend, to help win the heart of the girl of his dreams.
Producer is Angie Gaffney, of Black Apple Films and incubator Stage 18. The crew included Epiphany Paris, UPM; Danny Farber, line producer/first AD; Patrick Wimp was DP; Joe McAlpine, key grip; Laura Petro, art director; Ryan Zum Mallen is editing.
The cast features Sam Straley, Marilyn Bass, Sarah Murray and Johnny Lim.
KARTEMQUIN’S DOC “IN THE GAME,” directed by two-time Peabody Award-winning director, Maria Fintzo, will have its US premiere Saturday, Aug. 22 at the Gene Siskel Film Center.
The feature doc about equality for girls and women follows three girls on the Latina girls’ Trojans soccer team — Alicia, Elizabeth, and Maria — as they progress through inner city Thomas Kelly High School, and beyond.
All three seek to enter college after graduating high school, but must constrain their ambitions due their families’ lack of financial means.
“In the Game” underscores that, in a healthy democracy, equality is defined by who gets to play, both on the field, and off.
Finitzo spent six years struggling to raise sufficient funding to bring this story to the screen.
Many screenings will follow the premiere at various related organizations, the Chicago Public Library and Chicago Public Schools, and co-presentation events will be hosted by the Young Women’s Leadership Charter School.
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