The Chicago International Film Festival has announced a celebration of Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda, who will be honored with the Artistic Achievement Award and retrospective of key films from his career on March 14 and 15, 2020.
In conjunction with the 20th anniversary of celebrated independent distributor IFC Films, who have released many of Kore-eda’s masterworks in the United States, three films will screen in new digital restorations over the weekend at the Landmark Century Cinema (2828 N Clark St).
The celebration will culminate with an in-person tribute and presentation of the Festival’s Artistic Achievement Award to director Kore-eda, followed by a special presentation screening of his most recent film The Truth on March 15, 2020.
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A distinguished voice
“Hirokazu Kore-eda is one of the most exceptional working filmmakers, presenting a uniquely distinctive and distinguished voice in contemporary cinema,” says Artistic Director Mimi Plauché. “From his emotional and enigmatic first feature, Maborosi, which won the Festival’s Gold Hugo award in 1995, to his latest cinematic evolution with The Truth, we are honored to present this award and welcome him to Chicago for the first time since he visited with his debut.”
The Truth opens Friday, March 27, 2020 in Chicago at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema and the Century Evanston 16.
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Meet Hirokazu Kore-eda
Born in 1962 in Tokyo, Japan, illustrious director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s auspicious 1995 feature debut Maborosi received great critical acclaim and numerous awards, including the Chicago International Film Festival’s Gold Hugo for Best Film.
Over the past 25 years, his films have garnered numerous prestigious awards, including Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival for Yuya Yagira in 2004’s Nobody Knows, the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for 2013’s Like Father, Like Son, and the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2018 for Shoplifters.
He is one of the most awarded and critically acclaimed directors working in cinema today.
In 2019, his first feature shot outside Japan, The Truth, starring French film legends Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche, opened the Official Competition at the Venice International Film Festival and made its U.S. premiere at the 55th Chicago International Film Festival last October.
The Truth
Legends of French cinema Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche join masterful filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda (Shoplifters, Still Walking) to paint a moving portrait of family dynamics in The Truth.
Fabienne (Catherine Deneuve) is an aging French movie star who, despite her momentary lapses in memory, remains a venerable force to be reckoned with.
Upon the publication of her memoirs, her daughter Lumir (Juliette Binoche) returns to Paris from New York with her husband (Ethan Hawke) and their young daughter to commemorate its release.
A sharp and funny battle of wits ensues between the mother-daughter duo, as Lumir takes issue with Fabienne’s rose-colored version of the past. Reflected cleverly by Fabienne’s latest role in a sci-fi drama, their strained relationship takes a poignant journey toward possible reconciliation.
Charming, bold, and imbued with endless emotional insight, The Truth offers a relatable look at human relationships, featuring exquisite performances from its all-star cast.
Details
All screenings will take place at the Landmark Century Cinema (2828 N Clark St, Chicago). Tickets for the tribute and special presentation screening of The Truth are $25 for film-only tickets and $60 for VIP tickets (including pre-reception and reserved seating). The VIP pre-reception with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will take place in the Landmark Century Cinema lounge. Tickets for all other screenings are $10 for Cinema/Chicago members and $12 for the general public. To purchase tickets, click here.
The Hirokazu Kore-eda retrospective and tribute schedule is as follows:
Saturday, March 14
1:00pm:
Nobody Knows
2004, Japan, 141 min.4:00pm:
Still Walking
2008, Japan, 114 min.Sunday, March 15
3:00pm:
Like Father, Like Son
2013, Japan, 120 min.6:00pm:
The Truth with Tribute to Hirokazu Kore-eda
2019, France/Japan, 106 min.
Preceded by VIP reception honoring the director’s career.
The Chicago International Film Festival’s Hirokazu Kore-eda tribute and retrospective is supported by The Japan Foundation New York, All Nippon Airways, Baron Harris Healey, and Turkitch.
For more information on the Kore-eda retrospective and tribute, click here.
About Cinema/Chicago
Cinema/Chicago, the presenting organization of the Chicago International Film Festival, is a year-round nonprofit arts and education organization dedicated to fostering better communication between people of diverse cultures through the art of film and the moving image. Cinema/Chicago’s programs include the Chicago International Film Festival, Summer Screenings Program, CineYouth Festival, and year-round Education Program. Celebrating its 56th edition October 14-25, 2020, the Chicago International Film Festival is North America’s longest-running competitive film festival. For more information, click here or follow on social media at Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.
