‘Dress to impress’ advised for Chicago’s Oscar Party

“THE HOTTEST OSCAR PARTY of the season” is how Stage 18 and Creative Cypher are hyping their total blow-out of an event, Chicago’s Oscar Party, Sunday, Feb. 28 at Instituto Cervantes, starting with a 5 p.m. Red Carpet entrance for guests in their, yes! finest formal attire.  

“We’re hosting Chicago’s creative community for an evening of movies, celebrities, glamour, dancing and of course, a live stream of the Oscars,” says Stage 18’s Angie Gaffney, who’s co-hosting the event with comedian Michael Issac.

Since this is a special evening in keeping with trendy Hollywood, Gaffney emphasizes “dress to impress,” come formal.

Tickets are $32.64 each and may be purchased here.

At 31 W. Ohio, 5-10 p.m.; the Academy Awards telecast starts at 6 p.m.  

THE SPIRIT AWARDS are held the night before the Oscars, and IFP Chicago will host a Member Appreciation & Spirit Awards Party Saturday, Feb. 17 at Rockit Bar & Grill, 22 W. Hubbard, 3:30-8 p.m.

Tickets, free to members, non-members, $15, are available here. Discounts for members of other Chicago film organizations. For a click here, email  for the discount code.

FILMMAKER ALONZO ALCARAZ’ feature, One Night Stand, will have its world premiere at the 32nd Chicago Latino Film Festival April 8-21. Since it’s also the only Chicago-made film selected for the world famous festival, “It is a great honor to have been chosen,” Alcaraz says.

The romantic comedy stars stage actor Yunuen Pardo, and film actor Eddie Martinez, frequently cast in Chicago features and current TV series.  Rosalia Beaulie Rivera and Tadeo Garcia co-produced with Alcaraz. 

“One Night Stand” is Alcaraz’ first feature film. His 2014 entry, the short “Albert,” won the Latino Festival’s Audience Award. 

“SUNDAY CINEMA” is the title of a new weekly film series on a wide variety of Jewish subjects and locales hosted by and at the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership. 

Screening Sunday, Feb. 14 is a the feature doc, “Carvalho’s Journey,” by award-winning, prolific filmmaker Steve Rivo (“American Experience,” “Discovery,” “Death Row Stories”).

It follows the story of Solomon Nunes Carvalho, an observant Sephardic Jew who became one of the first photographers to document the sweeping vistas of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and California.  Rivo will introduce the film and lead a post-show discussion. 

AWARD-WINNING FEATURE DOC, “Nelson Algren: The End is Nothing, the Road is All,” from filmmakers Ilko Davidov, Mark Blottner and Denis Mueller, will be the center of a special presentation and celebration at Society of Arts, 1112 Milwaukee, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m.

Three additional films also will screen, starting at 2 p.m. with  “Algren’s Last Night,” by Warren Fleming and Carmine Cervi, at 2 p.m.  The pre-release of Denis Mueller and Deb Ellis’ political thriller “Peace has No Borders,” plays at 4 p.m. followed by the timely classic, “The FBI’s War on Black America” (1990).

Director Trevor Juras’ first feature, in which what looks like mumblecore turns into psychological torment, plays Feb. 21, 7 p.m.

Tickets are $9 and may be purchased at the door.