Movies and music will be brought together when 70 films from more than 20 countries will screen April 14-17 at CIMMfest – the Chicago International Movies & Music Festival — at more than a dozen venues mostly located in the Bucktown-Wicker Park area.
“We chose to centralize the festival activities to make it easier for people to attend all of the events,” said Josh Chicoine, who co-directs CIMMFest with Ilko Davidson.
Opening night headliner is the world premiere of Fix: The Ministry Movie, at the Music Box Theatre, with a special guest appearance and discussion with Ministry bassist Paul Barker, director Douglas Freel and producer Ed Bates.
WBEZ’ Sound Opinion co-hosts Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis will introduce the film and provide historical perspective on the iconic band known for introducing industrial music to a wider audience.
“The Ministry has such a great history and connection with Chicago we wanted to secure it as our world premiere feature,” says Chicoine.
Since 2009, CIMMFest has hosted this four-day event to the delight of Windy City film enthusiasts seeking to experience projects unique in scope from around the world.
The multi-venue festival is a celebration of feature films, documentaries, shorts, concert films, music videos and animation projects all produced with music as their core element. Each night brings together a one-time mash up of movies and music.
New this year are two free art exhibits and video installations and Audience Choice Award will allow participants to share their feedback on selected films.
Alternate opening night events include the sounds of Wreckmeister Harmonies, indie rock band Joan of Arc and Kenneth Anger’s masterpieces films, Lucifer Rising and Scorpio Rising at the Wicker Park Arts Center. The Berlin nightclub will host the Chicago premiere of Arias with a Twist followed by a DJ/VJ set by audio-visual pioneer Abstract Black.
Mike Watt and stars from Chicago’s All Natural label, Tutu & the Pirates, Gurf Morlix, Tim Rutilli & Gillian Lisee will perform live throughout the festival.
Over at the Chicago Cultural Center, a series of free screenings, panel discussions on topics such as independent music promotions, music videos and more will take place.
Among the ecletic range of films making their world and U.S. premiere at CIMMFest are:
Keep It Moving, which follows Chicago hip hop artists on a journey of discovery in the Ivory Coast;
Bollywood Dream, a narrative about Brazilian actresses on a quest to break into the Bollywood film industry;
KMS: African Jews goes deep into an Israeli ghetto where artists use rap music to address discrimination;
Dream Factory highlights poor working conditions in a South Korean guitar factory and
The Glitter Emergency tells the story of Peggy the Peg-Leg Ballerina.
The closing night awards ceremony features a concert and screening of Blaze Foley: Duct Tape Messiah at The Hideout.
Click here for tickets and complete festival schedule.
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