Tickets all sold out for CIFF’s Chicago premiere of “The Dark Knight,” but you might try eBay

All 440 seats at the IMAX Theatre at Navy Pier have been sold out for the Chicago International Film Festival’s July 16 Chicago premiere of “The Dark Night.”

The block of tickets Warner Bros. allotted to CIFF were sold out within hours of the May 16 announcement to CIFF members. But you can bid on originally-priced $150 ticket being offered on eBay starting at $232.

A tribute and Visionary Award presentation to “The Dark Knight’s” writer/director Christopher Nolan will precede the screening of the two-and-a-half hour movie.

To date, “The Dark Knight” has spent the greatest amount of money in Chicago of any movie ever to shoot here. It pumped an estimated $45 million into the local economy over its three months of filming at city locations. It employed 390 local crew persons, 250 day players and 6,000 extras.

Although its production budget was given as $150 million, it’s been speculated that the final budget topped out at $200 million.

This year’s Summer Gala screening, a change of pace for CIFF, was “a matter of taking advantage of an opportunity that came up,” explained Marketing & Membership Manager Vivian Teng.

CIFF’S traditional Summer Gala is a dependable sell-out as it pays tribute to Hollywood super stars and filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood and Robin Williams at ceremonies at Navy Pier.

A Fall Gala, however, is in the works for after the festival sometime in November, Teng said.

The Summer Gala is CIFF’s major fundraising activity, said Ryan Jewell, Cinema/Chicago managing director. Proceeds will benefit its year-round educational and other programs and most especially the Chicago International Film Festival, whose 44th presentation will be held Oct. 16-29.

“The Dark Knight” red carpet walk will start at 5:30 p.m., the tribute and award to London native Nolan is scheduled for 6:30; screening at 7 if all goes well, followed by a dinner at 9:30 at the Pier’s Crystal Gardens, lit up by a spectacular fireworks display.

CIFF is located at 30 E. Adams; pone, 312/683-0121. See