Reeling 2007

Reeling 2007, Chicago's International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival is set to open Thursday, November 8th through November 18th.

Over the 11 day period the festival will present 68 programs of amazing LGBT films from 28 different countries and in genres ranging from romantic comedy to esoteric experimental.

Now in its 26th year, Reeling is is a production of Chicago Filmmakers. Festival organizers are planning an unprecedented number of special events in conjunction with the films including celebrity appearances by RuPaul, Bruce Vilanch, Guinevere Turner and Brad Rowe.

ChicagoPride.com makes our selections from each night of the annual lesbian and gay film festival.

Thursday, November 8th
OPENING NIGHT
Shelter (U.S.) Event Listing
Zach (Trevor Wright), an artist and surfer gives up an art school scholarship to hold his dysfunctional family together. His already rocky relationship with his girlfriend ends when he starts surfing with Shaun (Brad Rowe), the brother of his best friend. The two grow intimate and begin a complicated relationship.

Actor Brad Rowe (star of Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss) will attend the Opening Night Gala and screening of Shelter.

6:00 PM Reception / 8:00 PM Screening
Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St.
ADMISSION: Film Only: $15 / $12 members
Film & Gala: $45 / $40 members

Friday, November 9th
Blueprint (U.S.) Event Listing
Rising young filmmaker Kirk Shannon-Butts, proclaimed by some to be a young gay Spike Lee, has catapulted onto the scene with his first feature-length film, which dares to ask the question—can you fall in love in one day?

Blueprint follows the impromptu romance of independent and reserved college student Keith and street-smart Nathan.

7:00 PM
Film Row Cinema of Columbia College Chicago, 1104 S. Wabash
ADMISSION: $10 non-member / $8 members

Saturday, November 10th
A Four Letter Word (U.S.) Event Listing
In a kitschy follow up to 2004's Slutty Summer, writer/director Casper Andreas dares to answer the timeless question … Can a playboy overcome the complications of the scariest four letter word in the gay dictionary … love?

A Four Letter Word is like a sex-crazed gay sitcom with a pulse, and maybe even a lesson about that elusive word.

7:30 PM
Screening: Landmark Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark St.
After-Party: Rubin's Chicago Room Gallery, 3318 N. Halsted St.
ADMISSION: Film Only: $10 / $8 members
Spotlight Film & Party: $20 / $18 members

Sunday, November 11th
Socket (U.S.) Event Listing
Sean Abley (co-founder of Chicago's Factory Theater) wrote, directed, produced, and co-stars in the shocking tale of Bill Matthews, a doctor who isn't quite himself after being hit by lightning.

9:45 PM
Landmark Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark St.

Monday, November 12th
The Godfather of Disco (U.S.) Event Listing
The Godfather of Disco is a documentary about the man who envisioned the future of disco, and then made it happen. Through a series of interviews with the who's who of the dance community, the film follows the arc of Mel Cheren's life to examine the early ‘70s musical and cultural currents that gave birth to disco.

8:30 PM
Film Row Cinema of Columbia College Chicago, 1104 S. Wabash

Godfather of Disco official afterparty is at Boom Boom Room (Event Details)
10:00 PM
Boom Boom Room at Green Dolphin Street, 2200 N. Ashland

Tuesday, November 13th
Naked Boys Singing (U.S.) Event Listing
The long running, off-Broadway, musical-comedy stage hit comes to the screen with a handsome, multiethnic cast and all its glorious, gratuitous nudity fully intact.

Bruce Vilanch will be in town for Naked Boys Signing screening and Q&A.

9:00 PM
Landmark Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark St.

Wednesday, November 14th
Starrbooty (U.S.) Event Listing
When Starrbooty (RuPaul) learns her niece has been kidnapped by her archrival, the supermodel goes undercover as a street hooker to rescue her.

This movie is jam-packed with delicious dialogue, insane characters, outrageous costumes and gratuitous hair and make-up, making it one of the most outrageous and colorful films ever put to the screen.

"The goal here was to make an exploitation film that was part Russ Meyer, John Waters, and The Naked Gun and we succeeded," says RuPaul.

RuPaul will be attending the movie screening and Q&A.

8:00 PM
Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway

Starrbooty Karaoke After-party at Goose Island Wrigleyville, 3535 N. Clark St.

ADMISSION:
Film and After-party: $20 / $18 for members
Film Only: $10 / $8 for members

Thursday, November 15th
The Walker (U.S./UK) Event Listing
Paul Schrader, who has penned some of the most impressive films of the past thirty years (Taxi Driver, American Gigolo, Raging Bull, Affliction), has written and directed a star-studded tale of murder and scandal, and the secrets that bind people to one another, as well as to the personas they have created.

In a role proclaimed "the performance of his lifetime" by The Guardian, Woody Harrelson stars as Carter Page III, a good-looking, well spoken, and highly sought after society escort, or "walker," who accompanies the wealthy ladies of Washington DC's political elite in public.

9:00 PM
Landmark Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark St.
ADMISSION: $10 non-member / $8 members

Friday, November 16
The DL Chronicles (U.S.) Event Listing
The DL Chronicles tells the sometimes painful, sometimes touching, but always sexy stories of men of color who are leading clandestine sexual lifestyles. The "DL" stands for "Down Low," referring to the concealed existence that these men who sleep with men find themselves living every day.

9:00 PM
Film Row Cinema of Columbia College Chicago, 1104 S. Wabash (8th Floor)
ADMISSION: $10 non-member / $8 members

Saturday, November 17
2 Minutes Later (U.S.) Event Listing
Fusing elements of classic film noir and the buddy movie into a snug queer package, director Robert Gaston (Open Cam) has instigated an intriguing new genre with this thrilling sex-laced murder mystery that brings together one of cinema's most unlikely duos—gay men and … gay women!

9:00 PM
Film Row Cinema of Columbia College Chicago, 1104 S. Wabash (8th Floor)
Spotlight Film and Spotlight Party: $17 / $15 for members
Film Only: $8 / $10 for members

Sunday, November 18
CLOSING NIGHT
The Curiosity of Chance (U.S.) Event Listing
The Curiosity of Chance (written/directed by Russell P. Marleau), a time warp trip to the 1980s. New Wave angst and gender-bending fashion are all the rage, and out and proud Chance Marquis (Illinois native Tad Hilgenbrink) is the new kid at Brickland International High. Immediately terrorized by the school's bullying jock, Chance decides to fight back with flair (and with the help of his band of outsiders) in this award-winning feature that takes all the high school movie stereotypes and turns them queer side out. Brett Chukerman of Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds (also an Illinois native) co-stars in this delightful new comedy with a queer twist.

The night includes a pre-party and end of fest celebrations.

Following the film, guests are invited to Andy's Jazz Club, where the musical stylings of New York Jazz great Mercedes Hall (mother of ‘80s icon Anthony Michael Hall) will provide the elegant and entertaining end to Reeling's eleven-day event.

Film, Pre-party, and End of Fest Celebrations: $45 / $40 for members, Pre-party and Film: $30 / $27 for members, Film Only: $15 / $12 for members

Closing Night: Sunday, November 18
THE CURIOSITY OF CHANCE
Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St.
6:00 PM Gala Reception / 7:30 PM Screening
9:30 PM After-party at Andy's Jazz Club, 11 E. Hubbard

For more information, contact the festival hotline at (312) 458-9059 or visit the website at www.reelingfilmfestival.org

ChicagoPride.com is a proud sponsor of Reeling 2007. Our Justin Boltz will be attending the star-studded parties and will report throughout the festival on his blog at JustinBoltz.ChicagoPride.com