137 My Space

Laura Silverman / Heather Connor

The Silverman Group, Inc.

312.932.9965 / 312.932.9911

laura@silvermangroupchicago.com

Lori Hile

Chicago International Film Festival

312.683.0121 ext. 103

publicity@chicagofilmfestival.com

The 44th Chicago International Film Festival, October 16 – 29, 2008, presented by Cinema/Chicago, will offer moviegoers the best new films from around the world, with several exciting additions, including a “Festival Village” and the launch of Green Screen, a program celebrating our natural environment, the power and artistry of filmmaking, and the intersection between the two. In its fifth decade, the Festival continues to present special appearances by legendary international actors and directors, along with the impressive film line-up for which the Festival is known. Audiences this year will be captivated by 116 feature films, 38 short and student films, and 18 documentaries from more than 45 countries, showcasing both established and promising new filmmakers. ”

For 44 years, we’ve been committed to taking you all across the globe to discover some of the most exciting cinema the world has to offer, right here in Chicago for two weeks only,” said Michael Kutza, Founder and Artistic Director of the Chicago International Film Festival. “This isn’t your typical Saturday night out at the movies – these are once-in-a-lifetime events. And this year we’ve set up camp in a new Festival Village to create an even stronger sense of community where you can come out, see the films, meet the people who make them, mingle with your fellow film fans, and most importantly see the world in a whole new way.”

SCREENING LOCATIONS The 44th Chicago International Film Festival will screen films at four locations. The majority of films will be shown at AMC River East 21, 322 E. Illinois Street, and AMC 600 N. Michigan 9, 600 N. Michigan Avenue. Both the Opening Night (October 16) and Closing Night (October 29) screenings take place at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph Drive. Screenings of films in the Rediscovered and Restored Series will be held at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Avenue, on October 26, 27, and 28.

TICKETS Film Festival passes are on sale now. Individual tickets for the 44th Chicago International Film Festival screenings and events will go on sale the beginning of October. Passes and tickets can be purchased by visiting www.chicagofilmfestival.com or www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 312-902-1500.

ABOUT CINEMA/CHICAGO Cinema/Chicago, a not for profit, tax exempt cultural and educational organization, presents the annual Chicago International Film Festival, North America’s oldest competitive international film festival, organized to encourage better understanding between cultures and its people and to make a positive contribution to the art form of the moving image. Subscribers to Cinema/Chicago’s membership program form a loyal core audience for the organization and are granted access to more than 15 free film screenings and sneak previews throughout the year. Cinema/Chicago also offers year-round educational programs designed for students and the deaf and hard of hearing to provide new film experiences and offer insight into other cultures, languages, and ideas. These programs include the Educational Outreach Program, the Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the Black Perspectives Program. For up-to-date and detailed Festival information, call 312-332-FILM or visit www.chicagofilmfestival.com.

Posted by: ERICK LASECA

Junior Board Member

Chicago International Film Festival

Polarity/1, the multi-genre artist best known for bold, honest, hard-hitting songs, has released a brand new instrumental record titled ‘Music From the Other Side’. The new CD continues the opinion-filled musical legacy of Polar: fitting to the title, the album consists of smooth, jazzy tracks much different from louder albums like ‘Yankin’ The Food Chain’. Proving that this album is no less diverse than his others, Polar once again shows his ability to spread his talent over a wide variety of genres; his music has been incorporated by dance theaters and documentarists, including Danny Schechter’s feature-length film documentary ‘In Debt We Trust’ and Battery Dance Company’s 26th Annual Downtown Dance Festival last year.

‘Music From The Other Side’ is the soundtrack for a dance performance by Lisbon’s Quorum Ballet, fusing the style and art of the dance of Lisbon and New York. A collaboration of choreographers Daniel Cardoso, Jonathan Hollander and Thaddeus Davis, artistic directors of Quorum Ballet, Battery Dance Company and Wideman/Davis Dance, respectively, this dark, moody, erotic and aggressive album explores the theme of oppression, which has always been an issue for the people on both sides of the Atlantic. The thought-provoking record examines the roles of the many different characters in life, including the instigator, the oppressor, the oppressed and the observer.

The most impressive song on the album is the vocal version of “Fulano de Tal,” which is included as a bonus track. Also noteworthy is the exotic, media-infused sound of “Land O Debbies.” The entire albums feels like the fusion of every type of media coming together to blend spooky, unique melodies that echo through every track. What really drives the record, though, is the steady, trance-like beat that is impossible to ignore.

As with all of his albums, on ‘Music From the Other Side’ Polarity/1 proves his ability to keep listeners engaged for every song, as they are never quite sure of what to expect next. Just as his name suggests, Polarity/1’s music certainly is composed of “conjoined opposites”; jumping from instrumentals to upbeat drumming, and from rapping to slow, soulful lyrics, Polarity/1 truly is 1 of a kind.

http://www.polarity1.com

http://www.myspace.com/polarity1music

American artists have always felt free to speak their minds, even when their opinions touch on controversial topics. During the Vietnam War, the politically-conscious Edwin Starr sung out, “War, what is it good for?” to protest America’s place in the bloody battle. And leading up the 2004 presidential election, Green Day recorded ‘American Idiot,’ an entire album devoted to the dissatisfaction with George W. Bush’s presidency, and subsequently, the ever-changing America. Today, Polarity/1 is no exception.

Polarity/1, a multi-instrumentalist/arranger/composer/producer, was one of the early voices warning of the impending debt crisis, having composed most of the score and served as Music Supervisor for Danny Schechter’s feature-length documentary ‘In Debt We Trust’. Focused on America’s dangerous addiction to debt and the predatory nature of our credit and loan industry, the film predicted over two years ago the economic meltdown being experienced today.

Proudly speaking his mind through his music, Polarity/1 uses freedom of speech to express his opinions on America with five songs featured in the documentary. The music — “Free Money,” “Charge It,” “Winter In America (Chills To The Bone),” “I’m So Broke,” and “Free Money Blues” — touches on topics ranging from poverty, to homelessness, to drug abuse, all the while allowing his bold statements to shine through the various sounds of each track.

In traditional twangy blues style, complete with a woeful chorus of melancholy men, “Free Money Blues” tells the financial burdens of the average American. Listing off dream items like flat screen TVs and new video games, the track reveals the pain of Americans, stuck in an economy where the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer. In Polarity/1′s strained voice, listeners can feel the frustration at life in America, where money is abundant, but among all people, somehow the dollars don’t add up right.

On the rock track “I’m So Broke,” Polarity/1 continues to wail about finances, forcing every listener to understand how it feels to have nothing in such a wealthy country. Commenting on the homelessness problem, he says: “What’s left in my pocket goes to keep me off the docket.” Screaming “I’m so broke” over and over, listeners are left to think about the current state of America, as they must try to find solutions that will balance out the distribution of wealth in the country.

Taking a turn to rap, “Winter in America” also deals with the issue of homelessness, though this time taking a more drastic approach as it describes the brutally cold weather that they must endure. Once again proving the seriousness of the situation, Polarity/1 introduces the problem of drug addiction facing poor young people, suggesting that the country is to blame, and not parents: “You tried to raise ‘em right, but before you know, they’ll be suckin’ on a crack pipe.”

Through all five tracks, Polarity/1 continues to reflect on the crucial issues facing Americans today, as those in poverty keep struggling to survive, while the government does little to help out. With such political music, it’s obvious that Polarity/1 is doing his part to change the face of America. And by listening to the music of “In Debt We Trust,” we are also invited to do the same. Enjoying the songs and its message is only the beginning, though. In a country where debt is quickly becoming the only thing we can trust, Polarity/1′s album functions as the ultimate personal question: What are you going to do to fix America?

All five songs are available for free download at http://www.reverbnation.com/polarity1

Most people do not really realize what a huge impact that music from Memphis has had on the sounds that are heard on the radio today. Although many people have heard of Jay Z, Bruce Springsteen and various rhythm and blues artists, few know that without people like W.C. Handy, B.B. King and Memphis Minnie the modern music we know today would not be nearly the same. In fact, music from Memphis has arguably had more of an impact on popular music than any other genre.
This is because the soulful sounds that define music from Memphis were created by the founding fathers of the sound. Without W.C. Handy, it is possible that the syncopated rhythms that his music was comprised of would have never been created. Out of all of the music from Memphis that was created during the early to mid 20th century, W.C. Handy probably created the most important. This is probably why Bruce Springsteen mentioned him in the song Walking in Memphis, asking him to watch out over him as he walked along Beale Street. The fact that Springsteen wrote the song nearly 30 years after his music from Memphis giant died just goes to show how influential the artist really was.
Beale Street was where most of the music from Memphis was created. The musicians of the time used to sit along Beale Street, blowing into their jugs to make a sound similar to that of a bass guitar, strumming washboards to add a unique tone to the music from Memphis. People would walk by, sometimes throwing money into the open guitar cases (when the musicians could afford one).
It was not until Sun Records took notice of the music from Memphis that it really took off and became popular throughout the United States. Instead of being confined to Beale Street and the Memphis region, music from Memphis was being played at school dances and in the kitchens of housewives as they made dinner nationwide. Soon, everyone was familiar with music from Memphis and the musicians that made the music. Today, B.B. King is still alive and touring, just as popular as he has ever been. Pop artists fight to work with him in the studio; many want him as a mentor. New music from Memphis was highly sought after by the people at Sun Records, and many of the artists began to cut albums with Sun.

Love films have always managed to captivate society and many always look forward to new releases. Love films are known to provide love stories that are often dramatic and entertaining. One thing that all love films are able to capture is the dramatic love that can be sparked by two people. In many films, you are inspired to go the extra mile and look for real love. Many times, we do not know how to love but films enable us to adopt that fantasy that is usually the magic in our love relationships. The ability to dream love and get love in a super way is inspired by many love films. In a love film forum, you will get to explore some of the most popular love films. This is a platform to delve more into the meaning of love as you critic or compliment the plot. A love film forum will enable you appreciate love and strive to look for it in your life.

A love film forum is fun and, you will get to look deeper into the minds of others as they understand a particular film. If you are interested in producing or writing your very own love films. A love film forum will give you the opportunity to learn in this easy way. Do not forget that online forums for love films are free and, you have no excuse not to be part of a great debate. In many instances, people see stories from different perspectives. In love stories, many thoughts can be sparked and, new ideas formed. This is an opportunity for you to breed those ideas. Many forums will consist of fans looking for all the good things to talk about a love film. However, being a fan also means stating where the film could have been improved. Love films have become a part of society and all people really enjoy viewing films for love. It is not always easy to enjoy difficult plots but, at a forum, your eyes will be opened to new exiting insights.

A love film forum will not only discuss the flow of the story of love but, it will also discuss the characters that played different roles. Today, we have a religious following of movie stars and, they play the vital role of bringing great dramas to life. Various stars are able to execute different roles perfectly. However, there are those that need to do better. In a forum, you will discuss your emotions as you seek to get to the bottom of how well they played roles or otherwise. It is pretty interesting to discuss your favorite characters and, you might learn one or two things from them if you are looking forward to be a star. Have fun as you get to learn in various forums for love films. If you wish to join forums that are online, you can do so easily by looking for a forum that has great films to discuss. If you wish to participate in forums that are not online, you will have the chance to do this. Do some research and you will find a good forum that will suit you just right.