Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival kicked off its 42nd edition on Sept. 19 at the Music Box Theatre on Southport Avenue. The opening night included a pre-reception in the Music Box Lounge for the Belgium film Young Hearts, a coming-of-age film about a gay teenager.
Currently living in Brussels and visiting Chicago for the first time, director Anthony Schatteman dropped in for a Q&A session with the narrative features programmer Morgan Jon Fox. Schatteman described finding his star Marius De Sanger to play Alexander: “That was the hard part because he had to speak two languages. I saw him playing football in the schoolyard and he wore nail polish. He was so cool and free. When he met Lou Goossens for the role of Elias there was immediate chemistry so I knew they were perfect.”
Schatteman also served as a writer alongside making his directorial debut, and stated he made the movie without sexual scenes on purpose.
“I wanted a romantic story that could be shown to any age,” he explained. “People are discovering their feelings thanks to communication and every kid deserves the right to be themselves. I hope people will see that love is equal with this film and everyone should follow their hearts if they have the option.”
Strand Releasing has already picked up Young Hearts for distribution with viewings in over 60 countries. He said, “I have made a very American film so I am enjoying the expressive audiences here more than Europe. In San Francisco, they had big reactions and that was cool to see!”
This popular film festival is produced by Chicago Filmmakers, a 50-year-old not-for-profit media arts organization that serves the independent film community. Several of the flicks will be shown at their firehouse location at 1326 W. Hollywood Ave., with the majority of the screenings taking place at Landmark Century Centre Cinema on Clark Street.
This year there are more than 50 programs spread out over the planned itinerary.
The documentary features programmer Haydee Souffrant’s curated centerpiece Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story plus a few more, and programmer Iona Bodem picked 11 shorts to run throughout the festival.
Feature film director Corey Wexler Grant described Screams from the Tower as “a ‘90s period piece similar to the work of John Hughes. It’s about two gay boys who find infamy on their high school radio station and grow gayer together.”
Before the Windy City premiere of Witchy Ways on Sept. 23 director Jane Clark spoke at the step and repeat area about working with trans actress Candis Cayne on her magical project, “I wrote the role for her and her character Penny is a cis straight woman. This is the third time I have worked with her and we are friends now. She does a great job in the film.”
Moving In: A Modern Musical also screened on the same evening at Landmark on Clark. Partners Mike Spears and Adam Boltz co-wrote the script together and were recently married in May of 2024. Moving In’s storyline centers around an exotic dancer named Max who stirs up drama after moving in with his friend Zoe.
Boltz prefers Moulin Rouge as his all-time favorite musical while Spears picked The Greatest Showman. “This movie is not a typical musical and that’s why we put modern in the title. There’s pop music that is written by Mike and we filmed it like a music video,” Adam explained.
Spears said that most of the project was filmed on Halsted Street, “We filmed at Charlie’s Chicago and at Center on Halsted. We are grateful to them for allowing us to work in their spaces.”
Queer cinephiles united by wearing colors for each day covering the rainbow, and the Skittles Community Pride Prize will go to the film that best represents the LGBQ+ community by audience vote. The winner will be announced on closing night and will take home a check for $10,000.
Tasting a rainbow of diversity had Skittles as an important presenting sponsor along with AARP, the American Association of Retired Persons organization. Contributing sponsors included Windy City Times and Chicago Reader, among others.
Click over to reelingfilmfest.org for a complete schedule including virtual screenings starting Sept. 27 through Oct. 6.
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