A Call for Peace and Human Connection: Hikari on “Rental Family”
As I sat in my favorite movie palace, the Music Box Theatre, waiting for my wife—Cinema Femme founder Rebecca Martin—to arrive for that evening’s eagerly awaited Chicago International Film Festival screening of Hikari’s “Rental Family,” I overheard the woman next to me mention her plans to see my all-time favorite film, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” […]
A Profound Experience of Rewriting: Eva Victor on “Sorry, Baby”
As annoyed as I was about Barry Jenkins, one of the greatest filmmakers working today, recently helming a prequel to the worst Disney remake in history, the Oscar-winning director of “Moonlight” has also been helping launch some of the most exciting careers in modern cinema over the past few years. I’m thinking specifically of Charlotte […]
Cinema Femme Short Film Festival Returns to the Music Box Theatre, July 17–21, 2025
🎬 Cinema Femme Short Film Festival Returns to the Music Box Theatre, July 17–21, 2025 Opening Night Reception, Dynamic Panels, Celebrated Shorts, and Awards Presentation Among the Highlights CHICAGO, IL — June 20, 2025 — Cinema Femme is proud to announce the full lineup for the 2025 Cinema Femme Short Film Festival, returning July 17–21 […]
Beauty in Vulnerability: Richard Green and Claire Coulson-Ollivier on “I Know Catherine, the Log Lady”
This was one of two Log Lady quotes I incorporated into my speech while officiating my brother-in-law and fellow “Twin Peaks” fan Joe’s wedding last year in Washington state. It was “Twin Peaks” that brought my wife—Cinema Femme founder Rebecca Martin Fagerholm—and I together, and has helped preserve our sanity whenever the news cycle is […]
A Letter of Gratitude
Hello friend of Cinema Femme, As we come to the end of 2024, I hope you’re able to take a breath and make time for reflection. In light of the recent election, it hasn’t been easy, but I feel a sense of hope for our artistic community. I recently listened to a podcast episode that […]
CIFF 2024: Screen Legend Valeria Golino on Her Exhilarating Miniseries, “The Art of Joy”
Valeria Golino was 18 years old when she filmed Italian director Francesco Maselli’s “Storia d’amore,” the movie that would make her an international star. She earned the Best Actress prize in Venice, and went on to be cast in such major Hollywood releases as “Rain Man,” “Big Top Pee-Wee,” “Hot Shots!”, “Leaving Las Vegas” and […]
This is Our Family: Tara Mallen, Keith Kupferer and Katherine Mallen Kupferer on “Ghostlight”
When it comes to monumentally euphoric moviegoing experiences in 2024, Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson have set a mightily high bar with their latest crowd-pleaser, “Ghostlight.” Five years after helming one of my all-time favorite films, 2019’s “Saint Frances,” writer/co-director O’Sullivan and co-director/producer Thompson have done it again with this phenomenally powerful ode to the […]
Uniquely Euphoric: Bridget Frances Harris and Virginia Alonso-Luis on “Places of Worship”
Every once in a while, I come across a film that feels as if it has been made especially for me. That happened most recently at this year’s joyous in-person installment of my wife Rebecca Martin Fagerholm’s Cinema Femme Short Film Festival held at Chicago’s historic Music Box Theatre. As soon as Bridget Frances Harris’ […]
Cinema Femme Short Film Festival Announces Full Program: April 25 – May 2, 2024
Chicago, Illinois, (April 2, 2024) – Today, the Cinema Femme Short Film Festival announced the full lineup of films and programs included in its 6th edition, running April 25 – May 2, 2024. Cinema Femme Magazine, presenter of the Cinema Femme Short Film Festival, emphasizes the importance of supporting emerging female and non-binary filmmakers by connecting them to seasoned industry members through the Breaking […]
Cinema Femme Launch Party
Our launch party at this Music Box Theatre is this Thursday! We will have raffle prizes from… #1: Revolution Brewing Company Cheers to the weekend! One of our awesome raffle prizes at our launch party will be from @revbrewchicago. 🍺👊🎉 #2: Music Box Theatre We’ll be having raffle prizes from @musicboxchicago at the launch, including […]