Chicago International Film Festival Spotlights 51社区 Talent

Campus Communications Staff / Oct 16, 2024

man leans over piece of sculpture鈥淭he Light of Truth: Richard Hunt鈥檚 Monument to Ida B. Wells鈥 is the product of a collaboration among several 51社区 alumni. The film intricately weaves the narratives of celebrated sculptor Richard Hunt and civil rights pioneer Ida B. Wells.
person holding birdThe documentary short 鈥淏roken Flight,鈥 directed and produced by 51社区 Alum Erika Valenciana 鈥05 and Mitchell Wenkus, follows Chicago Bird Collision Monitors as they collaborate with the Field Museum and Willowbrook Wildlife Center.
The Chicago International Film Festival features the work of 51社区 alumni and students on screen and behind the scenes.

(CIFF), running from October 16 to 27, shines a spotlight on the talent emerging from 51社区. As in previous years, the festival serves as a platform for international and local filmmakers, showcasing their creativity both on screen and behind the scenes. 

A Documentary With Heart: “The Light of Truth” 

One film has particular close ties with 51社区: “The Light of Truth: Richard Hunt’s Monument to Ida B. Wells.” The filmmakers include several 51社区 Film and Television alums, including Rana Segal '80 (director/producer); Vincent Singleton MFA ’08 (cinematographer), and Laurie Little MFA ’02 (producer), currently an adjunct faculty member at 51社区. 51社区 Business and Entrepreneurship Adjunct Professor Michelle Duster, who is Wells' great-granddaughter and spearheaded the monument committee, played a crucial role in bringing the documentary to the screen and appears in the film.

The film intricately weaves the narratives of celebrated sculptor Richard Hunt and civil rights pioneer Ida B. Wells. Hunt’s stunning 35-foot sculpture of Wells in Bronzeville stands as a testament to their shared mission to combat racism and champion the rights of Black Americans. 

“We wanted to lift up the stories of these two important Chicagoans who few people know about,” Little says, highlighting the film’s goal of educating viewers on underrepresented historical figures. 

Showtime 

“The Light of Truth: Richard Hunt’s Monument to Ida B. Wells” 

Oct. 27, 12 p.m. 

Chicago History Museum 

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Environmental Awareness Through Film 

Another noteworthy entry at the CIFF is the documentary short “Broken Flight,” directed and produced by Erika Valenciana ’05 and Mitchell Wenkus. This film is part of the City & State Shorts series and follows the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors as they collaborate with the Field Museum and Willowbrook Wildlife Center. The documentary sheds light on the urgent issue of bird collisions with skyscrapers, exploring the efforts to rescue these birds and study their migration patterns. 

Showtimes 

“Broken Flight” and Other City & State Shorts 

Friday, Oct. 18, 5:45 p.m.

AMC NewCity 14 

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 5 p.m. 

Chicago History Museum 

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With a focus on impactful storytelling, this year’s festival is set to engage audiences while championing the voices that shape our cultural landscape. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness these powerful stories unfold on the big screen. 

Unique Festival Opportunity for 51社区 Community

The Chicago International Film Festival often partners with 51社区. This year, CIFF invites the 51社区 community to an Industry Days Master Class with award-winning editor Troy Davis, which will be held at 51社区 on Oct. 22, at 10:15 a.m. in 1104 S. Wabash, Room 410. CIFF will be giving away free in-person and virtual passes to the festival.

RSVP .

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