in

56th Chicago International Film Festival Part 1: Drive-In Features

The banner for the Chicago International Film Festival

The 2020 edition of the Chicago International Film Festival will bring several of their Gala and World Premiere presentations to socially distant audiences from the comfort of their automobiles. The Chi-Town Movies Drive-In location in the trendy Pilsen neighborhood hosts the Opening Night documentary Belushi, the Closing Night Nomadland, and six more films in-between. Tickets are available only through online advance sales. The full festival runs from October 14-25.

For the drive-ins, the Chicago International Film Festival has put measures in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 for guests and staff. Tickets are sold per car at the prices of $60 for regular screenings and $80 Opening Night and Closing Night screenings for Cinema/Chicago members. Non-members pay $75 and $100 for those same tiers. Please note that all screenings are rain or shine with no refunds.

Here’s a slideshow of the full drive-in schedule:

Your ticket gets you one complimentary bucket of popcorn and additional concessions, including tacos, wings, and healthy options, can be ordered on-site from ChiTown Grille. Food will be delivered right to your vehicle and do know that no alcoholic beverages are allowed.

The Chicago International Film Festival is committed to providing guests with a safe and enjoyable experience with social distancing for both guests and staff. Regular cleaning of all facilities and a contact-free check-in will be in effect. All attendees and staff are required to wear a mask whenever they are not in their vehicle, but masks are not required while attendees are in their vehicles. With the exception of trips to the bathroom, the festival asks that attendees stay inside of their cars.

Cinema/Chicago also appreciates, respects, and honors the diversity of our global community of guests. These special drive-in events are coupled with a full online slate of virtual screenings for the 56th Chicago International Film Festival. Click here for that complete schedule and program guide.

Written by Don Shanahan

DON SHANAHAN is a Chicago-based Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic writing here on Film Obsessive as the Editor-in-Chief and Content Supervisor for the film department. He also writes for his own website, Every Movie Has a Lesson. Don is one of the hosts of the Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast on the Ruminations Radio Network and sponsored by Film Obsessive. As a school teacher by day, Don writes his movie reviews with life lessons in mind, from the serious to the farcical. He is a proud director and one of the founders of the Chicago Indie Critics and a voting member of the nationally-recognized Critics Choice Association, Online Film Critics Society, North American Film Critics Association, International Film Society Critics Association, Internet Film Critics Society, Online Film and TV Association, and the Celebrity Movie Awards.

Leave a Reply

Film Obsessive welcomes your comments. All submissions are moderated. Replies including personal attacks, spam, and other offensive remarks will not be published. Email addresses will not be visible on published comments.

Farewell Amor: husband Walter is reunited with wife Esther and daughter Sylvia

BFI London Film Festival 2020 Part Three: Family Secrets

Title card for Godzilla vs. Destoroyah. The English words "Godzilla vs. Destoroyah" are overlaid on the Japanese words, with raging flames in the background.

Godzilla vs. Destoroyah: The Death of Godzilla