FACETS Film Forum celebrates 50 years of indie cinema with a new name
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Exterior of FACETS theater. Photo: Courtesy of FACETS Film Forum.
The iconic cinema in Lincoln Park is celebrating 50 years with a new name, but the same commitment to independent and international film.
The big picture: FACETS, dubbed "a temple of great cinema" by the late, great film critic Roger Ebert, is known for offering independent, obscure and cult classic screenings and having programming that is varied enough to be accessible to even the casual moviegoer.
Driving the news: FACETS' board announced recently that its new name will be FACETS Film Forum in recognition of its mission to create "film experiences that include an opportunity for conversation and dialogue and community," executive director Karen Cardarelli tells Axios.
Flashback: Founder Milos Stehlik started FACETS in 1975 as a live stage theater known as The Drama Shelter, but the film screenings soon became the main attraction.
- FACETS was originally in the basement of a church but eventually landed in a former department store on Fullerton where it still is today.
- Stehlik died in 2019 casting some fear on the future of FACETS without its charismatic and dedicated founder at the helm.
- Cardarelli took over in February 2020 and says the board was adamant about its dedication to keeping FACETS going.
The intrigue: FACETS still runs its rental membership program that gives members access to more than 50,000 titles, one of the largest film archives in the U.S., Cardarelli says.
State of play: In addition to the name change, the nonprofit has launched a $1 million fundraising campaign to help with operational costs like upkeep of its century-plus old building, staff and expanding family programming.
What they're saying: "It's a remarkable thing, the whole city, the whole community should be proud when a local arts organization turns 50. It takes a village to accomplish that," Cardarelli says.
What's next: Their Beyond the Red Carpet fundraiser on Feb. 22 will feature a recorded interview with the Oscar-nominated director of "Sing Sing" and the series Chicago on Screen will feature screenings and post-film conversations, starting with "The Fugitive" on March 14.