This fall, The Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University and the Gene Siskel Film Center celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Films by Women/Chicago ’74 festival. Running from September to November, both theaters will host a series of screenings, discussions and events. This celebration honors a pivotal moment in cinematic history that promoted women filmmakers. Check out the listing of screenings below.
Gene Siskel Film Center Events
Dream Life: A tale of friendship and liberation.
Screening: Tuesday, Sept. 24, 6:15 p.m.
Daughter Rite: A mix of home movies and verité scenes exploring mother-daughter relationships.
Screening: Thursday, Sept. 26, 6:00 p.m. (Followed by a conversation between Michelle Citron and scholar B. Ruby Rich)
The Girls: A reflection on gender and artistry, intertwined with a production of Lysistrata.
Screening: Thursday, Sept. 26, 8:30 p.m.
The Cool World: A raw portrayal of Harlem life, set to the sounds of Dizzy Gillespie and Mal Waldron.
Screening: Friday, Sept. 27, 6:15 p.m.
Block Museum of Art Events
Revisiting Films by Women/Chicago ’74: A selection of short films and discussion with original festival organizers.
Screening: Wednesday, Sept. 25, 6:30 p.m.
Dorothy Arzner Double Feature: Dance, Girl, Dance and Take-Off: Celebrating Dorothy Arzner with two films exploring autonomy and artistic liberation.
Screening: Saturday, Sept. 28, 3:00 p.m.
Dorothy Arzner Double Feature: Craig’s Wife and What I Want: A powerful pairing of films about independence and empowerment.
Screening: Saturday, Sept. 28, 12:30 p.m.
Attica and I Am Somebody: A double feature on labor rights and prison reform through the eyes of female filmmakers.
Screening: Friday, Oct. 4, 7:00 p.m.
Activist Lens: Janie’s Janie and El Pueblo Se Levanta: A screening of radical documentaries chronicling social movements. Includes a post-screening discussion with Bev Grant.
Screening: Thursday, Oct. 10, 7:00 p.m.
Will: Chicago premiere of Jessie Maple’s narrative about addiction, redemption and community.
Screening: Thursday, Oct. 17, 7:00 p.m.
Why It Counts
Films by Women/Chicago ’74 was a groundbreaking festival, held at the height of the feminist movement in September 1974. It consisted of more than 70 films by women from around the world and was organized by an all-woman team, including Northwestern University students and faculty.
The festival featured a diverse variety of films, including activist documentaries, arthouse films and animations, and made a lasting impact on Chicago’s cultural landscape by bringing women’s cinematic contributions into the spotlight. This celebration not only looks back on those achievements but also imagines the future of women in film.
For more information and a full schedule of events, visit the Block Museum of Art and Gene Siskel Film Center websites.
