The 53rd Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF) is Oct. 12-26, featuring 36 films directed by women. The two-week festival will screen 140 films at the AMC River East downtown during the two-week festival, 25 percent of which have women at the helm. Cinema/Chicago is the presenting organization of CIFF, “A year round non-profit arts and…
Author: Georgiana E. Presecky
Novick and Burns revisit history in documentary series 'The Vietnam War'
Lynn Novick has once again teamed up with documentarian Ken Burns to co-direct the upcoming PBS series The Vietnam War. “Ken turned to me and said ‘OK, I think we can really try to do Vietnam now,’ and I said, ‘I’m in. I’ve been in since day one, I’ve always wanted to do this story,’”…
‘Logan Lucky’ sparks pseudonym speculation
Director Steven Soderbergh’s Logan Lucky is slated for release Friday, August 18, and it’s already receiving rave reviews with a 92 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes as of Monday afternoon. Starring Channing Tatum and Adam Driver as brothers ripping off NASCAR, the feature boasts a star-studded cast and will undoubtedly draw fans of Soderbergh’s…
12 films by women you can stream on Netflix right now
Netflix adds to its wide selection of content each month, and its summer releases boast a significant number of films written or directed by women. From those who are unable to attend screenings of independent films in their cities due to distribution limitations to others who simply prefer streaming to the theater-going experience, exposure to…
Princes look back in HBO documentary 'Diana, Our Mother'
From director Ashley Gething, the HBO Documentary Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy remembers the Princess of Wales in a different way - from the perspective of her two sons, Princes William and Harry. The well-known figures speak openly about their mother throughout the 65 minutes, which first aired July 24 on HBO. Most viewers…
Social Media Manager Georgiana E. Presecky
As FF2 Media’s social media manager, I post daily on Twitter (@FF2_Media) and Facebook, not only to promote our reviews, interviews and feature stories, but also to connect with our audience and the filmmakers we support. Expanding our audience and finding people who are just as passionate about supporting women in film as we are…
Penny Marshall's 'A League of Their Own' celebrates 25th anniversary
On a recent trip to the Carson Pirie Scott department store, I came across a display of (ridiculously expensive) baseball-themed purses. The designer bags were emblazoned with the logos of Major League Baseball teams, and a sign above the rack where they hung read, “Yes, girls love sports, too!” I was appalled at the fact that…
Women filmmakers shine at Siskel Center's 2017 Chicago European Union Film Festival
Hosted by the Gene Siskel Film Center, the month-long Chicago European Union Film Festival (CEUFF) featured 15 films directed by women (15 out of 62 = ~ 25% = a record high for this event). FF2 Media has compiled “Best of the Fest” lists from three Chicago team members, recommending films ranging from food documentaries…
I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together: Celebrating SWAN Day
I do my best to celebrate International SWAN Day every day of the week, supporting the work of women artists who have made a difference in my life. Sunday nights are defined by Lena Dunham’s Girls, in which I sit patiently at the computer for the newest episode to hit HBO Now. Monday and Tuesday…
2016 memorable for animated storytelling
Reflections by Social Media Manager Georgiana E. Presecky Despite the variety of animated features released in 2016, Disney still reigns supreme with Oscar-nominated films Zootopia and Moana. What is it about that familiar “When You Wish Upon a Star” opening that has captivated the minds and hearts of children and adults for 80 years, since…
THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN
Written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig, The Edge of Seventeen is being called an “instant teen classic,” compared to the likes of Clueless, Mean Girls and Juno. What was promoted as a comedic, heartwarming depiction of teen angst feels more like a missed opportunity. The relatable message of The Edge of Seventeen unfortunately gets…