The Chicago-based non-profit cinema house approaches its fiftieth birthday, and plans to celebrate big.
Known for its screenings of independent and international films, FACETS will bring in its fiftieth year of existence with a new name and fundraising events.
The local media arts organization will change its name from FACETS Multi-Media to FACETS Film Forum. The move aims to renew its commitment to meaningful conversations through film, according to a recent press release. Paired with the new name FACETS has new programming and events slated for the milestone.
Chicago on Screen, launching March 14, will highlight Chicago’s contributions to film. The series will include films such as The Fugitive and Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer and will feature behind-the-scenes conversations with the filmmakers. FACETS’ new Board Co-Chair Rich Moskal, former director of the Chicago Film Office, will head the program.
Speaking of Moskal, he brings his decades of expertise to serve alongside fellow Board Co-Chair Tamara Bohórquez. Bohórquez, a creative strategist and FACETS advocate, will serve as a bridge to founder Milos Stehlik’s vision, according to FACETS’ press release.
“With Rich’s industry expertise and Tamara’s dedication to our mission, we are poised to make a greater impact on Chicago’s cultural landscape,” FACETS Film Form executive director Karen Cardarelli said.
5 Films, 5 Decades, 5 Critics, another program launching this April, will highlight five films connected to FACETS’ history. Film Program Director Charles Coleman will curate the program, showcasing filmmakers and hosting discussions with local critics.
As FACETS will host a slate of special events, they aim to reinvest into its programming and growth through a $1 million fundraising campaign. Bohórquez declared in the press release that 25 percent, or $250K, has been raised and FACETS is committed to reaching the $1 million within the next two years.
The nonprofit will host two fundraisers this year, Beyond the Red Carpet and 50th Anniversary Celebration. The former took place on Feb. 22 as a pre-Academy Awards event with film critic Lee Shoquist and Sing Sing director Greg Kwedar. The latter will take place later this year, though details on honorees, location and sponsorships are yet to be announced.
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FACETS began in a church on the northside of Chicago with founder Milos Stehlik running a borrowed 16mmm projector from the choir loft. Patrons would sit in the hardwood pews below to enjoy whatever film Stehlik put on.
One such film was then-banned Italian-Algerian anti-war film, The Battle of Algiers (1966). The film served as a hallmark screening during the early years, helping solidify FACETS as one of Chicago’s early art house cinemas that routinely screen international films.
For the past five decades, FACETS has become synonymous with bold cinematic exploration while inspiring brave conversations. In 2023, FACETS spearheaded the Chicago Alliance of Film Festivals to support Chicago’s independent film festival sector.
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