News You Need: ‘Awake’ Trailer, ‘Blade Runner’ in Chicago, Sexiest Funny Girls in Hollywood

Every year, one out of 700 patients – or an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 of the 21 million patients – experience “anesthetic awareness,” according to a Nov. 23, 2004 Washington Post article by Sandra Boodman.

This event happens “when surgical patients can recall their surroundings or an event – sometimes even pain – related to their surgery while they are under general anesthesia,” according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

On Nov. 30, the film “Awake” will debut in theaters nationwide to expose the surgical event. “Awake” stars Jessica Alba, Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker in the newer “Star Wars” films) and Terrence Howard.

“This film will do to surgery what ‘Jaws’ did to swimming in the ocean,” said Deutsch/Open City Films co-founder and producer Joana Vicente.

“As a victim of [this], I dedicated the last nine years to educating the public to help them understand the scope, sheer terror and trauma involved when awareness occurs,” said Anesthesia Awareness Campaign, Inc. founder Carol Weihrer.

She added: “There is no way to accurately describe to someone how it feels to be ‘entombed in a corpse’ as I was.” I have embedded the trailer for “Awake” below. (Source: Press release via e-mail)


Men’s entertainment site DoubleViking.com on Oct. 26 published what it views to be the “five sexiest funny girls in Hollywood”. Visuals follow. (Source: DoubleViking.com)


Anna Faris

Sarah Silverman

Kristen Wiig

Elizabeth Banks

Isla Fisher
The Chicago International Film Festival on Oct. 25 announced its three Audience Choice Award winners for 2007 based on ballots over the 14-day festival.

The awards went to “Control” (United Kingdom) from director Anton Corbijn, “Lovesickness” (Puerto Rico) and “Spirit of the Marathon” (U.S.) from director Jon Dunham on the Chicago Marathon. (Source: Press release via e-mail)

“Blade Runner: The Final Cut” has a a limited-run theatrical engagement in select cities through the fall and holiday season in conjunction with the anticipated DVD release.

The film opens in Chicago on Nov. 2 at the Music Box Theatre in honor of the 25th anniversary of Ridley Scott’s science-fiction masterpiece.

The film has been restored with new and improved special effects. It also includes never-before-seen added and extended scenes that Scott created specifically for the new edition. (Source: Press release via e-mail)


1982’s “Blade Runner,” which stars Harrison Ford.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has awarded $450,000 to 20 U.S. film festivals for the 2008 calendar year.

The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and the Virginia Film Festival will each receive a total of $75,000 over a three-year period.

The Los Angeles Film Festival and the San Francisco International Film Festival will each receive $50,000 in 2007 as part of multi-year grants. The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival will receive $30,000.

The Austin Film Festival will receive $30,000. The Chicago Latino Film Festival and the St. Louis International Film Festival will each receive $20,000. (Source: Press release via e-mail)

Reeling 2007: 26th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival Coming Nov. 8 to 18

With the Chicago International Film Festival concluded (Oct. 4 to 17) and the Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema wrapping up (Oct. 18 to 28), Reeling 2007: The 26th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival is nearly upon the Windy City.


Running from Nov. 8 to 18 and presented by Showtime, Comcast and “The L Word,” Reeling is the “second-oldest lesbian and gay film festival in the world and a premiere cultural event for Chicago’s LGBT community and film-appreciating audiences”.

Reeling will include about 70 programs. Tickets are on sale now. This year’s festival is said to be more global than in previous years with work from 28 countries and in genres ranging from romantic comedy to esoteric experimental.

Screenings will be held at the Chicago History Museum (1601 N. Clark St.), Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema (2828 N. Clark St.), Film Row Cinema (1104 S. Wabash Ave.), Center on Halsted (3656 N. Halsted St.), Lakeshore Theater (3175 N. Broadway St.), Leather Archives & Museum (6418 N. Greenview Ave.) and Chicago Filmmakers (5243 N. Clark St.).

Rather than rolling out red carpets, the festival will be rolling out a series of pink carpets beginning with an opening-night event for “Shelter” on Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Chicago History Museum.

Closing night on Nov. 18 will feature an event for “The Curiosity of Chance” beginning at 6 p.m. at the Chicago History Museum.

Laura Linney, Director Tamara Jenkins Walk Chicago Red Carpet For ‘The Savages’ Premiere

Laura Linney and writer/director Tamara Jenkins walked a Chicago red carpet at the Harris Theater on Thursday for the Chicago International Film Festival premiere of “The Savages”. The event was the festival’s final act for 2007.

Linney, who said she had never been to the Chicago International Film Festival before, was proactive about looking right into press photographers even without them having to prompt her. Hence, this reporter shot her head on below.


Laura Linney on Oct. 17, 2007 at the Chicago
International Film Festival premiere of “The Savages”.
Photo by Adam Fendelman of HollywoodChicago.com

Director Tamara Jenkins (left) and Laura Linney in Chicago.
Photo by Adam Fendelman of HollywoodChicago.com
Linney co-stars in the film with Philip Seymour Hoffman. The two play a brother and a siter who face the realities of familial responsibility as they begin to care for their ailing father.

10:10 p.m. update: Chicago photographer Joe Arce – a true surgeon with his camera – just submitted to me his up-close-and-personal photo of Linney from the evening. If you haven’t noticed by now, that’s his style. I am publishing it below with permission.


Laura Linney on Oct. 17, 2007 in the Chicago
Photo by Joe Arce for HollywoodChicago.com

Chicago International Film Festival Announces 2007 Award Winners

The Chicago International Film Festival on Oct. 14 announced its 2007 award winners.

Mexico, China, Brazil, the United Kingdom and the United States took top honors in the festival’s 43rd iteration.

Chicago audiences selected from 102 feature films, 14 documentaries and 33 shorts and student films spanning 43 countries. Films showcased both well-known and promising new filmmakers.

The festival’s highest honor is the Gold Hugo, which was coined after the mythological god of discovery. When perusing the awardees below, notice “Chicago 10” and “America the Beautiful,” which I mentioned back on Sept. 19.

Feature Film Competition

The Gold Hugo went to “Silent Light” (Mexico).
The Silver Hugo jury prize went to “Tuya’s Marriage” (China).
The Silver Hugo for direction went to Roy Anderson for “You, The Living” (Sweden).
The Silver Hugo for best actor went to Sam Riley for “Control” (U.K.).
The Silver Hugo for best actress went to Yu Nan for “Tuya’s Marriage” (China).
The Silver Hugo for best screenplay went to Matt Greenhalgh for “Control” (U.K).
The silver plaque went to Chico Teixeira for “Alice’s House” (Brazil).

The main feature-film jury included Rudi Dolezal (Austria), Mike Goodridge (Great Britain), Udo Kier (Germany), Juri Menzel (Czech Republic), Claude Nouchi (France) and Maryse Sistach (Mexico).

New Director’s Competition

The Gold Hugo went to “In Memory of Myself” (Italy).
The Silver Hugo went to “Not By Chance” (Brazil).

The new director’s jury included Bill Stamets (U.S.), Elizabeth Donius (U.S.), Phillip Bergson (U.K.) and Ron Falzone (U.S.).

Documentary Competition

The Gold Hugo for best documentary went to “Taxi to the Dark Side” (U.S.).
The Silver Hugo went to “Chicago 10” (U.S.).
The gold plaque in direction went to “America the Beautiful” (U.S.).
The gold plaque in photography went to “4 Elements” (Netherlands).
The silver plaque special jury prize went to “Operation Filmmaker” (U.S.) and “A Walk Into the Sea” (U.S.).

The documentary jury included Clayton Brown (Northwestern University; Evanston, Ill.), Peter Gilbert (Kartemquin Films, Chicago) and Lisa Nesselson (Variety, Paris).

Short Film Competition

The Gold Hugo for best short film went to “Hesitation” (France/U.K.).

Narrative Short Film Competition

The Silver Hugo went to “Partus” (Denmark).
The gold plaque went to “27,000 Days” (U.S.).
The silver plaque went to “Train Town” (U.S.).

Animated Short Film Competition

The Silver Hugo went to “Everything Will Be Ok” (U.S.).
The gold plaque went to “Yours Truly” (U.K.).
The silver plaque went to “Sleeping Betty” (Canada).

Experimental Short Film Competition

The gold plaque went to “The Delaware Project” (Canada).

Documentary Short Film Competition

The gold plaque went to “The Ladies” (U.S.).

The short film jury included Steve Prokopy (Ain’t It Cool News, Chicago), Justine Nagan (Kartemquin Films, Chicago) and Mike Gibisser (filmmaker, Chicago).

The Chicago Award

The festival says:

As part of the Chicago International Film Festival’s special section on local filmmakers, the Chicago Award is presented to a Chicago or Illinois artist for the best feature film, short film or documentary.

The award applauds and celebrates the tireless efforts of regional talents who are devotees to the art of cinema and for their contributions to the medium.

This year’s Chicago Award went to “Terra Incognita” (U.S.).

The jury included Mike McNamara (executive director, Midwest Independent Film Festival, Chicago); Malik Bader (filmmaker; 2006 Chicago Award winner for “Street Thief”); and Annie Porter (associate producer, “At the Movies With Ebert & Roeper,” Chicago).

Audience Choice Award

This award will be announced immediately following the completion of the festival after Oct. 17.

Special Tributes

On Oct. 4, 2007, Roger Ebert was presented with a Gold Hugo lifetime achievement award. The entire 2007 festival was dedicated to the legendary film critic.

On Oct. 12, 2007, John Cusack was presented with a career achievement award preceding the Chicago premiere of his “Grace is Gone” film.

On Oct. 13, 2007, Jeffrey Wright was presented with a career achievement award during the festival’s 11th black perspectives tribute.

The 2007 festival concludes on Oct. 17. The 2008 festival will be held one week later from Oct. 9 to 22, 2008.

Laura Linney to Walk Red Carpet on Wednesday, Tomer Heymann Coming on Oct. 21

On Wednesday, Laura Linney will walk a Chicago red carpet with director Tamara Jenkins for the Chicago premiere of “The Savages” and the closing of the Chicago International Film Festival.

The red carpet is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the Harris Theater at 205 E. Randolph.

Director Tomer Heymann will be in Chicago for two screenings of his documentary “Paper Dolls” as part of the Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema.

On Oct. 21, the film will show at 9 p.m. at Piper’s Alley (1608 N. Wells). On Oct. 22, the film will show at 8:30 p.m. at the Wilmette Theatre (1122 Central Ave. in Wilmette).