Gorton Brings Gene Siskel Film Center Series to the John & Nancy Hughes Theater

Gorton Community Center now offers critically acclaimed independent films one Thursday each month from October through May. Each film is curated by the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago as part of Gorton’s inaugural season of the Gene Siskel Film Center Series.

The first film in the series, PEOPLE PLACES THINGS, debuted at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival in August to critical acclaim, and will screen at Gorton Thursday, October 1. A poignant romantic comedy written and directed by James C. Strouse, the story centers on Will Henry (played by Jemaine Clement of Flight of the Conchords,) a newly single graphic novelist balancing parenting his young twin daughters and a classroom full of students, while exploring and navigating the rich complexities of new love and letting go of the woman who left him.

“With our state-of-the-art film capabilities in the new John & Nancy Hughes Theater, we have been able to align with some of the most respected film centers,” said Gorton Board Chair Mark Ventling. “Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and really the entire North Shore, will see distinctive, sophisticated films just moments from home.”

The Gene Siskel Film Center has a long-standing mission of presenting significant world cinema in a non-commercial context. Established as the Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago more than 40 years ago, it was renamed in 2000 to honor the late film critic who possessed a laser-like ability to discern quality in everything, especially film.

“Gorton Community Center has a deep-rooted dedication to the arts, which makes this partnership a natural fit,” said Executive Director, Gene Siskel Film Center, Jean de St. Aubin . “We are delighted to share our eclectic programming through this film series. Films are the single greatest art form for expressing the human condition, they have the power to not only entertain us but they transport us to other places and times, providing us with a better understanding of ourselves and our world.”

PEOPLE PLACES THINGS stars Jermaine Clement, Regina Hall, Jessica Williams, Stephanie Allynne and Michael Churnus. Show time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $11, and can be purchased at gortoncenter.org. Running time is 1 hour 26 minutes, and it is rated R. Refreshments will be available in the newly renovated Glore Solarium an hour before show time.

The next film in the series is PAUL TAYLOR: CREATIVE DOMAIN on Thursday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m. Dates for the remainder of the series are: December 3, January 7, February 4, March 10, April 7 and May 5.