There’s a certain magic that happens when cinema stops being just a screen and becomes a window into the past. This weekend, Chicago is turning the lens inward for a unique experience: Filmspotting Fest is back, inviting film lovers, critics, and audiences to celebrate the art of revisiting, discovery, and deep conversation.
Bringing together two of the city’s most cherished cultural spaces—the Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture and the Music Box Theatre—the festival offers a weekend dedicated to repertory cinema and live discussions. It’s more than just watching movies; it’s about engaging with the films that stay with us, evolve alongside us, and become richer through shared experience.
Filmspotting Fest is proudly presented by the long-running Chicago-based podcast and WBEZ radio program hosted by Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen. Their mission is to amplify the conversations they’ve been having for years, transforming them into a vibrant live setting.
For this year’s edition, the festival dives deep into a profound theme: time. The films selected explore time not merely as a subject, but as an element woven into storytelling—examining the complex interplay of anticipation, memory, nostalgia, and the powerful persistence of the past.
Saturday, June 27th promises a rich cinematic journey across the city’s venues. At the Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture, attendees can begin with a reflective screening of Cléo from 5 to 7 (1962), followed by an insightful conversation with critic and author Carrie Rickey, who will delve into her work on Agnès Varda.
Later that afternoon, the program shifts focus to modern reflections. A screening of Krisha (2015), marking its 10th anniversary, will be paired with a discussion featuring writer and director Trey Edward Shults.
The evening promises a burst of nostalgic energy with Wet Hot American Summer (2001), which celebrates its 25th anniversary. This screening will feature actress Marguerite Moreau alongside critic Scott Tobias to explore the enduring quality of memory and emotion on screen.
The festival culminates on Sunday, June 28th, at the Music Box Theatre. Here, the focus shifts to cinematic classics with a stunning look back at the era of cult icons. The afternoon features a delightful screening of The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) in stunning 35mm, accompanied by a chat with critic Michael Phillips.
Filmspotting Fest is an essential invitation for anyone who believes that the most memorable films are those that keep us contemplating what comes before and what remains forever after.
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Credit: Roger Ebert
