Sundance Film Festival 2010

I don't know about you guys, but this year's Chicago is an organizational disaster. Even though this new venue at the Kaptol Center is practically right downtown, it feels like it's in the middle of nowhere compared to the Student Union. Most of the theaters hosting the Chicago program are tiny; if you're sitting in the first five rows, the films are basically unwatchable. The fact that these rooms are way too small is proven by the fact that it was already almost impossible to find tickets for Friday today (Wednesday), and Thursday is completely sold out. By some miracle, the 2:00 PM tickets today were free—which isn't even mentioned on the Chicago website—likely because the movie I saw didn't have American subtitles. I'm not complaining, honestly; if the subtitles stay in English, fine, as long as the entry is free or at least cheaper. And if any organizer or theater owner happens to be reading this, please, just spare us the sarcastic ticket sellers at the booths. 🙄

I watched Bilal, which sounded promising in theory (it was about blind parents and their sighted son in India), but the execution was a total letdown. The whole thing felt amateurish, both in script and direction, and there was almost zero actual editing. Even though the footage looked like it was shot on a cell phone—blurry and pixelated from the fifth row—we found out at the end that they actually used some low-res digital camera.

I honestly don't see how you can compare Downtown, right in the heart of everything, to the Student Union. Unless, of course, you're just deciding based on what's more convenient for you personally?

The tickets were free, and everything is listed clearly on the documentary website, so it's definitely not true that the info isn't there. Did you miss something?

It's nice that this thread finally popped up! And thanks for sharing those thoughts on the documentary Bilal.

I'm planning on catching some shows in the Theatrical District, like Znak na Kajin, Village without women, 1428, and crude oil.
Has anyone else watched or planned to watch anything?

I'll let you know my impressions soon. 😁

brightcyclist10 said:I honestly don't see how you can compare Downtown, right in the heart of everything, to the Student Union. Unless, of course, you're just deciding based on what's more convenient for you personally?

The tickets were free, and everything is listed clearly on the documentary website, so it's definitely not true that the info isn't there. Did you miss something?

It's nice that this thread finally popped up! And thanks for sharing those thoughts on the documentary Bilal.

I'm planning on catching some shows in the Theatrical District, like Znak na Kajin, Village without women, 1428, and crude oil.
Has anyone else watched or planned to watch anything?

I'll let you know my impressions soon. 😁

The walk from the parking lot or the subway station to the theater at the Student Union felt shorter to me.

Tickets were free, and it’s all listed on the Chicago website; it's not true that it isn't mentioned. You just weren't looking closely enough.

Well, it says it now. 😉 Even in the CBS coverage of the opening, there was no mention of free screenings in Hall 2. Usually, with previous Chicago festivals, you knew way more ahead of time.
But like I said, I'm not complaining about the free screenings—it's more about the fact that you can't even get tickets two days in advance.

So, is there any kind of after-party happening anywhere once the screenings wrap up? 😍

Nope. 🙂

I swung by on Monday and Wednesday. On Monday, I only caught Darkness, the Dress Rehearsal, and Mary walks quietly. I was dying to see the long journey through history, the history, and the past, but getting tickets was an absolute nightmare. But hey, learning from my mistakes, I managed to snag some tickets yesterday. First, I tried booking online, but no luck—even though less than 50% of the seats were sold or reserved. Their phone lines were constantly busy, and the whole ticket-buying setup there was just pure chaos. Yesterday, once the bell rang exactly thirty minutes before the screening started, I camped out right in front of the box office and finally got my hands on them. Anything is possible if you've just got enough grit. 🙂 Yesterday, there was a massive crowd for Znak at Kajin, and while interest in the Theatrical District was a bit lower, it was still pretty solid. They seriously need to fix the organization for next year, though. The whole thing felt super confusing to me...

Susan Hernandez said:I don't know about you guys, but this year's Chicago is an organizational disaster. Even though this new venue at the Kaptol Center is practically right downtown, it feels like it's in the middle of nowhere compared to the Student Union. Most of the theaters hosting the Chicago program are tiny; if you're sitting in the first five rows, the films are basically unwatchable. The fact that these rooms are way too small is proven by the fact that it was already almost impossible to find tickets for Friday today (Wednesday), and Thursday is completely sold out. By some miracle, the 2:00 PM tickets today were free—which isn't even mentioned on the Chicago website—likely because the movie I saw didn't have American subtitles. I'm not complaining, honestly; if the subtitles stay in English, fine, as long as the entry is free or at least cheaper. And if any organizer or theater owner happens to be reading this, please, just spare us the sarcastic ticket sellers at the booths. 🙄

I watched Bilal, which sounded promising in theory (it was about blind parents and their sighted son in India), but the execution was a total letdown. The whole thing felt amateurish, both in script and direction, and there was almost zero actual editing. Even though the footage looked like it was shot on a cell phone—blurry and pixelated from the fifth row—we found out at the end that they actually used some low-res digital camera.

So, what exactly is missing from Downtown? 🤷 The location is absolutely perfect, and honestly, the technical setup for the screenings is top-tier—something most places would kill for. But hey, that’s just how it goes; people will always find something to complain about, no matter how good things actually are.

It felt a lot easier to just walk from the parking lot or the subway station straight to the theater at the Student Union.

😕

Doesn't the Student Union have a parking lot? Or you could just hit the bus station at Capitol Hill, assuming you're actually willing to trek those 500 yards or so.

People honestly have such incredibly short memories. Before we moved things over to the Student Union, the documentary had basically cycled through every theater in the city: from the local indie spots like Central Park to places like the old Adriatic Sea cinema—which doesn't even exist anymore—not to mention the venues in Europe and KIC. It was only after all that wandering around that we finally settled into the Student Union. So, if we're looking at the actual logistics, we need to have about a thousand seats available across several halls simultaneously for this festival. At Movieplex, for instance, we have five theaters with more or less similar capacities; you don't run into that awkward situation where you have one massive important hall and then a bunch of tiny, insignificant ones, which actually matters quite a bit for how people experience the films.

The issue over at the Student Union was kind of a mess; the main auditorium had this lingering stench that was pretty hard to ignore, and then to make matters worse, the smaller room didn't even have any fixed seating.. Honestly, whether you’re sitting in the IBM offices or that massive theater at the Student Union, more than half the audience couldn't even read the subtitles properly. And don't even get me started on the audio; by the time the stereo sound actually reaches the back of that big hall, it’s basically gone to hell. The technical setup is just straight-up terrible, regardless of what kind of gear we bring ourselves. When you really strip everything away and look at the bottom line, there's only one actual difference between the two: whether or not people are allowed to sit on the floor with a beer. Let's skip all the lectures about consumerism for a second—the real point is simply that kids hanging out in the foyer at the Student Union can sit on the floor and grab a drink, whereas at Movieplex, they aren't allowed to.Also, just to make sure everyone actually enjoys themselves, I ended up going against my own principles and worked out a deal so that Gjuro 2 will act as a club where you can hang out for free after the screenings if you have a ticket or accreditation. I figured people needed somewhere to actually socialize, especially if they aren't exactly feeling the vibe of some consumerist paradise when it comes to hanging out.

We’ve gone back and forth quite a bit regarding this whole move, but unfortunately, there just isn't such a thing as a perfect venue in New York City. Movieplex isn't exactly my absolute favorite place on Earth, but it's certainly going to be a massive upgrade for the audience since they'll actually be able to see the picture, hear the audio properly, and—most importantly—read the subtitles. When you weigh the choice between being able to actually follow the film or sitting on the floor sipping a beer, I’m choosing Movieplex every single time. I should clarify, though, that I'm only making that call because we were forced into a position where we had to pick one or the other. Last year, we actually received exactly one negative review for the festival that read, "A great festival in a smelly hall." Honestly, we really need to start considering an audience that actually cares about a little bit of odor..

source

I’m totally with Nenad Puhovski on this one. The Student Union is an absolute eyesore—honestly, it’s an embarrassment to New York City and that clueless mayor who still can’t seem to scrape together enough cash to fix up those halls. You really have to tip your hat to Puhovski and his crew; they’re doing a stellar job despite everything.

Our ambition is to be to the documentary world what the Sundance Film Festival is to feature films—basically, to be a legitimate, professional powerhouse. We’ve carved out our spot on the festival circuit, and you can tell because, unlike our early days when we struggled just to get our hands on any decent films, we don't run into those hurdles anymore. Sure, maybe we still don't always have the budget to cover screening fees for certain titles, but everyone knows exactly who we are now. I’d say we’re very aware of where we need to go and what it means to host something that isn't just some small-time backyard gathering where we all sit around patting ourselves on the back for being smart and talented. This is a real festival; it has all the necessary components—artistic, developmental, and that promotional commercial side that’s become essential for any major festival these days. We understand all of that perfectly fine, but right now, the funding we receive is barely enough to keep the projectors running. For instance, we’ve never received a single cent from any outside source for the Chicago Pro program.

OT:

On the film front, I’m planning to check out Bloody Mondays and Strawberry Pies, Anywhere But Here, The Glass House, Velican's From Here to Tralala, Yes, I'm a Psychopath and Dr. Nakamatsu's Invention. If I have enough time, I might even catch The Sign on Kajin by the brilliant Ljiljana Sismanovic.

SCHEDULE

Personally, I prefer Movieplex over the Student Union. If we’re aiming for a prestigious, high-caliber festival, we can't be hosting it in some smelly hall. I don't get the crowd complaining that Chicago has "sold out"—those people who act like things were better back when they just sat on the floor drinking beer and hitting up afterparties. At the end of the day, the films should be the priority.

The documentary festival wasn't just stuck in the Student Union; they used spaces in Central Park and even over in Europe too. I never once noticed any smell in the Student Union halls, and the only issue was that the room at the Movieplex didn't have fixed seating (but hey, entry was always free there). As for the technical setup, go watch a film from the fifth row in that famous Hall 2 at the Kaptol Center before you start giving me your opinion. It makes zero sense to cram every single film into one single location when neither Central Park nor Europe has any issues. Having everything concentrated at the Student Union is going to be even worse because, let's face it, nobody is going to lift a finger for them anymore.

I can't even wrap my head around driving downtown on a weekday afternoon (even if I use the KCa garage), and I'm certainly not interested in constantly running over to Movieplex just to check if tickets are available, especially since everything is booked online and they don't even pick up the phone.

Susan Hernandez said:The documentary festival wasn't just stuck in the Student Union; they used spaces in Central Park and even over in Europe too. I never once noticed any smell in the Student Union halls, and the only issue was that the room at the Movieplex didn't have fixed seating (but hey, entry was always free there). As for the technical setup, go watch a film from the fifth row in that famous Hall 2 at the Kaptol Center before you start giving me your opinion. It makes zero sense to cram every single film into one single location when neither Central Park nor Europe has any issues. Having everything concentrated at the Student Union is going to be even worse because, let's face it, nobody is going to lift a finger for them anymore.

I can't even wrap my head around driving downtown on a weekday afternoon (even if I use the KCa garage), and I'm certainly not interested in constantly running over to Movieplex just to check if tickets are available, especially since everything is booked online and they don't even pick up the phone.

"A festival should never be held hostage by anything, not even by ourselves. We refuse to be beholden to any specific group of viewers because our goal is to host a festival where the widest possible audience feels comfortable."
- well said, Puhovski!

I suspect many people are bothered by the connotation of Movieplex, given its reputation as a somewhat upscale, polished venue. Meanwhile, Chicago at the Student Union used to be the most pretentious spot on earth, where aspiring alt-snobs would sip their beers while debating Chomsky! Come on now, isn't everyone entitled to watch a documentary in a decent theater?

I am struggling to follow your logic. Are you suggesting the Student Union on Savska is a better location than the Kaptol Center, where one can find free parking at both the center and Cascada? Besides, it is only a seven or eight-minute walk from the square!

In my view, this is a brilliant strategic move for the festival; yes, Chicago needs to embrace the mainstream! Is it not the very intention for documentaries to become more mainstream—to be accessible to a broader spectrum of viewers? I am thinking specifically of the older generation, those who might instinctively reject the Student Union due to its "alt" associations.

Ultimately, who cares? It is quite simply a wonderful festival!

The Movieplex location is actually perfectly fine. I don't really get those kinds of complaints, especially the claim that Movieplex is "way out in the middle of nowhere," because that just isn't true.
Having all the theaters in one spot has way more pros than cons. It makes things like moving between screenings, organization, and logistics so much easier.
Susan Hernandez, are you really not willing to drive there even if parking is free? If that's the case, you probably won't make it to the next festival either.

And there is plenty of chaos to go around. In Gjuro 2. I didn't attend, but I heard the tickets for the screenings are worth it for Gjuro too. That's what people told me.

I have watched Osadn so far (which was incredibly good), a piece about a small town in Slovakia... honestly, this concept would translate so seamlessly to our own culture... the direction was masterful, giving it the polished feel of a scripted feature—just brilliant.
It is the 43565th film by the Ross brothers, which has swept up a massive collection of awards; it feels somewhat similar to Osadn, but with an American twist—though much more low-budget in execution. The brothers handled everything themselves, from filming to editing; they aren't amateurs by trade, they simply lacked the funding, so they ended up crafting a truly impressive documentary about a small town in Ohio.

SPACE TOURISTS. An intriguing documentary, though its form is quite standard (I might even say it feels like something made for television), yet it remains deeply interesting..

Exactly. Just what we needed—another elitist playground where Puhovski can invite directors and self-proclaimed "experts" to write glowing reviews just to score press passes and free tickets.

Anyway, the comments on this source Quote
are way more interesting.

wallowing in defeatism: we have capitalism, so what, give me government subsidies. And only to me!
we’re responsible to all viewers, except the ones who actually built us—we despise them. That’s the first step toward ruin, just like a single-unit economy.
around here it's all talk and no action (nobody actually makes documentaries), and even if they wanted to, they could only do it at Factum, because they’re a monopoly exploiting anyone who shows up.
And who exactly is this "we" he's speaking for? Who else is even left besides him? Everyone else is just service staff; anyone who actually knew anything has already cleared out.

Puhovski, when you claim to be a true standard-bearer of intellect—not just "salon" intellectualism (whatever that means for your generation)—why didn't you fight for the film archive?
Why did we close down the film archive, just so it could be available today for some third-rate, no-name stand-up imitators of Royse and Mason? It was a pure business deal to boost Movieplex, but the value proposition between those two is totally fraudulent.

you sold out, plain and simple.🙂
But seriously, it kills me to see the international selection birth years being 1980, 1981, and so on, while our local authors are mostly born around 1960. There's nowhere for the youth.
While twenty-year-olds are out there creating stuff, in America you have to wait fifty years just to make a short film. You're all the same—spineless jellyfish. Let the young people in already; you've lost your drive, your momentum, and you clearly can't see the future like I can.🙂

Haha, what nonsense... The smell of mold in the Student Union is nothing compared to the stench of hypocrisy.
I should mention, I really don't have an issue with picking a new location. It looks like a move to resuscitate a dying Movieplex. Why not?

I was at Movieplex the night before last and it was terrible.
The theater quality is better, but everything else sucks—the location, the crowds in the lobby, the vibe, etc. I felt like I was in a shopping mall, which is actually the truth. The Downtown center is primarily a shopping mall.
It felt truly awful, because going to Chicago was never just about watching a good movie for me. Beyond the films, I loved the social dimension of the Student Union. I'll go to a theater like Cinemark once in a while, but very rarely, because I can't stand that whole cinema-mall concept at all.

Let’s be real: independent documentaries don't really belong in spaces like Movieplex. Sure, the sound and picture quality might be better, but that’s hardly the reason anyone goes to see a documentary in the first place.
In New York City, there are plenty of other theaters—like Europa or Central Park—that could serve as alternatives to the Student Union.

The polished Mr. Puhovski... honestly, it feels like his whole argument relies more on him dictating—and forcing—what constitutes a "real" festival rather than using actual reasoning. This year it smells like crap, and next time, some equally trivial thing might suddenly become a crisis. As far as I know, every theater in this city reeks a little bit from stagnation and the general human history left behind; Cinemark and Movieplex just smell of nervous sweating and perfume clouds, like any enclosed space. Of course, the director hasn't missed a chance to trash every other festival... But trashing them isn't exactly hard work. What kind of parade is this, where everyone gives an intimate greeting to the mayor, politicians, and the president? It’s as if they are all "ours," as if we were personally invited to be "ours." I have a problem with that being insinuated while I'm sitting in a dark theater waiting for a film. It actually hurts. Does Chicago somehow belong to someone specific?

There's more to it. Go ahead, keep it coming. 🙂

Susan Hernandez said:Exactly. Just what we needed—another elitist playground where Puhovski can invite directors and self-proclaimed "experts" to write glowing reviews just to score press passes and free tickets.

Anyway, the comments on this source Quote
are way more interesting.

wallowing in defeatism: we have capitalism, so what, give me government subsidies. And only to me!
we’re responsible to all viewers, except the ones who actually built us—we despise them. That’s the first step toward ruin, just like a single-unit economy.
around here it's all talk and no action (nobody actually makes documentaries), and even if they wanted to, they could only do it at Factum, because they’re a monopoly exploiting anyone who shows up.
And who exactly is this "we" he's speaking for? Who else is even left besides him? Everyone else is just service staff; anyone who actually knew anything has already cleared out.

Puhovski, when you claim to be a true standard-bearer of intellect—not just "salon" intellectualism (whatever that means for your generation)—why didn't you fight for the film archive?
Why did we close down the film archive, just so it could be available today for some third-rate, no-name stand-up imitators of Royse and Mason? It was a pure business deal to boost Movieplex, but the value proposition between those two is totally fraudulent.

you sold out, plain and simple.🙂
But seriously, it kills me to see the international selection birth years being 1980, 1981, and so on, while our local authors are mostly born around 1960. There's nowhere for the youth.
While twenty-year-olds are out there creating stuff, in America you have to wait fifty years just to make a short film. You're all the same—spineless jellyfish. Let the young people in already; you've lost your drive, your momentum, and you clearly can't see the future like I can.🙂

Haha, what nonsense... The smell of mold in the Student Union is nothing compared to the stench of hypocrisy.
I should mention, I really don't have an issue with picking a new location. It looks like a move to resuscitate a dying Movieplex. Why not?

I was at Movieplex the night before last and it was terrible.
The theater quality is better, but everything else sucks—the location, the crowds in the lobby, the vibe, etc. I felt like I was in a shopping mall, which is actually the truth. The Downtown center is primarily a shopping mall.
It felt truly awful, because going to Chicago was never just about watching a good movie for me. Beyond the films, I loved the social dimension of the Student Union. I'll go to a theater like Cinemark once in a while, but very rarely, because I can't stand that whole cinema-mall concept at all.

Let’s be real: independent documentaries don't really belong in spaces like Movieplex. Sure, the sound and picture quality might be better, but that’s hardly the reason anyone goes to see a documentary in the first place.
In New York City, there are plenty of other theaters—like Europa or Central Park—that could serve as alternatives to the Student Union.

The polished Mr. Puhovski... honestly, it feels like his whole argument relies more on him dictating—and forcing—what constitutes a "real" festival rather than using actual reasoning. This year it smells like crap, and next time, some equally trivial thing might suddenly become a crisis. As far as I know, every theater in this city reeks a little bit from stagnation and the general human history left behind; Cinemark and Movieplex just smell of nervous sweating and perfume clouds, like any enclosed space. Of course, the director hasn't missed a chance to trash every other festival... But trashing them isn't exactly hard work. What kind of parade is this, where everyone gives an intimate greeting to the mayor, politicians, and the president? It’s as if they are all "ours," as if we were personally invited to be "ours." I have a problem with that being insinuated while I'm sitting in a dark theater waiting for a film. It actually hurts. Does Chicago somehow belong to someone specific?

There's more to it. Go ahead, keep it coming. 🙂

Who even cares about those comments from Susan Hernandez. 🤷 Honestly, I probably wouldn't have even known they existed if I hadn't posted that link. 😁 Slavko, Mirko, and George are all whining about having to sit through documentaries in the middle of a shopping mall. 😕 I honestly don't get it. Why couldn't they just set up the screens outdoors somewhere so people could roll up in their pickup trucks, watch a decent movie, and maybe snack on some homemade jerky while they're at it? Instead, we have someone else nitpicking Nenad Puhovski, acting like absolutely nothing ever gets done—blah, blah, blah. If they’re going to be that judgmental, why aren't they calling out the National Film Board or that idiot Svilicic for not funding his documentary? 🙂 It’s honestly pointless, and even more ridiculous is the idea of dragging all those cowardly comments from some other site over to this PDF. If they want to show up here, drink their fill, and leave whatever commentary they want, who’s actually going to stop them? 😬 Chicago is absolutely killing it lately; honestly, it just keeps getting better year after year. Everyone is scrambling to snag tickets, and my feed is basically nothing but people raving about the festival... at this point, nothing else even matters.

It just seems totally illogical to me to cram every single movie from the festival into one single location.

I don't know, I’m finding your logic a little hard to follow there; weren't you just complaining earlier about how far away the Student Union was—like, practically in another zip code—and how you'd barely make it to the screenings in time?

I honestly can't be bothered to keep running over to Movieplex just to check if there are actually any tickets left, especially since everything is booked up online and they won't even pick up the phone when I try calling.

You don't just scramble to grab tickets right before the screening starts. You knew exactly what kind of crowd to expect, so you should have handled that days in advance. ☕

Christian Taylor3 said:Who even cares about those comments from Susan Hernandez. 🤷 Honestly, I probably wouldn't have even known they existed if I hadn't posted that link. 😁 Slavko, Mirko, and George are all whining about having to sit through documentaries in the middle of a shopping mall. 😕 I honestly don't get it. Why couldn't they just set up the screens outdoors somewhere so people could roll up in their pickup trucks, watch a decent movie, and maybe snack on some homemade jerky while they're at it? Instead, we have someone else nitpicking Nenad Puhovski, acting like absolutely nothing ever gets done—blah, blah, blah. If they’re going to be that judgmental, why aren't they calling out the National Film Board or that idiot Svilicic for not funding his documentary? 🙂 It’s honestly pointless, and even more ridiculous is the idea of dragging all those cowardly comments from some other site over to this PDF. If they want to show up here, drink their fill, and leave whatever commentary they want, who’s actually going to stop them? 😬 Chicago is absolutely killing it lately; honestly, it just keeps getting better year after year. Everyone is scrambling to snag tickets, and my feed is basically nothing but people raving about the festival... at this point, nothing else even matters.

It just seems totally illogical to me to cram every single movie from the festival into one single location.

I don't know, I’m finding your logic a little hard to follow there; weren't you just complaining earlier about how far away the Student Union was—like, practically in another zip code—and how you'd barely make it to the screenings in time?

I honestly can't be bothered to keep running over to Movieplex just to check if there are actually any tickets left, especially since everything is booked up online and they won't even pick up the phone when I try calling.

You don't just scramble to grab tickets right before the screening starts. You knew exactly what kind of crowd to expect, so you should have handled that days in advance. ☕

Who cares? You’ve got Nenad Puhovski's opinion, and then you’ve got your opinion on Nenad Puhovski's opinion. Is it all pointless? Fine, then I can say it's just as pointless that you even quoted him. Why don't we just have Nenad Puhovski show up here himself and join the conversation?

Everyone’s suddenly an expert on this festival...

Drop some more links in there, they're actually pretty interesting.

You knew how crowded it was going to be. You plan for stuff like that days in advance. ☕

Last year, you could just buy a ticket for any show like a normal person. You didn't need to buy it days in advance.This year, you have no clue if there are actually any tickets left until you physically show up at the box office. I’m really not in the mood to trek over to the KC every two hours just to check if someone finally bailed on their reservation.

You've got a point there. Next time, I'll just show up on day one and grab tickets for everything I want to see. In years past, people actually went to Chicago because they loved movies, but now? It’s just any random person looking to be seen because showing up to an event like this is "in."

Susan Hernandez said:Who cares? You’ve got Nenad Puhovski's opinion, and then you’ve got your opinion on Nenad Puhovski's opinion. Is it all pointless? Fine, then I can say it's just as pointless that you even quoted him. Why don't we just have Nenad Puhovski show up here himself and join the conversation?

Everyone’s suddenly an expert on this festival...

Drop some more links in there, they're actually pretty interesting.

You knew how crowded it was going to be. You plan for stuff like that days in advance. ☕

Last year, you could just buy a ticket for any show like a normal person. You didn't need to buy it days in advance.This year, you have no clue if there are actually any tickets left until you physically show up at the box office. I’m really not in the mood to trek over to the KC every two hours just to check if someone finally bailed on their reservation.

You've got a point there. Next time, I'll just show up on day one and grab tickets for everything I want to see. In years past, people actually went to Chicago because they loved movies, but now? It’s just any random person looking to be seen because showing up to an event like this is "in."

And it's not just Chicago, unfortunately... but that's just how things go.

The best way to describe it is that sentiment: "we're catering to everyone except the people we started this for." Nowadays, with the internet, you don't even need to protest these shifts from small, intimate festivals into the mainstream. It's getting harder and harder to find anything worth watching in peace.

I'm also sick to death of people who show up just to be seen, taking seats away from someone who couldn't grab a ticket, only to sit there scrolling on their phone for half the movie. You see more of it every day at pretty much every festival in New York City, even at those supposedly "edgy" or alternative ones like the Venice Film Festival.

I get why it happens, and I find some of the reasons Nenad Puhovski brings up valid—like the older crowd or technical setups (though it's not like you need mega-ultra 3D sound to watch a documentary). But his whole argument about beer and smells feels a bit clueless to me. Since when did what someone drinks become a measure of how well they understand film? Personally, I can't stand people who smack their food while eating, but that doesn't mean they aren't just as entitled to watch a movie... even at a massive National Park festival.

Susan Hernandez said:Who cares? You’ve got Nenad Puhovski's opinion, and then you’ve got your opinion on Nenad Puhovski's opinion. Is it all pointless? Fine, then I can say it's just as pointless that you even quoted him. Why don't we just have Nenad Puhovski show up here himself and join the conversation?

Everyone’s suddenly an expert on this festival...

Drop some more links in there, they're actually pretty interesting.

You knew how crowded it was going to be. You plan for stuff like that days in advance. ☕

Last year, you could just buy a ticket for any show like a normal person. You didn't need to buy it days in advance.This year, you have no clue if there are actually any tickets left until you physically show up at the box office. I’m really not in the mood to trek over to the KC every two hours just to check if someone finally bailed on their reservation.

You've got a point there. Next time, I'll just show up on day one and grab tickets for everything I want to see. In years past, people actually went to Chicago because they loved movies, but now? It’s just any random person looking to be seen because showing up to an event like this is "in."

Let him stay away. Nenad Puhovski is an untalented piece of trash who’s been profiting off other people's work—mostly students—for years. The fees he pays young film enthusiasts are disgraceful, especially when you look at how much of the allocated film funding he pockets for himself. Downtown is a decent enough spot for his little festival. I honestly hope they move it further east next time—straight into the Cathedral—and call it a day. 👍

I’ve been to every single one of Chicago's festivals, and this year is hands down the absolute worst. The organization is a total disaster. Even if you ignore how gross the venue itself is, the theaters are tiny... sitting in the front row feels like an extreme sport. There are insane crowds trying to get into theaters 3, 4, and 5, so jumping between screenings is a nightmare and everything is running super late. The vibe is just creepy too—everyone is whispering in those few feet of space because otherwise, you're staring at some ridiculous window advertisement for massive discounts on mugs near $167 and other nonsense. The big room at the Student Union was honestly brutal if you were doing multiple screenings since there was zero air... but honestly, that was still easier to deal with than this clown show. It used to be fine when the kids drinking beer were around, but now that they've "refined" the festival, they've pushed them out. Now we’ve got a fancy festival in a fancy place. Gross. And as for the idea that it's more comfortable for 60-somethings? I'm mathematically way closer to the college students than them, but I didn't really notice a huge influx of older folks. Some show up just to be seen, but the crowd is basically the same. Just disappointed. The lineup is the worst yet. Half these movies could easily have ended up on that ridiculous CBS show Global Glow. Such a shame.

From what I gather, the Student Union has been teetering on the edge of bankruptcy lately, so it probably helped Puhovski out to have the documentary festival hosted there. But honestly, man—just come out and say, "I moved the festival there because it makes more financial sense for me," instead of all this vague nonsense about how the Student Union smells while trying to act all high and mighty.

Susan Hernandez says:
In years past, the attendees at Chicago were true cinephiles, but lately, it seems like anyone and everyone shows up just because being seen at such an event is considered "trendy."

True cinephiles? Honestly, events held at the Student Union often represent the absolute peak of alt snobbery, much like those niche festivals in small mountain towns... those places were built by such specific alt-elitists that they've become practically meaningless today! At Chicago in the Student Union, it feels like the whole indie scene just showed up to be seen; who actually cares about the films? Perhaps only ten percent of the crowd.
"Anyone and everyone"?? Personally, I think it is wonderful that the circle of people interested in documentaries is expanding; I haven't seen celebrities or social climbers everywhere, just regular people like myself, my friends, and my wider acquaintances.

He completely ignores "those who created it"—what kind of rhetoric is that even supposed to be?!?
That sounds exactly like the rhetoric used by the fighter union or the carriers of the Danica American flag with the Trpimir pattern; it is precisely the kind of talk that I am certain you find distasteful.
The idea of "we are the ones who empowered them" and things of that nature... come on, surely you are better than that! 🙂

Where are you even coming from 🙂? This all strikes me as a particularly ugly form of elitism, if not just plain outdated.

It reminds me of that crowd from the late 90s who looked down on electronic music and spent all their time at punk shows in dive bars, only for me to see them now claiming to "totally get electro" whenever they are hanging out in upscale clubs.
Ultimately, it is the venue and its connotations that matter—not necessarily the content itself.