European Union Film Festival

The annual European Union Film Festival is set to kickoff in a few days at the Gene Siskel Film Center in downtown Chicago. First off, if you've never been to the Gene Siskel Film Center, you're missing out on one of the finest resources of film viewing in the country - bar none. While they are only a two-screen house, they'll often show up to four different films in one evening - with an emphasis on different. Where else within a 1,000 square miles can you see an animated French film, a Swedish vampire flick and a documentary about the Blood and Crips street gang all in one night? And they have a coffee/tea bar! 

Over the course (and ides) of March, the Gene Siskel will be showcasing 59 films from all 27 European Union Nations - which is quite the feat in itself (sadly, Turkey has yet to join the EU!). Romania, who have been knocking out some of the better films of the last few years (see California Dreamin', The Death of Mr. Lazarescu, and Four Months, Three Weeks, Two Days) will have three films featured. The  great contemporary French director Olivier Assayas will have a new film screening. Finland! Lithuania! Malta! The list goes on - more importantly is the fact that all of these films are brought together for a month long celebration. Here's the lowdown - www.siskelfilmcenter.org