Cortlyn Kelly

1 week ago | rogerebert.com | Cortlyn Kelly

For the first time, Field Notes, a brand best known for its special pocket-sized journals and other stationery dry goods, is bringing its indie short films to the big screen. As it takes over Music Box's main theater on Monday, June 23rd, the one-day-only festival expands our understanding of the intentionality behind each special, quarterly notebook.

2 months ago | rogerebert.com | Cortlyn Kelly

Chicago is home to over 40 film festivals-it feels like every year the city introduces another one, providing endless opportunities for cinematic engagement. Despite the third coast often being overlooked by big studios, the City of Broad Shoulders continues to be a leading force for the underdogs of the creative industry.

Mar 4, 2025 | rogerebert.com | Cortlyn Kelly

If betting on a film's box office success, a safe practice is to choose children's and family movies. This genre is often recognized for record-breaking success in sales for the large audiences they draw; for families, it is usually a precious outing (or distraction) that produces a pivotal impression on future film habits and overall development, specifically for the young ones.

Oct 31, 2024 | rogerebert.com | Cortlyn Kelly

In its 28th year of showcasing films at the Chicago International Film Festival, the Black Perspectives Program has put archival classics back on the big screen, giving them the ability to impact new audiences in new ways. With the power of 4K restorative technology, meaning the visual and audio of a film are remastered and significantly enhanced, movies receive a second life and sometimes a second run in theaters.