The Gene Siskel Film Center celebrates 50th anniversary

Incorporated in 1972, the Gene Siskel Film Center of the Art Institute of Chicago celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. To commemorate this grand achievement, throughout the year, the Film Center will celebrate with carefully curated international, independent and classic film exhibitions and programming.

The Film Center kicked off its celebration on January 3 with 50/50, a year-long series of films commemorating each year of the Film Center’s history, in chronological order. The films will be presented on Monday nights at 6:00 pm and run through the end of 2022.

Programming director Rebecca Fons says, “50/50 is a nostalgia trip, a cinema education, and an excuse for us to show some of our favorite films on the big screen again.”

50/50 series titles that have been confirmed through March include one of film critic (and Film Center namesake) Gene Siskel’s favorite films, Saturday Night Fever; Charles Burnett’s eloquent portrayal of a Black working-class family, Killer of Sheep; François Truffaut’s celebration of cinema, Day for Night; Chantal Akerman’s singular melancholy portrait of a middle-aged widow, Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai Du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles; and the Chicago classic, The Blues Brothers, lauded by Gene Siskel in 1980 as “the best-ever movie made in Chicago.” Additional series' titles will be announced each quarter. The majority of film titles will be projected on 35mm film.

Patrons can purchase tickets to individual films in the 50/50 series ($12/general admission; $6/members; $7/students) or save by purchasing a 50/50 series pass that will allow them entry to all 50 films for $500 (general public) and $250 (Film Center members). Both individual tickets and 50/50 series passes are now available for sale. (siskelfilmcenter.org)