We head into 2025 continuing our monthly screenings on the last Sunday of each month at 4pm at the Savoy 16 + IMAX, and adding additional screenings where possible. Tickets are available at https://the-chambana-film-festival.square.site.
March 23
FREE Secret Test Screening
You’ll be the first audience to see a version of this film, and the director wants YOUR input about the film, and to see if he can make it better. We’re keeping the topic secret, but here’s what we can tell you:
The film is a music documentary about a Chicago-area folk-rock (now this might be called Americana, or alternative country) musician. You probably don’t know his name, but he has put out 3 major-label albums in the 90’s, and sixteen over the last 30+ years. Heralded in the press as “The New Dylan”, I think Springsteen is a much more appropriate stylistic comparison. He’s been in consistent rotation on WXRT in Chicago, and lauded on numerous year-ends critics list, but still relatively unknown.
“[This artist] is one of the best songwriters in the world and possibly the greatest undiscovered rock n roll talent of the last 20 years.” – Author Stephen King
Watch the film, talk with the director, and maybe come on over the Smoky’s BBQ afterwards for further conversation. While the screening is free, we ask that you sign up for a $0 ticket on our Square Site, so we have an idea of how many to expect.
March 30
Room Six
In this crime thriller, Maxx, a college student, who is working the night shift at a vacant, rundown motel before the late night arrival of two brothers. After a few suspicious incidents, Maxx’s curiosity (or paranoia) gets the best of her and she decides to investigate the situation. Maxx quickly finds herself in danger as she uncovers what lies hidden in the brothers’ room.
Room Six was the opening night film of the 2024 Lake County Film Festival. It won the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature and the Best Cinematography Award at the Grand Rapids Film Festival.
April 27
Slice Of Life: The American Dream. In Former Pizza Huts
A contemporary portrait of America, told through a collection of stories observed within the walls of former Pizza Hut buildings across the country. These nostalgic spaces hold memories of a bygone era, but through the power of transformation, they provide something new and special for the communities that continue to flow through them.
From an LGBTQ+ church in Florida, to a karaoke bar in Texas, to a cannabis dispensary in rural Colorado, these modern-day portraits are paralleled with the origin story of Pizza Hut – one of America’s most iconic brands, and the two brothers who founded the company in Wichita, Kansas in 1958.
This new feature documentary is the work of Matthew Salleh & Rose Tucker, an award-winning Australian-born, Brooklyn-based filmmaking duo whose previous films include Barbecue and We Don’t Deserve Dogs.
“An anthology of resilience and renewal of communities
who can find new homes and a place to gather.”
– Zachary Lee, RogerEbert.com
Slice Of Life was one of the closing night films of the 2024 Lake County Film Festival, and also played at Chicago International Film Festival, Tallgrass, SXSW Sydney, and Calgary Underground Film Festival.
May 29 – June 2
The 1st Savoy Lumière
With 14 screenings across 5 days, our first film festival will have something for EVERYONE.
We’ll have narrative comedies, dramas, thrillers and action. Moving, emotional documentaries, attending local and regional filmmakers, and plenty of short films.
Most of the feature films will be announced at our March 23rd screening, and posted online the next day. Badges will go on sale then, with individual tickets going on sale in mid-April.
Our tentative schedule:
Thursday, May 29 – 6:00pm
Friday, May 30 – 7:00pm
Friday, May 30 – 9:00pm
Saturday, May 31 – 11:00am
Saturday, May 31 – 1:00pm
Saturday, May 31 – 3:30pm
Saturday, May 31 – 5:30pm
Saturday, May 31 – 9:00pm
Sunday, June 1 – 11:00am
Sunday, June 1 – 1:30pm
Sunday, June 1 – 3:30pm
Sunday, June 1 – 6:00pm
Sunday, June 1 – 8:30pm
Monday, June 2 – 7:00pm
Individual tickets for screenings will be $12. A Full Festival Badge will be available at $125, less than $9 each, and will move to $140 after April 20th. Badges come with a personalized badge and lanyard, but can be shared.
More info will be coming in the weeks ahead!
