By Raymond Ward, Chicago Crusader
CELEBRATION: The Chicago International Film Festival has announced MARSHALL as the Opening Night film for the Festival’s 53rd edition, which begins Thursday, October 12, 2017. Director Reginald Hudlin, actor/producer Chadwick Boseman, actor Josh Gad and producer Paula Wagner are scheduled to attend the premiere at AMC River East 21 (322 East Illinois Street).
The Opening Night celebration will begin with the premiere of the film at 7:00 p.m. and continue with an after-party at the Embassy Suites Downtown Magnificent Mile.
Directed by Reginald Hudlin and starring Chadwick Boseman, Josh Gad, Kate Hudson, Dan Stevens, Sterling K. Brown and James Cromwell, MARSHALL is based on a true incident in the life of Thurgood Marshall, when he was a young lawyer, long before his appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. As the nation teeters on the brink of World War II, a nearly bankrupt NAACP sends Marshall to conservative Connecticut to defend a Black chauffeur against his wealthy socialite employer in a sexual assault and attempted murder trial that quickly became tabloid fodder. In need of a high profile victory but muzzled by a segregationist court, Marshall is partnered with Samuel Friedman, a young Jewish lawyer who has never tried a case. Marshall and Friedman struggle against a hostile storm of fear and prejudice, driven to discover the truth in a sensationalized trial which helped set the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement to come.
“Paula Wagner has been a friend of the Festival for more than 20 years,” said Festival Founder and CEO Michael Kutza “In 2010, we honored her passion, hard work and dedication to the entertainment industry in which she has produced a series of blockbuster successes. MARSHALL is an important and heartfelt film for Paula, which is surely going to deeply move our audiences. We are proud to open this year’s Festival with it.”
The Chicago International Film Festival Opening Night premiere of MARSHALL takes place on Thursday, October 12, beginning at 7:00 p.m. with guest presentations, followed by the film presentation at 7:30 p.m. Additional film screenings take place at 7:45 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Ticket and event information is available by calling 312-683-0121.
