October 15 at 5pm | LOUIS ARMSTRONG’S BLACK & BLUES paints an insightful and engaging portrait of the master musician, known as the founding father of jazz. Covering Armstrong’s expansive career -  from his roots in New Orleans to his breakthrough in Chicago to his growing fame in New York and around the world—the film skillfully interweaves a trove of archival footage with candid audio diaries and private correspondences. The result is both a musical gem and a highly revealing look at a man, far more complex than his wide-smiling and big-cheeked public personae, who speaks in brashly frank terms about race and racism in America. Filmmaker Sacha Jenkins (who has previously profiled Rick James, the Wu-Tang Clan, and 50 Cent) has created a remarkably contemporary account of the famed vocalist and trumpeter, whose contributions to the fabric of American music and culture remain relevant to this day.


Chicago International Film Festival at GSFC: The Gene Siskel Film Center is proud to again partner with the 58th Chicago International Film Festival to present nineteen feature films from around the world, ranging from moving, life-affirming dramas to eye-opening documentaries. The Chicago International Film Festival is North America’s longest-running competitive film festival. Catch this year's festival on the big screen at the Film Center and other venues around Chicago. View full program here.


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