Alex Kotlowitz

The Gotham Film & Media Institute announced today the nominations for the 31st Annual Gotham Awards, singling out 29 feature films, 16 series, and 32 performances for recognition in twelve award categories. 'Passing' and 'The Lost Daughter' led this year's nominations.

Museum of the Moving Image will present Kartemquin at 50, a major retrospective devoted to the not-for-profit documentary collective Kartemquin Films, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

On Sunday, May 15, the Chicago Humanities Festival will launch its first ever one-day festival, Our Cities, an exploration of the economic, social, and personal issues facing residents of the cities in our region.

The Chicago Public Library Foundation and the Chicago Public Library have announced that the 16th annual Carl Sandburg Literary Award will be presented to legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. Universally heralded for his immense contributions to musical theater in a career spanning more than 50 years, Sondheim will be honored at the Carl Sandburg Literary Awards Dinner Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at The Forum (725 W. Roosevelt Road) on the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago.

CHICAGO, July 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ Any one of us can leverage our life's lessons to achieve greater personal success; find and refine our passions; and achieve our goals. The 50 inspirational Chicagoans profiled in Bright Lights of the Second City: 50 Prominent Chicagoans on Living with Passion and Purpose provide a powerful catalyst for jump starting or advancing one's own personal odyssey. Bright Lights of the Second City is a carefully-curated collection of portraits that, through its anecdotes paints a picture of Chicago, a city that is second to none.

A full schedule is now available for Let's Get Working, a new three-day festival honoring the life and work of Chicago legend Studs Terkel at the University of Chicago's Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th Street, Chicago. Let's Get Working explores Terkel's legacy while showcasing individuals and groups from Chicago and beyond who have been influenced and inspired by Terkel's work as a broadcaster, historian, actor, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author. All events are free and open to the public.

On May 9-11, 2014, the University of Chicago and the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts will host Let's Get Working, a three-day festival honoring the life and work of Studs Terkel, Chicago legend and UChicago alumnus. The festival will introduce Terkel's legacy to new and younger audiences while highlighting individuals and groups, both local and national, who have been impacted, influenced, and inspired by his work as a broadcaster, historian, actor, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author.

Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, held its annual honors yesterday, February 25, in Santa Monica. Hosted by Seth Rogan, the awards ceremony premiered later that night at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on IFC.

Jam-packed with comedy, musical performances and commentary, CHICAGO LIVE! returns this fall with its fifth season of headline making interviews and performances.

Jam-packed with comedy, musical performances and commentary, CHICAGO LIVE! returns this fall with its fifth season of headline making interviews and performances.