In celebration of Black History Month, Chicago filmmakers will be showing their short films at Music Box Theater and Facets.

Every Thursday, WTTW News newsletter producer Josh Terry highlights his picks for the week’s must-see cultural events.

If you’re spending money at Lollapalooza, enjoy yourself and skip this week’s list. But if you plan to avoid the raucous caucus in Grant Park, please read on.

There are lots of celebrations on the horizon in Chicago — openings, closings, anniversaries, festivals — but’s it’s only a party if you show up. With a boatload of entertainment options out there, hop on board and grab a paddle.

The Juneteenth installment of the short film series “Life Within the Lens” will take place 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, at the Music Box Theatre. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with filmmakers.

Between superheroes and super friends, ballet dancers and a champion bulldog, this week’s picks bring a cast of characters worth getting to know.

Chicago-based film critic Marya E. Gates will make a book tour stop for a 35mm screening of Jane Campion’s “Bright Star” on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Music Box Theatre. The event includes a book signing and a post-screening discussion.

The full-length documentary captures the story of Monty and Rose from their hatching in 2017 to their status as standard bearers for piping plover conservation efforts. 

On Aug. 22, 1929, the North Side theater opened its doors as the first dedicated “talkie” house in Chicago. What makes this old movie house unique today.

The Northwest Chicago Film Society kicks off its fall season of 35-millimeter film screenings on Wednesday at the auditorium at Northeastern Illinois University in the North Park neighborhood.

Curb Your Enthusiasm star Jeff Garlin joins us to talk about his new independent film Dealin’ with Idiots, a youth baseball comedy that opens at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago on July 12. Watch the film trailer and a web extra conversation with Garlin.