Versatile yet indelible, familiar to millions from “Boogie Nights,” “Talladega Nights” and “Step Brothers,” John C. Reilly swings back into his hometown on June 1 to pick up the 2024 career achievement award from the Chicago International Film Festival.
It’ll be part of the festival’s annual fundraiser, this year called the 60th Anniversary Cinema Soirée in support of the longest-running competitive film gathering in America. The film festival itself, which takes place in October, is the biggest public-facing component of the nonprofit Cinema/Chicago.
Reilly, an Oscar nominee for the 2002 film version of the musical “Chicago,” joined previous Chicago film festival editions, including a 2011 master class. In a statement, the Marquette Park area native and DePaul University graduate described the festival as “a great friend and supporter to films and filmmakers all the way along in its 60-year history and to me personally. I’m honored to be celebrated by this legacy institution and everything and everyone it represents.”
Also featured at the gala, filmmaker and educator Jennifer Reeder receives the festival’s Tour de Force award in recognition of her steadily rising profile and bracing genre explorations, most recently with “Perpetrator” (2023).
Al Roker, longtime “Today” show legend, serves as emcee of the event, to be held 6 p.m. June 1 at The Geraghty (2520 S. Hoyne Ave.) in Pilsen. Tickets range from $1,000 to $50,000 so, you know, not for the average broke cinephile but that’s how these nonprofit galas roll out of necessity; more information at chicagofilmfestival.com.
Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.
![Name a comparable actor, or someone whose qualities remind you of Donald Sutherland. Anyone? Difficult, no? I doubt there is one, certainly not with the same lucky combination of physical traits and vocal singularity. In no particular order: the blue eyes, the long, narrow Modigliani face, the suave lankiness, the glorious upside-down V eyebrows that made 57 varieties of dialogue both sinister and amusing. And, once heard, never forgotten, the mellow-cello voice, luxuriantly authoritative, trustworthy when needed. Sutherland sold a lot of products in commercial voiceovers after his stardom; I was halfway out of the house and heading to the […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2017/11/11/57L2AMULPRCIPKHP2DM6Q2XTLY.jpg?w=535 "Name a comparable actor, or someone whose qualities remind you of Donald Sutherland. Anyone? Difficult, no? I doubt there is one, certainly not with the same lucky combination of physical traits and vocal singularity. In no particular order: the blue eyes, the long, narrow Modigliani face, the suave lankiness, the glorious upside-down V eyebrows that made 57 varieties of dialogue both sinister and amusing. And, once heard, never forgotten, the mellow-cello voice, luxuriantly authoritative, trustworthy when needed. Sutherland sold a lot of products in commercial voiceovers after his stardom; I was halfway out of the house and heading to the […]")
