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Episode #14 of the Cine-Cast is all about the Chicago Latino Film Festival! To start, Associate Editor Ben Sachs speaks with contributors Megan Fariello and Marilyn Ferdinand about this year's line-up, with each participant recommending some of their favorite films on the slate, before reflecting on the festival as a whole. Then, Ben and fellow Associate Editor Kathleen Sachs interview CLFF founder and executive director Pepe Vargas about the history of the festival, the programmers' criteria for selecting films, and what viewers can learn from the festival about Latino culture.

The introductory theme is by local film composer Ben Van Vlissingen. Find out more about his work here: www.benvanv.com

Last month in Cine-File's Cine-List (www.cinefile.info), contributor Scott Pfeiffer recommended John Huston’s THE DEAD, thereby setting off a long, spirited email conversation about Huston's career between several of our writers. On Episode #13 of the Cine-Cast, we continue that conversation in audio form, as Pfeiffer, fellow contributors Edo Choi, John Dickson, and Marilyn Ferdinand, and Associate Editor Ben Sachs delve into Huston’s work, critical reception, and legacy. But first, Sachs and contributor Megan Fariello discuss a few recent online releases of note, focusing on one of our favorite new movies of the year, Ephraim Asili’s THE INHERITANCE (which is currently available for rent through the Gene Siskel Film Center).

Cinefile (www.cinefile.info) is pleased to revive our no-longer-dormant Cine-Cast with this very special Episode #12! To start, Associate Editor Ben Sachs and contributors John Dickson and Megan Fariello talk about recent virtual screenings of note hosted by Chicago venues. Then, Sachs and Dickson interview legendary independent filmmaker John Sayles, who is currently partnering with the Gene Siskel Film Center to discuss five personally selected films of his every Monday night in March. This wide-ranging conversation covers Sayles' early work as a screenwriter for such genre directors as Lewis Teague and Joe Dante; some of his aesthetic choices as director; his curiosity about how different regions of the U.S. influence how people talk; and his longstanding interest in Chicago history. The introductory theme is by local film composer Ben Van Vlissingen. Find out more about his work here: www.benvanv.com

On episode #11 of the Cine-Cast, Cine-File contributors take it on the road with this remote-heavy edition. On this episode, contributor Marilyn Ferdinand discusses filmmaker Patrick Wang and his upcoming film A BREAD FACTORY, playing at the Gene Siskel Film Center (April 12-17) and Block Cinema (May 4), and contributor Michael Metzger interviews filmmaker Nellie Kluz at the Onion City Experimental Film & Video Festival. Engineered by contributor Harrison Sherrod. Produced by Mabe and Sachs. The introductory theme is by local film composer Ben Van Vlissingen. Find out more about his work here: www.benvanv.com

On episode #10 of the Cine-Cast, associate editor Kathleen Sachs and contributor John Dickson discuss the upcoming Christian Petzold matinee series and the Harmony Korine retrospective at the Music Box Theatre; Sachs, Dickson, and contributors JB Mabe and Alexandra Ensign chat about the Onion City Film Festival, taking place March 21-24, and the Chicago European Union Film Festival, starting Friday, March 8 at the Gene Siskel Film Center and going through April 4; and, finally, all the participants discuss the 91st Academy Awards. Engineered by contributor Harrison Sherrod. Produced by Mabe and Sachs. The introductory theme is by local film composer Ben Van Vlissingen. Find out more about his work here: www.benvanv.com

On episode #9 of the Cine-Cast, contributor Harrison Sherrod chats with fellow contributor and local filmmaker Rob Christopher about Christopher's upcoming documentary, ROY'S WORLD: BARRY GIFFORD'S CHICAGO. Associate editor Ben Sachs and contributor Alexandra Ensign cover the upcoming Chicago Film Society and Doc Films calendars. And, finally, Sachs, Ensign, Sherrod, and contributor JB Mabe discuss their favorite films of 2018. Engineered by Sherrod. Produced by Mabe and associate editor Kathleen Sachs. The introductory theme is by local film composer Ben Van Vlissingen. Find out more about his work here: www.benvanv.com

Black Harvest FF & Bergman & COMPUTER CHESS & Experimental Film (w/ Casey Puccini) by Cine-Cast

On episode #5 of the Cine-Cast, Cine-File associate editor Ben Sachs and contributor JB Mabe talk about the upcoming Ingmar Bergman series at the Gene Siskel Film Center; Ben and contributors Kyle Cubr, John Dickson and Dmitry Samarov discuss the Doc Films summer schedule; Mabe interviews Raul Benitez, film programmer for Comfort Film at Comfort Station Logan Square and lead programmer for Chicagoland Shorts Volume 4 for Full Spectrum Features; and Ben and contributor Harrison Sherrod chat about the Bill Gunn films GANJA & HESS and PERSONAL PROBLEMS, as well as cult-classic LIQUID SKY, all of which played at the Film Center in June. (The new restoration of PERSONAL PROBLEMS in now available for purchase on DVD/Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.) As always, special thanks to our producer, Andy Miles, of Transistor Chicago.

On episode #4 of the Cine-Cast, Cine-File associate editors Ben and Kat Sachs get the party started—banter ensues between the married critics; contributor JB Mabe interviews Chicago Underground Film Festival programmer and artistic director Bryan Wendorf about the upcoming festival (June 6-10), now in its 25th year; associate editor Kat Sachs interviews local filmmaker and all-around delightful human Lori Felker about her new film, FUTURE LANGUAGE: THE DIMENSIONS OF VON LMO, which is the closing night film at CUFF (Sunday, July 10 at 8:30pm); associate editor Ben Sachs and contributors Kian Bergstrom and Kyle Cubr discuss the "Stanley Kubrick: The Filmworker Series" at the Music Box Theatre, during which Ben tells a joke about Kubrick that you won't want to miss. As always, special thanks to our producer, Andy Miles, of Transistor Chicago.

On episode #3 of the Cine-Cast, Cine-File associate editors Ben Sachs and K.A. Westphal discuss recent releases and screenings they're looking forward to at the Chicago Film Critics Film Festival; Sachs and contributor John Dickson chat about the Philippe Garrel series at the Gene Siskel Film Center; contributor JB Mabe interviews the new Pick-Laudati Curator of Media Arts at the Block Museum of Art at Northwest University, Michael Metzger—they talk about upcoming programming and the direction Mike is taking within the Chicago film community; and contributor Kyle Cubr interviews Chicago Film Society co-founder Julian Antos about their new season. As always, special thanks to our producer, Andy Miles, of Transistor Chicago.