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“Lettie,” a family drama about a woman emerging from prison and addiction with a desire to reclaim the teenage kids who have barely seen her in seven years, is that rare play that manages to be both pessimistic and hopeful, with a central character simultaneously deeply sympathetic and infuriating. Playwright Boo Killebrew, currently a writer on Netflix’s “Longmire,” provides a gorgeously lucid view of a genuine, flawed person trying really hard, or at least thinking she is, whose life trajectory twists based on evolving social forces and family dynamics, combined with an unchanging and problematic personality.

Receiving its world premiere at Victory Gardens Theater under the sharply elegant direction of the theater’s artistic director Chay Yew, “Lettie” is one of those over-the-top superb Chicago theatrical experiences that seems to spring up with little warning every so often — think Tony winners “August: Osage County” and “The Humans” — filled with...

hollywoodnews.com:The 15th Annual Hollywood Film Festival and Hollywood Film Awards, presented by Starz Entertainment, has unveiled its line-up of finalists for this year’s festival, founder and executive director Carlos de Abreu announced today. The festival’s mandate is to bridge the gap between emerging independent filmmakers and established Hollywood, and includes features, documentaries and shorts.

The Hollywood Film Festival, which takes place October 21-24 at ArcLight Cinemas, will open on Friday, October 21, with the world premiere of “Dorfman,” a romantic comedy about Deb Dorfman who moves to Los Angeles and ends up igniting a renaissance of her own, while profoundly transforming both herself and those around her. The comedy was directed by Brad Leong and stars Sara Rue, Elliott Gould, Sophie Monk, Haaz Sleiman, and Catherine Hicks.

Special Tribute To “Footloose” Director Craig Brewer

In addition, to commemorate the 15th year of the Hff, director Craig Brewer, who...

The Panorama section will comprise a total of 50 titles with about a third of those being documentaries and here's the first 21 of the list. Oddly enough Dominic Murphy's White Lightnin' will be playing although it's having it's premier at Sundance. Another film we reported on, Uli Lommel's Absolute Evil starring David Carradine will also be playing, and I'm still wondering how the hell they got that in there.

You can check out the list of all 21 titles after the break.

Absolute Evil by Ulli Lommel, USA (world premiere)

With David Carradine, Carolyn Neff, Ulli Lommel, Chris Kiesa

Ander by Roberto Castón, Spain (directorial debut and world premiere)

With Josean Bengoetxea, Cristhian Esquivel, Mamen Rivera, Pilar Rodríguez, Leire Ucha

At Stake by Iwan Setiawan, Muhammad Ichsan, Lucky Kuswandi, Ucu Agustin, Ani Ema Susanti, Indonesia

Panorama Dokumente

Coyote by Chema Rodríguez, Spain (world premiere)

Panorama Dokumente

Der Knochenmann (The Bone Man) by Wolfgang Murnberger,...