Chicago International Film Festival 2007: Day Zero - Opening Night

The 43rd Chicago International Film Festival opened Wednesday night with the US premiere of Marc Forster's The Kite Runner, a moving story of the sins and failures of the past affecting the hopes of the present.

The festival this year is dedicated to Roger Ebert, who—along with Forster, actor Khaled Abdalla and author Khaled Hosseini—attended the screening. Founder and Artistic Director of the festival Michael Kutza presented Ebert with a lifetime achievement Gold Hugo Award for his contributions to the festival, film criticism and the art of film in general.

Paying tribute to Ebert were Austrian director Rudi Dolezal (whose documentary Freddie Mercury: Lover of Life, Singer of Songs – The Untold Story is playing at the festival on Saturday), Forster, and Harold Ramis, who, in a pre-recorded video, said, "I'm still working for [Ebert's] approval."

Ebert, who has written that he has lost the ability to speak, used a computer to do the talking. His wife Chaz said that she "liked staying behind the scenes," but her public appearances have become much more prevalent since his recovery.

"I know that you're here for Marc Forster and for his movie," she said. "But I also know you're here for my man, Roger."

--Mark Dujsik


Roger Ebert, the man of the hour


Director Marc Forster