Chicago Film Festival kicks off next week

October brings a harvest of film events to the Chicago area.

The big one, the 41st annual Chicago International Film Festival, opens Thursday night with Cameron Crowe's "Elizabethtown" at the Chicago Theater. Susan Sarandon, who plays Orlando Bloom's mother in the film, will be present at the opening night gala to receive a career achievement award.

The festival will continue through Oct. 20. Closing night ceremonies include a screening of Gore Verbinski's "The Weather Man" at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park. Nicolas Cage, who stars in the Chicago-based film, will introduce the screening.

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