By Judy Carmack Bross
FACETS Executive Director Karen Cardarelli greets guests at the Screen Gems Gala
“The Goddess” was how producer, author and philanthropist Chaz Ebert dubbed FACETS Screen Gems Gala honoree Chicago native Jacqueline Stewart as she began surely the liveliest interview in Chicago recently. Ebert, last year’s honoree, quizzed Stewart, former President of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, about leading a brand new museum, hosting on Turner Classic Movies, shining the spotlight on work of people of color, teaching film at the University of Chicago–and her passion for everything Prince.
Honoree Jacqueline Stewart, FACETS Board Co-Chair Randy Adamsick, Event Host Chaz Ebert
FACETS Executive Director Karen Cardarelli welcomed a sold out audience of film lovers announcing that the benefit had surpassed its $100,000 goal. After cocktails and dinner when movie buffs, FACETS friends and leaders of the Chicago film community mingled with Ebert and Stewart who brought along pals from her Kenwood Academy student days and her family. Some of the classmates had gone with Stewart to see silent films at the Museum of Science and Industry on weekends.
FACETS Board Co-Chair Tamara Bohorquez and honoree Jacqueline Stewart
Together on the stage of the Arts Club, Stewart told Ebert:
“We have had the benefit in our Museum’s beautiful Renzo Piano building of the wisdom of many in creating a museum whose collection is encyclopedic so that young people can come through and learn about every facet of filmmaking, and whose goal is showing the ultimate power of cinema,” she said.
It was announced this week that Stewart is stepping down from her role at the Museum and will be returning to the University of Chicago to continue her teaching.
Stewart brought along a brochure she saved from a visit to FACETS as a student.
Stewart talked fondly of her work at the University of Chicago, both teaching with silent movies scholar Tom Gunning, and then with the University on the South Side Home Movie Project begun in 2005 to archive amateur filmmakers in these historic neighborhoods as they captured occasions like Thanksgiving dinners. While an undergraduate at Stanford she watched Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It and decided to study his work as well as feminist film theory. She has received many awards, including being named a MacArthur Fellow in 2021. She told Ebert she starts each day with meditation and yoga.
Chaz Ebert autographs her new book.
To the delight of guests, Ebert signed copies of her latest book, It’s Time to Give a Feck: Elevating Humanity Through Forgiveness, Empathy, Compassion and Kindness—all characteristics Ebert signs forth and are the Feck principles she shares to help people prevail in the most adverse circumstances.
Screen Gems Host Chaz Ebert, Honoree Jacqueline Stewart, FACETS Executive Director Karen Cardarelli
Christie’s Director Steve Zick, beloved by FACETS supporters, returned to host the evening’s paddle raise. Board member Mike Nehs, COO of Periscope Post and Audio, produced a video tribute to Stewart.
Chaz Ebert, left, presents the Screen Gems Award to Jacqueline Stewart.
FACETS is a leading non-profit arthouse cinema and media education center. Its mission is to foster vital conversations through film by programming 300 plus films a year that are overlooked by mainstream media, educating 5000 youth annually through media literacy and hands-on filmmaking programs, including the Oscar-qualifying Chicago International Film Festival, and preserving a 50,000 film library. It leads the first local film alliance in the country, the Chicago Alliance of Film Festivals.
Chicago International Film Festival leadership Vivian Teng and Mimi Plauche with Milwaukee Film leadership Cara Ogburn and Anne Reed
Chicago International Film Festival leadership Vivian Teng and Mimi Plauche with Milwaukee Film leadership Cara Ogburn and Anne ReedAll proceeds from the event support FACETS programs including a scholarship fund supporting under-resourced youth with access to FACETS Education Programs. For more than 20 years, Screen Gems has honored leaders of Chicago’s cultural scene. In addition to serving as FACETS principal fundraiser, the event is a forum to create discussion on critical issues.
Chaz Ebert, Jacqueline Stewart and Screen Gems Co-Chair Penny Brown
