Chicago Short ‘Cottage Grove’ to Make Hometown Premiere in Music Box Theatre’s Black History Month Series

Cottage Grove, a short film written and directed by George Ellzey, Jr. and starring Sean Blake and Patrick Agada, is screening at the historic Music Box Theater as part of their Black History Month film series, “Melanin, Roots and Culture.” The film garnered praise at several prestigious film festivals and will have its homecoming to Chicago audiences this month on Wednesday, February 19 and Tuesday, February 25.

“We are thrilled that Cottage Grove will return to Chicago. We are closing our festival chapter so we want to celebrate with the theater and community that launched this South Side Chicago story,”  said the director. “This is a personal film with universal themes of family, truth, and forgiveness; it is a labor of love, and we can’t wait for people to experience it.”

Click here for your tickets to “Melanin, Roots and Culture,” brought to you by the Music Box Theatre and programmer Tyler Michael Balentine.

Director George Ellzey, Jr. had a brief chat with film critic Pat McDonald recently to bring you a preview of Cottage Grove and its Chicago roots. Take a look at the two-minute piece…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRenPXWqu8A

Cottage Grove follows a young Black man, Emmanuel, as he attempts to reconnect with his estranged, stroke-afflicted father in a South Side parking lot. The film explores themes of Black masculinity, fathers and sons, and the power of truth to heal. Cottage Grove is expected to resonate with fans of slice-of-life, character-driven narratives, featuring stunning performances by Patrick Agada and Sean Blake, along with a strong ensemble cast including R.J.W. Mays, Danyelle Monson, Shawn Roundtree Jr., Isaiah Sewell, Omig Flogo, T.J. Harris, Huy Nguyen, Tanner Monson, and Achilles Morris.

The film is further elevated by breathtaking cinematography from Gary Truex Walker II and post-production work by NoiseFloor Ltd., Jeff Ryan, Jack Bexell, and Quicksilver Color. It is produced by Cottage Grove Productions, InstinctiVision Films, and producers TJ Harris, Cara Winter, Jordan Rivers, Keiph Oliver, and Kat Blade.

Ellzey Jr. tells SCREEN the film will make its digital premiere on a major streaming platform later this year. Check back here at SCREEN for that announcement in the weeks ahead.

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