Music Box Theatre and Gene Siskel Film Center to Co-Present World Theatrical Premiere of Michael Glover Smith’s ‘Relative’

Newcity/Chicago Film Project has announced the World Theatrical Premiere of Michael Glover Smith’s fourth feature film RELATIVE in Chicago in June. The family dramedy, which stars Wendy Robie (TWIN PEAKS) and Steppenwolf Ensemble legend Francis Guinan as progressive activists David and Karen Frank, has already won acclaim at its first festival screenings. It has so far played the 2022 editions of the Gasparilla International Film Festival (where Cameron Scott Roberts won the Grand Jury Award for Best Performance for his role as Benji Frank) and the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, and will screen at the Fort Myers Film Festival on May 21.

The film’s first theatrical engagements will include a twin premiere at two of Chicago’s most beloved arthouse theaters: There will be a red-carpet screening and Q&A with Smith and the principal cast, moderated by RogerEbert.com’s Matt Fagerholm, at the Music Box on June 8 followed by an after-party, for which VIP tickets have already sold out (general admission tickets remain on sale for $12). There will also be a red-carpet screening and Q&A with Smith and principal cast, moderated by Newcity’s Ray Pride, at the Siskel Center on June 10 followed by an exclusive after-party in the Siskel’s lobby. $20 VIP tickets for this event include premium seating at the screening plus a complimentary drink at the party, which also affords attendees the chance to mingle with the film’s large ensemble cast (regular tickets for the screening are on sale for $12).

Enjoy the newly released official trailer for Relative…

The Siskel will host two additional screenings of the film with uniquely themed Q&As: On Wednesday, June 15, Keeping-it-Reel.com’s David J. Fowlie will moderate a “Producers’ Panel” with Smith, producer Aaron Wertheimer and executive producers Brian and Jan Hieggelke (of Chicago Film Project); and on Thursday, June 16, filmmaker Lori Felker (FUTURE LANGUAGE: THE DIMENSIONS OF VON LMO) will moderate a “Crew Q&A” with Smith, director of photography Olivia Aquilina, production designer Stephanie MacDonald and editor Eric Marsh.

Enjoy this gallery of production stills from the making of ‘Relative,’ fully filmed in the Chicagoland area…

Smith shared with SCREEN, “Out of the four features I’ve made, RELATIVE is my proudest artistic accomplishment. It’s also the one that came the closest to not actually happening because of delays caused by the pandemic. It’s very sweet indeed that the entire cast and crew will be able to come together and celebrate at these unique screenings hosted by the Music Box and the Gene Siskel Film Center. It feels like the movies, as a theatrical experience, are finally back.“

For more information on RELATIVE, including future screenings, visit the film’s recently launched official website at relativemovie.com