The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago To Celebrate Pepe Vargas’ Legacy, Tuesday, June 30

The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago has decided to turn this month’s edition of The Reel Film Club into a special celebration of ILCC Founder Pepe Vargas’ legacy. Vargas announced early this month that he would be retiring due to health issues. The event will take place Tuesday, June 30 at Facets Film Forum, 1517 West Fullerton Ave. coinciding with Vargas’s last day as Executive Director and his birthday. Interim Executive Director Mateo Mulcahy will fully assume the role of Executive Director the following day, July 1st. The event is now at capacity.

The event will start at 6 p.m. with a reception followed at 7 p.m. with a tribute from ILCC staff and board members and members of Vargas’ family, as well as words from Vargas himself. The tribute will end with the screening of La Suprema, Felipe Holguín Caro’s feature debut about an Afro-Colombian teen who wants to become a boxer. La Suprema was an official selection of the 40th Chicago Latino Film Festival in 2024 after winning the Audience Award at the 2023 Huelva Ibero-American Film Festival.

Held on the last Tuesday of each month (except March, April and December), the Reel Film Club celebrates a themed night with a reception and screening showcasing films and filmmakers from around Latin America, Spain and Portugal followed by a post-screening discussion.

There will be limited interview opportunities with Pepe Vargas at the event. A full profile of Vargas’ career can be found here. Vargas’ farewell letter can be found on the ILCC’s homepage.

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