The Chicago International Film Festival is renowned across the globe for its week of special premieres, underground artist showcases, and overall cross-cultural film appreciation. This fall, students enrolled in the course “Producing Film Criticism,” taught by Professor Adam Kempenaar of The University of Iowa’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication, were given the opportunity to experience it first-hand.
Incorporating the festival into the course was something Kempenaar had hoped to do since its creation. As an educator, he believed it would allow his students to get a sense of what it would be like to produce film criticism in real world setting. With help from his connections at the festival, and through the support of Professor Melissa Tully, Director of the School of Journalism, he was able to accomplish this goal.
The 61st edition of the festival, which ran October 15-26, 2025, screened over 110 feature films of varying genres and length. Kempenaar noted that while his students were only able to attend about 36 hours of the event, they were still able to catch three films of their choice—including an early screening of Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein.”
“The festival is an experience unlike any other,” said Kempenaar. “You’re seeing it [a film] at this grand old theater with a sold-out crowd of 700 people."
Along with its general novelty, attendees often meet those involved with the films’ production at the festival.
“You can go see movies anytime, but you’ll never be able to sort of recapture that moment when you saw the Chicago premiere of a movie with the filmmaker and the actress in the audience,” Kempenaar expressed.
Prepped with skills they had cultivated throughout the semester; students took on the roles of professional film critics as they attended various showings. This meant analyzing the films more thoroughly, going beyond “Did I like it or not?”
“What I’m trying to do with the class is get students to think about the creative process and really to think critically about movies, to maybe engage with cinema in a way they haven’t before” explained Kempenaar. “What are the choices that the filmmakers are making that may determine my reaction? And then how am I reacting?”
The course not only instructs students about the process of producing their critiques into writing, but into other formats such as podcasts and videos. By collaborating with peers on these projects, Kempenaar hopes that the students will examine films with new perspectives.
“…come to a greater understanding of how they felt about the movie, one that maybe they didn’t even fully know until they got into the studio and talked to the other person about it.” He explains, “That’s the process that I think is so vital and that I think is so fun about engaging in criticism.”
In addition to attending the Chicago International Film Festival, the “Producing Film Criticism” course aims to appreciate local Cinema, attending Iowa City’s independent movie theater FilmScene and the Refocus Film Festival. Last year, University of Iowa Alumni Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, writers, directors and producers of A24’s “Heretic,” appeared as special guests for the class. Students were able to practice their interviewing skills, participating in a sort of “press junket” as described by Kempenaar.
This fall the class visited Beck and Wood’s Davenport theater “The Last Picture House."
“Producing Film Criticism” is a great choice for students at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication who may be looking to expand their reporting skillset, gain unique experience, or even just develop a better understanding of cinema. Professor Kempenaar encourages all students who enjoy thinking critically and who have ever wondered… “what is the sort of language of what’s happening on the screen?” to enroll in the course next fall, when the course will take on the Chicago International Film Festival once again.