Chicago’s Music Box Theatre has plans to add a new 100-seat third screen at its Southport Avenue location and acquire the Heights Theater in Minneapolis, Minn., in 2026.
The Music Box’s longtime owner-operators, Brody Sheldon and the Schopf Family, will partner with Ryan Oestreich to oversee the transition of the theatre.
Under the new ownership, Heights Theater will close for a short period of time after its annual New Year’s Day screening of “Holiday Inn.” It will reopen on Jan. 9, 2026, with Jim Jarmusch’s “Father Mother Sister Brother,” additional classic repertory titles and new programming curated by the Music Box team.
The traditions that will remain at Heights Theater include “White Christmas” screenings, “Holiday Inn” on New Year’s Day, the Celebration of Cinema festival and partnerships with Trylon Cinema.
New additions will feature late-night screenings on Friday and Saturday night, kids’ Saturday morning cinema and a revitalized silent cinema series with a live organ accompaniment.
Music Box Theatre’s third screen expansion will debut in summer 2026. The project is funded by ownership and supported by a community development grant from the city of Chicago.
The new venue will allow for expanded independent, international and repertory programming alongside increased opportunities for filmmaker events, festivals and extended runs. Additional community partnerships and special presentations will also be included.
Thursday, December 4
Doc Society’s Climate Story Unit Announces Story Fund Grants
Doc Society’s Climate Story Unit announced the 2025 Climate Story Fund grantees – selecting seven visionary new projects from an unprecedented global pool of applicants. This year, the Fund received
808 applications from 122 countries, submitted in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French, reflecting the rapidly growing international demand for ambitious, justice-centered climate storytelling.
The Climate Story Unit has awarded seven new grants totaling $765,000 USD, supporting both creative production and strategic impact initiatives.
Since its launch in 2019, the Climate Story Unit has awarded $6.3 million directly to storytellers, impact producers, and cultural allies, supporting 59 climate-themed stories across all mediums. The Fund provides grants of up to $125,000 to support both production and impact campaigns. In 2025 alone, the Fund continues to deepen this commitment with targeted investments designed to scale the ambition
and reach of global climate storytelling.
Gravillis Inc. Names KaLynn Jenkins as Chief Operating Officer
KaLynn Jenkins has joined Gravillis Inc. as the creative agency’s new Chief Operating Officer (COO). Most recently, Jenkins served as Vice President of Operations at Skydance Media.
In her new role, Jenkins will oversee a range of operations while driving strategic growth initiatives, working closely with CEO Kenny Gravillis to scale the agency, expand revenue streams and strengthen client partnerships.
“As our agency moves forward and expands, KaLynn is the perfect complement to embody that growth,” said Gravillis in a statement. “Her experience and energy is a valuable asset for the future of the company, as well as keeping our operations efficient and flexible for this ever-changing landscape called ‘entertainment.’”
Currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, Gravillis is the agency behind some of the most memorable recent campaigns including Sinners, Spike Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest” starring Denzel Washington, “Captain America: Brave New World,” Viola Davis’ “G20,” the Motion Picture Academy and the upcoming “Back to the Future” 40th Anniversary release.
Tuesday, December 2
BAFTA Unveils 2025 Breakthrough US Cohort Recipients
The 2025 BAFTA Breakthrough US cohort has been unveiled, featuring 12 creatives working across film, television and games in the United States. Apple TV will be this year’s sponsor.
Read the full list of this year’s BAFTA Breakthrough US cohort.
US Breakthroughs:
Brandon Wilson, actor – “Nickel Boys” (Film)
Brittany Shyne, director – “Seeds” (Film, Documentary)
Chase Infiniti, actor – “Presumed Innocent” (Television)
Erika Ishii, voice performer – “Ghost of Yotei” (Games)
Eva Victor, writer, director, actor – “Sorry, Baby” (Film)
Frida Perez, writer, producer – “The Studio” (Television)
Karla Reyes, creative director – “Take Us North” (Games)
Mia Cioffi Henry, cinematographer – “Sorry, Baby” (Film)
Miles Caton, actor – “Sinners” (Film)
Min Ji (Maggie) Kang, writer, director – “KPop Demon Hunters” (Film)
Paige Bethmann, director – “Remaining Native” (Film, Documentary)
Xalavier Nelson Jr., studio head – “I Am Your Beast” (Games)
The BAFTA Breakthrough US cohort was selected by a jury lead by Channing Godfrey Peoples, Davina Pardo, Jessica Hernandez, Kate Edwards, Nyasha Hatendi, Paul Rogers, Sam Enoch, Simone Ling for film & television and Andrew Prahlow, Arjun Yadav, Carmen Askerneese, Del Walker, Dmitri Johnson, Julia Bianco Schoeffling, Tara Voelker for games.
Art Directors Guild to Honor Four Visionaries with Lifetime Achievement Awards
The Art Directors Guild will honor four of its members with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 30th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards on Feb. 28, 2026.
The Awards will be presented to Production Designer Bo Welch, art decorator and set designer Jann Engel, storyboard artist and production designer Tom Southwell and scenic artist Stephen McNally for their exceptional careers in their respective fields.
Welch is an Oscar-nominated production designer responsible for creating the distinctive looks of “Beetlejuice,” “Batman Returns,” “Edward Scissorhands,” “Men in Black,” “The Birdcage” and the Netflix series “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” Meanwhile, Jann Engel is a two-time ADG Awards winner whose credits as an art director and set designer include “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Mars Attacks!,” “Legends of the Fall,” “Road to Perdition,” “Addams Family Values” and several Marvel films including “The Avengers,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.”
Southwell’s storyboard and production design talents have created the aesthetics for “Blade Runner,” “X-Men,” “Disturbia,” “Navy Seals,” “Arachnophobia” and his fruitful collaborations with director Ron Underwood on “City Slickers,” “Heart and Souls,” “Speechless” and “Mighty Joe Young.” Finally, McNally has provided the scenic direction for “Anna and the King,” “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” “What Dreams May Come,” “Flubber” and the TV show “Trauma.” He also builds and paints scenery for the San Francisco Opera.
The 30th Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards will be held at the InterContinental in Downtown Los Angeles. The ceremony will be produced by Megan Elizabeth Bell, Michael Allen Glover and Tom Wilkins.
Monday, December 1
Joseph Kosinski and Jerry Bruckheimer to Receive Harold Lloyd Honor at Lumiere Awards
“F1” director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer will receive the Harold Lloyd Award at the 16th annual Lumiere Awards luncheon on Feb. 9, 2026, at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
The award celebrates their outstanding achievement in cinematic storytelling and technological innovation, most recently exemplified by their acclaimed collaboration on Apple Original Films’ “F1.”
Following its theatrical release on June 27, “F1” debuted as the No. 1 film at the global box office and has since grossed over $630 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing original feature of the year.
Other collaborations from the duo include “Top Gun: Maverick.” Kosinski’s directing credits feature “Oblivion,” “Tron: Legacy” and “Only The Brave.” Bruckheimer is known for “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Top Gun,” “National Treasure,” “Bad Boys” and “Beverly Hills Cop” franchises.
variety.com
#Chicago #Music #Box #Theatre #Adds #Screen #Acquires #Heights #Theater
