Chicago filmmaker teams up with Sundance Festival

Lena Dunham (left) and Anna Kendrick in Joe Swanberg’s “Happy Christmas.”

As part of the annual Sundance Film Festival USA Initiative, the Music Box Theatre on Southport will be the site for the event’s Chicago stop on its seven-city tour. Locally based filmmaker Joe Swanberg (“Drinking Buddies”) will be joined by a festival representative to introduce the Chicago premiere of Swanberg’s new movie, “Happy Christmas” — currently part of this month’s Sundance Film Festival’s U.S. dramatic competition.

Following the 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30 screening, Swanberg will participate in an audience Q&A. Tickets can be purchased for $15.

“Happy Christmas” is about a young woman who breaks up with her boyfriend and then moves in with her older brother, his wife and their 2-year-old son. The cast includes Oscar nominee Anna Kendrick (who also starred in Swanberg’s “Drinking Buddies”), “Girls” star and creator Lena Dunham, Melanie Lynskey, Mark Webber and Swanberg himself.

Here’s more on Swanberg:

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