Festivals
Chicago Critics Film Festival Presented by the Chicago Film Critics Association. 5/17-5/23, Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport, 773-871-6604, chicagocriticsfilmfestival.com, $8-$18, $150 festival pass.
Juggernaut Film Festival Science fiction and fantasy films presented by the Otherworld Theatre Company. 6/2-6/3, Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport, 815-277-7855, juggernautfilmfestival.com, $20, $50 per day, $80-$190 weekend pass.
Chicago Underground Film Festival The longest-running underground film festival returns. 6/5-6/9, Logan Theatre, 2646 N. Milwaukee, 773-998-1082, cuff.org, $100-$250 festival pass.
Cinepocalypse “A week of ass-kicking genre movies.” 6/13-6/20, Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport, 773-871-6604, musicboxtheatre.com, $125 four days, $175 full festival.
Windy City International Film Festival Independent film fest. 7/18-7/21, Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln, windycityfilmfest.com, tickets on sale in June.
Reelabilities Disability Film Festival “Dedicated to sharing the human experience of disability through art and film.” August, details TBA. reelabilities.org.
Black Harvest Film Festival Features and shorts about the African American, Black African, and African diasporic experience. 8/3-8/29, Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State, 312-846-2800, siskelfilmcenter.org, $12.
Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival This long-running queer film festival is a presentation of Chicago Filmmakers. 9/19–9/29, various venues, 773-293-1447, reelingfilmfestival.org, $11-$18, $125 festival pass.
Chicago South Asian Film Festival 9/19-9/22, various venues, csaff.org.
Alder International Short Film Festival 9/26-9/29, Repertorio Latino Theater Company, 3622 S. Morgan, 312-880-8251, alderfilmfestival.com.
Chicago South Side Film Festival Focused on films about the south side of Chicago. 9/27-10/6, southsidefilmfest.org.
Shortcut 100 Independent Film Festival Independent shorts from emerging filmmakers. 9/28, shortcut-100-film-festival.jimdosite.com.
Chicago Horror Film Festival 9/28–9/29, chicagohorrorfest.com.
Chicago International Social Change Film Festival 9/28-9/30, socialchange.site.
(In)Justice for All Film Festival Films about the criminal justice system and incarceration. 10/3-10/12, various venues, 847-922-3361, injusticeforallff.com.
Chicago International Film Festival The granddaddy of Chicago film festivals. 10/16-10/27, River East 21, 322 E. Illinois, 312-332-3456, chicagofilmfestival.com, $140-$265 festival pass.
Collected Voices: Chicago’s Ethnographic Film Festival Films that “explore the intersection of race, age, class, gender, and sexuality.” 10/15-10/31, various venues, collectedvoicesfilmfestival.com, $10-$35, $25 pass before 10/6.
Little México Film Festival A shorts festival with the theme “feminism” this year. 10/19, Citlalin Art Gallery and Theater, 2005 S. Blue Island, limefilmfest.com.
Various Artists Independent Film Festival 10/12-10/13, 2112 Chicago, 4245 N. Knox, 312-659-7885, vaiff.com.
Chicago International Children’s Film Festival Presented by Facets. 11/1-11/10, various venues, 773-281-9075, festival.facets.org.
Chi-Town Multicultural Film Festival 11/2, 312-443-2576, cmfilmfestival.org.
Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema 11/7-11/17, various venues, israelifilmchi.org.
Avant Edge Film Festival The local iteration of a network of festivals overseen by Critical Edge Film Festival. 11/8, ceffnetwork.org.
Chicago International REEL Shorts Film Festival Organized by Project Chicago. 11/8-11/9, Chicago Filmmakers, 5720 N. Ridge, projectchicago.com.
Black Alphabet Film Festival Black-focused LGBTQ films. 11/9-11/10, blackalphabet.org.
Blow-Up Arthouse Film Festival 11/10-11/11, blowupfilmfest.com.
Chicago Polish Film Festival November, details TBA, pffamerica.org.
Additional film events
Most venues and series are still planning their summer and fall events, but here is a selection of highlights of confirmed upcoming screenings.
Chicagoland Shorts A juried program of local short films. 5/16, 7 PM, MCA Chicago, 220 E. Chicago Ave., 312-397-4010, mcachicago.org. F
Barbara Hammer Retrospective Two programs of restored prints by queer experimental film pioneer Barbara Hammer. 5/23-5/24, 7 PM, Block Cinema, 40 Arts Circle Dr., Evanston, 847-491-4000, blockmuseum.northwestern.edu. F
Doc Films Festival Two days of new and retrospective screenings and live music. 5/25-5/26: 10 AM, Max Palevsky Cinema, 1212 E. 59th, 773-702-8574, docfilms.uchicago.edu, $9-$24 one-day pass, $14-$39 two-day pass.
50th Anniversary of the Jazz Institute of Chicago The Chicago Film Society presents a series of jazz-focused films in tribute. May-December, various venues, 773-850-0141, jazzinchicago.org, $7-$11.
Millennium Park Summer Film Series The City of Chicago’s outdoor screening series. 6/4-8/20, 6:30 PM, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St., chicago.gov. F
A Tribute to Bill Siegel Kartemquin Films copresents this double feature of The Weather Underground and The Trials of Muhammad Ali, directed by Chicago documentary maker Bill Siegel, who passed away in December. 6/5, 7 PM, Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport, 773-871-6604, musicboxtheatre.com, $15.
Remembering Todd A memorial screening for local filmmaker and former Chicago Filmmakers program director Todd Lillethun, who passed away last fall. 7/20, Chicago Filmmakers, 5720 N. Ridge, 773-293-1447, chicagofilmmakers.org.
Music Box Theatre 90th Anniversary A week of special events for the iconic theater’s birthday. 8/22-8/29, Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport, 773-871-6604, musicboxtheatre.com.
Chicago Onscreen Local Film Showcase Screenings of Chicago-made films. 8/26-8/31, various Chicago Park District locations, chicagoparkdistrict.com. F
Abbas Kiarostami Retrospective Films by the late Iranian master director. September-October, Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State, 312-846 2800, siskelfilmcenter.org. $12.
Music Box of Horrors 24-hour horror film marathon. 10/19-10/20, Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., 773-871-6604, musicboxtheatre.com. v