Chicago Independent Film Festival

Showcase your cinematic work at The Chicago Independent Film Festival.
Experience other enlightening work from across this creativity-centric city as you celebrate, learn, watch, and connect with filmmakers and other industry professionals from across the globe! Also, your chance to win in a multitude of categories! Even potentially lock down partnership deals, work opportunities, resources and more with our creative partners within the world of filmmaking and videography.

The Chicago Independent Film Festival celebrates all things cinema! No matter the genre, the length or the language. Our panel of judges comes from the world of cinema. Our awards and prizes range within sub-sections of the cinematic world.

Our judges look thoroughly across the board for cinematic achievements:
-Direction
-Performance
-Writing (Scripts & Story overall)
-Composition
-Style
& Much More

At The Chicago Independent Film Festival, we celebrate the achievement, no matter what role you had in it. Our submitters range from:
-Directors
-Producers
-Actors
-DP's (Directors of Photography)
-Independent Filmmakers
-Production Designers

We LOVE to bring appreciation to anything and everything to do with filmmaking, and we aim to bring value to those that make these achievement happen.

We want to see your incredible work. Submit to the Chicago Independent Film Festival Today!

Our finalists are nominated for each of the following categories:
-Best Camera Operations
-Best Lighting
-Best Cinematic Directing
-Best Single Shot
-Best Cinematography USA
-Best Cinematography International
-Best Of Festival

All category winners receive a personalized prize package and award for their incredible achievement.

All entries should be sent via FilmFreeway with a secure online screener.

-Each accepted film must be submitted in the .mp4 or .mov format, preferably.

-By submitting to the festival you confirm that you own the rights of the film, including the rights to the music in the film.

-There is no minimum running time.

-Films must have been completed on or after Jan 1st, 2019.

-All genres are welcome (narrative, animated, experimental, documentary, musical, sketch, etc.)

-Filmmakers may submit multiple entries as long as each film is submitted with its own Entry Form, online screener and paid Entry Fee.

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Dates & Deadlines

June 5, 2022
Opening Date
July 31, 2022
Super Early Deadline
August 31, 2022
Summer Deadline
September 30, 2022
Earlybird Deadline
November 1, 2022
Fall Deadline
December 31, 2022
End of Year Deadline
February 28, 2023
February Deadline
April 30, 2023
April Deadline
May 31, 2023
Spring Deadline
June 30, 2023
June Deadline
July 24, 2023
Final Deadline
August 1, 2023
Notification Date
August 8 – 11, 2023
Event Date

Categories & Fees

Short Film Submissions
Cinematic work less than 12 minutes in length. All genres welcome!
- Super Early Deadline
- Standard: $14
- Student: $10
- Gold Members: $10
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $20
- Student: $15
- Gold Members: $15
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $24
- Student: $18
- Gold Members: $18
- Fall Deadline
- Standard: $28
- Student: $22
- Gold Members: $22
- End of Year Deadline
- Standard: $34
- Student: $28
- Gold Members: $28
- February Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $34
- Gold Members: $34
- April Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- June Deadline
- Standard: $56
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $50
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $56
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $50
Submit Now
Feature Film Submissions
Cinematic work more than 12 minutes in length. All genres welcome!
- Super Early Deadline
- Standard: $18
- Student: $12
- Gold Members: $12
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $28
- Student: $22
- Gold Members: $22
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $32
- Student: $24
- Gold Members: $24
- Fall Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $32
- Gold Members: $32
- End of Year Deadline
- Standard: $46
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- February Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $42
- Gold Members: $42
- April Deadline
- Standard: $54
- Student: $48
- Gold Members: $48
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $58
- Student: $52
- Gold Members: $52
- June Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $54
- Gold Members: $54
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $54
- Gold Members: $54
Submit Now
New Media Submissions
Any length new media content
- Super Early Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $21
- Gold Members: $21
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Fall Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $30
- End of Year Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- February Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $47
- Gold Members: $47
- April Deadline
- Standard: $57
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $50
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $53
- Gold Members: $53
- June Deadline
- Standard: $62
- Student: $55
- Gold Members: $55
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $64
- Student: $57
- Gold Members: $57
Submit Now
Short Screenplays
Screenplays 30 pages or under.
- Super Early Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $21
- Gold Members: $21
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Fall Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $30
- End of Year Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- February Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $47
- Gold Members: $47
- April Deadline
- Standard: $57
- Student: $50
- Gold Members: $50
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $53
- Gold Members: $53
- June Deadline
- Standard: $62
- Student: $55
- Gold Members: $55
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $64
- Student: $57
- Gold Members: $57
Submit Now
Feature Screenplays
Screenplays 31 pages or over.
- Super Early Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $25
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- Fall Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- End of Year Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $48
- Gold Members: $48
- February Deadline
- Standard: $60
- Student: $54
- Gold Members: $54
- April Deadline
- Standard: $64
- Student: $57
- Gold Members: $57
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $68
- Student: $61
- Gold Members: $61
- June Deadline
- Standard: $70
- Student: $63
- Gold Members: $63
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $74
- Student: $65
- Gold Members: $65
Submit Now
(SPECIAL OFFER) Published Film Review
Through our partners at FilmFestNetwork.com - We're offering filmmakers the chance to have your work professionally reviewed & published. This creates a high quality, credible material to include within your film press kit or portfolio when submitting to festivals, as well as an incredible calling card for bringing in new audiences and clients online.
- Super Early Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Fall Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- End of Year Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- February Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- April Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- June Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
Submit Now
(SPECIAL OFFER) Professional Interview Package
Through our partners at FilmFestNetwork.com - We're offering filmmakers the chance to have a professionally-published interview. Our interviews give you the opportunity to present yourself professionally in film festival submissions, networking opportunities, and broad online presence. Visit FilmFestNetwork.com for more specific information!
- Super Early Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- Fall Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- End of Year Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- February Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- April Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- June Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
Submit Now
ADDITIONAL CATEGORY: Best Director
This is an optional additional category for filmmakers to submit to.
- Super Early Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $21
- Gold Members: $21
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $25
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Fall Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- End of Year Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- February Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- April Deadline
- Standard: $52
- Student: $46
- Gold Members: $46
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $53
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- June Deadline
- Standard: $54
- Student: $46
- Gold Members: $46
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $47
- Gold Members: $47
Submit Now
ADDITIONAL CATEGORY: Best Cinematography
This is an optional additional category for filmmakers to submit to.
- Super Early Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $21
- Gold Members: $21
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $25
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Fall Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- End of Year Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- February Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- April Deadline
- Standard: $52
- Student: $46
- Gold Members: $46
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $53
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- June Deadline
- Standard: $54
- Student: $46
- Gold Members: $46
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $47
- Gold Members: $47
Submit Now
ADDITIONAL CATEGORY: Best Performance
This is an optional additional category for filmmakers to submit to.
- Super Early Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $21
- Gold Members: $21
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $25
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Fall Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- End of Year Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- February Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- April Deadline
- Standard: $52
- Student: $46
- Gold Members: $46
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $53
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- June Deadline
- Standard: $54
- Student: $46
- Gold Members: $46
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $47
- Gold Members: $47
Submit Now
ADDITIONAL CATEGORY: Best Student Film
This is an optional additional category for filmmakers to submit to.
- Super Early Deadline
- Standard: $25
- Student: $21
- Gold Members: $21
- Summer Deadline
- Standard: $30
- Student: $25
- Gold Members: $25
- Earlybird Deadline
- Standard: $35
- Student: $30
- Gold Members: $30
- Fall Deadline
- Standard: $40
- Student: $35
- Gold Members: $35
- End of Year Deadline
- Standard: $45
- Student: $40
- Gold Members: $40
- February Deadline
- Standard: $50
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- April Deadline
- Standard: $52
- Student: $46
- Gold Members: $46
- Spring Deadline
- Standard: $53
- Student: $45
- Gold Members: $45
- June Deadline
- Standard: $54
- Student: $46
- Gold Members: $46
- Final Deadline
- Standard: $55
- Student: $47
- Gold Members: $47
Submit Now

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