The Chicago International Film Festival celebrates the best that cinema has to offer. Showcasing films from established masters and emerging storytellers, the Festival welcomes films from around the world. Offering an impressive selection of competitive and non-competitive programming, the Chicago International Film Festival brings films both domestic and international to silver screens in Chicago.

As one of the main cultural importers of world cinema to the Midwest, the Chicago International Film Festival is a place for audiences and filmmakers to engage with one another. The Festival features a host of screenings, panels, educational events, and Q&A’s that foster cultural understanding and artistic engagement. In 2021, the 57th Chicago International Film Festival presented 88 feature films and 65 short films from 59 countries.

Awards & Prizes

FESTIVAL SECTIONS
The Chicago International Film Festival is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America. The Festival is dedicated to the discovery of new voices. We are inclusive in our programming, embracing and uplifting a wide range of identities, cultures, genres, aesthetics, and perspectives. Films are programmed in a variety of competitive and non-competitive sections as we present a festival that is designed to excite, provoke, enrich, and entertain.

International Feature Film Competition
Representing a wide variety of styles and genres, these works compete for the top honor, the Gold Hugo - as well as awards for best actor, actress, director, writer, and more - in North America's longest-running competitive film festival.

New Directors Competition
This selection of first and second feature films, receiving their U.S. premiere in Chicago, celebrates the spirit of discovery and innovation upon which the Festival was founded. To be eligible for the competition, films must be at least a U.S. premiere if selected for the Festival.

Documentary Competition
Global in scope and representing a wide range of approaches to documentary form, this program offers a diverse cross-section of contemporary non-fiction filmmaking in both competitive and non-competitive sections. To be eligible for the International Documentary Competition, films must be at least a U.S. premiere if selected for the Festival.

OutLook Competition
Competing for the Festival’s Q Hugo Award, these superbly crafted films reflect the myriad perspectives and experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Short Film Competitions
Annually showcasing the best short films from around the globe, this competition highlights the work of both upcoming artists and masters of the short subject form. Programmed films are eligible for awards in the following categories: Animation, Documentary, and Live Action. The winners of the Best Live Action, Best Documentary Short and Best Animated Short awards are eligible to be considered by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the Academy Awards®.

City & State
This program celebrates Illinois’ rich filmmaking tradition, showcasing the best features, documentaries, and short films with their roots right here in Illinois. Films in this section compete for the Chicago Award, given to the year’s best Illinois film.

Out of Competition

After Dark
Gathering genre films from horror and thrillers to edgy animation and dark comedies, this showcase of future cult classics and midnight favorites offers an exciting mix of late-night fare.

Black Perspectives
Now in its 26th year, this program showcases films that celebrate the richness of African American filmmaking and the diversity of black cultures around the world and the filmmakers behind them.

In addition to After Dark and Black Perspectives, The Chicago International Film Festival screens a vast range of films out of competition every year across a wide variety of genres and forms. Films screening out of competition are organized into categories at the discretion of the 58th Chicago International Film Festival and its programming staff. Past non-competitive sections have included: Cinemas of the Americas, Comedy, Expanded Visions (experimental), and Masters. These categories rotate annually.

Rules & Terms

A) Eligibility Requirements

Completion Date
- Films must have been completed AFTER August 1, 2021.
- Films completed before August 1, 2021 are NOT eligible.

Premiere Date
- Films must premier/have premiered AFTER October 24, 2021.
- Films premiered anywhere on or before October 24, 2021 are NOT eligible.

Premiere Status
- Films must be at least a Chicago premiere, while US premieres (theatrical and/or online) are given priority.
- Films shown at private screenings not open to the public (for crew, investors, etc.) are eligible.
- Films that have previously shown online at U.S. film festivals outside of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin are eligible for consideration.

Films are NOT eligible if they:
- Have theatrically screened publicly in the Chicago area.
- Have had a theatrical run in the US prior to the Festival dates.
- Have aired on US television prior to the Festival dates.
- Have shown online in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin prior to the Festival dates.
- Are available to the public for purchase on DVD/Blu-ray or online.

Feature-length films (narrative or documentary) that are available for public online viewing in their entirety are NOT eligible. Short films (under 40 min) may be available online.

Films previously submitted to the Chicago International Film Festival are NOT eligible for consideration.

All entries must be either in English or subtitled in English. Dialogue lists are not accepted.
Entrant confirms and warrants required legal authority to submit the entry to the Festival and to use all music, images, and content in the entry.

For any specific questions regarding a film’s eligibility, please email: entries@chicagofilmfestival.com

B) Submission Guidelines
1. Films must be submitted via an online screener hosted by Vimeo or another secure online platform. (It is recommended that films submitted via online screener be available to download). Please contact entries@chicagofilmfestival.com if you prefer to submit a Bluray/DVD screener.
2. Only complete entries (including fee payment and screener) will be considered.
3. Entrants are permitted to submit works-in-progress (i.e., without final color correction or sound mixing), but please note that the programming committee will only consider the version submitted. Subsequent cuts or replacement copies will only be accepted at the request of the programming committee.
4. For theatrical screenings, all films selected for the Chicago International Film Festival will screen on DCP unless otherwise arranged. If required, file specifications for online screenings will be provided.


C) Deadlines
Early deadline entries must be postmarked/submitted online by April 4, 2022.
Regular deadline entries must be postmarked/submitted online by June 13, 2022.
Late deadline entries must be postmarked/submitted online by July 6, 2022.

D) Judging & Selection
Films are selected for Festival presentation by the Chicago International Film Festival programming committee. If a film is selected, the Festival office will contact the entrant by phone or email.

For films selected to screen at the 58th Chicago International Film Festival, the Festival will only cover one-way shipping costs for the Festival screening hard drive or DCP.

All entrants will be notified on or before September 16, 2022. The Festival does not provide feedback or screening notes to entries that are not selected.

Films selected for the International Feature, Documentary, New Directors, and Out-Look Competitions are judged during the Festival. All other competitive film categories, including the Chicago Award and Short Film Competitions, are judged before the Festival.

E) Entry Fees
Each entry must be accompanied by the appropriate entry fee. Entry fees are not refundable. Fees cover registration, registration notification, full consideration by the programming department, and notification of the results. These fees may be paid by credit card (VISA, MasterCard, or American Express) or by check or money order, made payable to Cinema/Chicago.
12 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Donald Conley

    Top notch festival with so much to offer, a lot of love, and heavily attended. They curated insightful panels and tapped into their contacts of well known working professionals who have ties to Chicago. Outside of the hardworking, very generous hospitality team and the festival's dedicated volunteers, what truly stood out to me was the number of Chicago locals who supported the films, large and small. The attendance game is REAL.

    Please submit and please represent your film because your work will be seen! I'd say begin the logistical communication slightly closer to when the filmmaker's are accepted and it's an 11/10 for me!

    October 2022
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  • Murat Emir Eren

    It was a great pleasure to be part of Chicago International Film Festival. Thanks for your smooth communication and great support. It was a pleasant experience working with your team. Best.

    February 2022
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  • KWA Pictures

    Do not let the lack of reviews fool you! This is a top tier Academy, BAFTA and Canadian Screen Award Qualifying Festival with all the trappings that entails. Hospitality, Communication, Venue... are all top notch.

    In the words of Sir Kenneth Branagh "You can dream and someday your film might make it in to The Chicago International Film Festival".

    If Theatrical Screenings are possible, this group will make it happen and it will be safe (see 2021 Festival COVID-19 Protocols).

    January 2022
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  • christopher chan

    This was an incredible event. Was incredibly honored to have my short screened at this festival. Communication and the way the staff took care of me while i was in the city was top notch. Highly recommended!

    December 2021
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  • Antti Tuominen

    We were very proud to be part of this renowned festival.

    November 2021
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