CHICAGO UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL
The longest-running underground film festival in the world
Established in 1993, CUFF has been at the forefront of showcasing bold, innovative, and boundary-pushing cinema. As Roger Ebert once said, "What you get for your money is not just admission to the films but admission to a subculture."
We're dedicated to spotlighting works that defy convention, championing filmmakers who challenge norms and pioneer fresh approaches. If you're making films that transcend mainstream conventions, we want to see your work. Our mission is to cultivate an audience for boundary-pushing media art, inviting creators who perceive their work as "underground" to participate.
PROGRAMMING APPROACH
From 2,000 annual submissions, we program around 100 films. Our programming team watches everything and looks for work that pushes boundaries, takes risks, and shows us something we haven't seen before. No formulas, no quotas - just stuff that excites us and makes us see the world differently.
AUDIENCE
CUFF draws experimental film devotees, indie creators, art students, music enthusiasts, and intellectual rebels from Chicago and beyond. These aren't passive viewers - they're accomplices in underground cinema's evolution.
SCREENING VENUES
Most films screen at our primary venues - the Harper Theater and The Gene Siskel Film Center. These are proper movie theaters with professional projection and sound. Sometimes we do special screenings in unconventional spaces when it makes sense for the work - like last year when we showed Chicago House Music docs before getting down at our Saturday night dance party. Whether it's in a theater or a special venue, your film will always be shown with the respect it deserves.
FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE
Beyond screenings, CUFF offers epic parties, mind-expanding panels, and live performances. Past performers have included RP Boo, Lady D, The Art Gray Noizz Quintet, Pedestrian Deposit, Brett Nauke, Fire-Toolz, and The Handsome Family.
SELECTED FILMMAKER BENEFITS
Screening fee
Two all-access passes
Filmmaker lounge access
Festival party invites
Professional tech check
Travel support (when possible)
Networking opportunities
Press connections
Professional projection and sound
Festival laurels
Event documentation
We do Q&As when filmmakers are here in person. Our audiences love talking with creators, so if you can make it to the festival, you'll get to share your story.
POST-SELECTION TIMELINE
If your film is selected:
You'll get an email by July 23, 2025. Please reply and confirm as soon as possible.
Within a week, you'll get a complete info packet with:
Tech specs and delivery deadlines
Your screening time and venue
Travel and accommodation info
Festival pass pickup details
Q&A schedule
Local guide
Transportation tips
ACCESSIBILITY
We want everyone to experience the underground. Here's how we make that happen:
All venues are accessible (ramps, elevators, the works)
Assisted listening devices available
Need ASL interpretation? Just let us know
Specific needs? Email access@cuff.org
PROMOTING YOUR SCREENING
Social media assets for your use
Press contact list for Chicago media
Venue maps and local info for your fans
Cross-promotion with other CUFF filmmakers
SELECTION PROCESS
Each film gets watched by at least three members of our programming committee
We pick about 100 films from roughly 2,000 submissions
Selected films get an email by July 23, 2025
Not selected? You'll get an email. With over 2,000 submissions and limited programming slots, we unfortunately can't provide individual feedback, but we appreciate every filmmaker who trusts us with their work
After you submit, you'll get a confirmation email. If anything changes with your film between submission and our notification date (like a major festival premiere or online release), please let us know. Make sure you keep us in the loop if your Vimeo password changes.
CUFF continues to be one of the most innovative and accessible platforms for those interested in making, experiencing, and discussing underground art. Join us in celebrating cinema that pushes boundaries and forges new paths. Let's keep independent film weird!
Every year at the Chicago Underground Film Festival, we give out awards to recognize the best and most interesting films and videos. A jury will select winners in various categories, and each of these filmmakers will receive a custom-made trophy. We also present the Chicago Award to recognize the best work from our hometown filmmakers and let our audiences have their say with the Audience Choice Award. While making movies isn't a competition, these awards are a way to honor and celebrate the badass work of our filmmakers. The awards might change from year to year, depending on what the jury decides, but one thing stays the same: they're all about celebrating the underground vision of our talented filmmakers.
LAST YEAR'S WINNERS
Our 2024 jury went with a pretty traditional category breakdown (Sometimes it works out that way), recognizing these films:
NARRATIVE FEATURE: "Head Over Heels" by Nelly Danssen
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: "Just Above The Surface Of The Earth" by Marianna Milhorat
DOCUMENTARY SHORT: "These Fucking Kids" by Lucky Marvel
NARRATIVE SHORT: "Make Me A Pizza" by Talia Shea Levin
EXPERIMENTAL AWARD: "Desert Cruising" by Todd Verow and Charles Lum
CHICAGO AWARD: "Sing Our Song When The World Ends" by Tanner D Masseth and Andrea Florens
AUDIENCE AWARD: "No One Asked You" by Ruth Leitman
The jury also gave honorable mentions to: "The Rainbow Bridge" by Dimitri Simakis, "Another Fuckin' War" by William Zimmer, "Welcome Space Brothers" by Jodie Wille, "Musical Television" by Jacob Gilbert Ciocci and David Andrew Wightman, and "The Demoniacs" by Scott Clifford Evans.
Remember: next year's jury might take a completely different approach - that's part of what keeps CUFF interesting.
