"What you get for your money is not just admission to the films but admission to a subculture" -- Roger Ebert
The Chicago Underground Film Festival stands as the world's longest-running event of its kind, highlighting the boldest and most innovative documentaries, experimental films, and avant-garde narratives. Our objective is to spotlight works that defy convention, championing filmmakers who challenge norms and pioneer fresh approaches. Through our accessible and distinctive event, we aim to cultivate an audience for boundary-pushing media art, inviting creators who perceive their work as "underground" to participate.
The heart of the "Underground" ethos is best articulated by filmmakers themselves. We curate films that transcend mainstream conventions, celebrating innovation, experimentation, subversion, and audacity. Our mission is to champion cinema that both entertains and challenges, pushing boundaries and forging new paths.
Since our inception in 1993, our focus has remained steadfast: to showcase the visions of independent filmmakers with singular perspectives. Rather than emulate mainstream, commercially-driven festivals like Sundance, we carve out our own space, providing a welcoming platform for avant-garde and cult cinema.
2023 Jury Awards
Really Good Friends dir. Adam Sekuler
Neighbor Abdi dir. Douwe Dijkstra
THE MöBIUS TRIP dir. Simone Smith
Sweetheart Deal dir. Elisa Levine and Gabriel Miller
Stillness of Labor dir. Chris Larson
Goddess of Speed dir. Frédéric Moffet
Made in Chicago Award
Sit Where the Light Corrupts Your Face dir. Gillian Waldo
Honorable Mentions
With The Tide, with the tide dir. Anna Kiper-vaser
Alpha Kings dir. Enrique Pedraza Botero, Faye Tsakas
smrt piece dir. Charlotte Hong
Mariposa Apartment dir. Jinglu Ji
Lesser Choices dir. Courtney Stephens
Welcome to the Enclave dir. Sarah Lasley
Audience Award Melomaniac dir. Katlin Schneider
And it's not just about the movies - we also offer panels and workshops and host some pretty epic parties and concerts featuring artists like RP Boo, Pedestrian Deposit, Brett Nauke, Fire-Toolz, and The Handsome Family.
A Note on "Category"
In order to ensure proper classification of entries, please note the following guidelines:
If your film falls under the categories of documentary or animation, please select one accordingly.
For works that are neither documentaries nor animations but have a narrative, please choose either narrative feature (for works 45 minutes and over) or narrative short (for works under 45 minutes).
The term "experimental" is reserved exclusively for non-narrative, non-documentary works. If your film lacks a narrative and does not fit within the documentary category, please select experimental.
In cases where a film could be classified as both experimental and animation, we suggest prioritizing animation.
Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in re-classification of your entry.
Your cooperation in selecting the appropriate category is greatly appreciated and ensures a fair evaluation process for all submissions. Thank you for your understanding and interest in the Chicago Underground Film Festival!
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 six winners in various categories, and each of these filmmakers will receive a custom-made trophy. We'll also present "Made in Chicago" and Audience Choice awards. 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.