Windy Nights mission is to bring the best indie films from around the globe to our vibrant city of Chicago!

 Our goal is to find talented filmmakers and help them promote their work.

Your film will be reviewed by our screeners team and the highest scored ones will be selected as Official Selection receiving corresponding Laurels. Then, our international jury will choose the winners in each category and they will receive the Official Laurels and Certificates.

We are committed to promote new filmmakers projects and showcase their films to international audiences. Our mission is to screen independent films of all genres from all around the world.
We look forward to welcoming you to Chicago to celebrate the power of cinema, as we continue to learn, lead and innovate together.

Windy Nights aims to address filmmakers, industry professionals, as well as people interested in film and cinema - locally, nationally and internationally.

Windy Nights puts its focus on supporting and promoting national and international up and coming talents, giving them the opportunity to present their films to a wide audience, including representatives of the industry and media, in order for them to be seen, discussed and promoted.

Awards & Prizes

BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE - $500 Cash Prize
BEST NARRATIVE SHORT - $500 Cash Prize
BEST DOCUMENTARY - $250 Cash Prize
BEST ANIMATION - $250 Cash Prize
BEST DIRECTOR - $250 Cash Prize
BEST SCREENPLAY - $250 Cash Prize
BEST ACTOR - $250 Cash Prize
BEST ACTRESS - $250 Cash Prize
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY - $250 Cash Prize
BEST MUSIC FOR FILM - $250 Cash Prize

Rules & Terms

1- In order to submit a film, you must own the rights or have permission from the owner.

2- Any Foreign film that is not in English must have English subtitles.

3- All fees are non-refundable.

4- Not all the submissions are selected for the official competition. Our Judges are free to make their own choices and no answers will be given about not selected films.

5- Filmmakers can submit the film in multiple categories in order to become a multi-award film. Still, the decision about the selection is strictly determined by our judges' team and no selection is guaranteed.

6 - All accepted films grant Windy Nights and their designated agents permission to utilize clips, trailers, and images from the film for Windy Nights and Windy Nights Festival promotional content. The entrant agrees to notify Windy Nights if or when they may lose ownership of the clips, trailers, and images and no longer be able to grant said permission.

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7 - If the submission becomes an "Official Selection" and/or wins a Jury or Audience Award, Windy Nights requests that this be noted on promotional materials. Festival laurels are available to all Official Selections and Award winners.