The Cinestars Chicago Film Festival takes place at Facets in Chicago from December 3 to 7, 2025. This esteemed event provides a unique opportunity for both seasoned and up-and-coming filmmakers to showcase their work to an audience.
The goals of the Festival:
1. Promote a deeper understanding of cinema as an art form and celebrate the diversity of opinions in the film industry.
2. Provide a platform for aspiring and established filmmakers to showcase their work, gain fame, and communicate with audiences and industry professionals.
3. Promote discussion of the topics and issues presented in the films by encouraging critical thinking and engagement of the participants.
4. Popularization of international cinema and promotion of cultural exchange through the screening of films from different countries and cultures in-depth discussions on various aspects of filmmaking; interactive sessions with industry experts
The jury of the festival includes well-known international cinematographers, directors, actors, producers and critics who represent a wide variety of points of view on cinematic art.
The event features screenings of competing films and meeting with filmmakers
Offline screening for next season will happen at November 29 to 30, 2024

Awards:

Best Feature Film (from 60 min)
Best Medium Length Film (40-60 min)
Best Feature Documentary (60+ min)
Best Medium Documentary Length (40-60 min)
Best Short Film (10 to 40 min)
Best Short Documentary (10 to 40 min)
Best Super Short Film (0-10min)

* MAIN CATEGORIES *

Best Director
Best First Time Director (Short)
Best First Time Director (Feature)
Best Short Script
Best Medium Length Script
Best Feature Script
Best TV Pilot Script
Best First Time Screenwriter (Short)
Best First Time Screenwriter (Feature)

* HONORABLE CATEGORIES *

Best Music Video
Best Animation
Best Experimental
Best Indie Short Film
Best Indie Feature Film
Best Indie Medium Length Film
Best Web/TV Series
Best Genre
Best Poster
Best Trailer

* INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES *

Best Actress
Best Actor
Best Original Screenplay
Best Editing
Best Sound Design
Best Visual Effects
Best Cinematography
Best Production

1) No premiere restriction of a film at the Cinestars Chicago Film Festival.
2) If there is dialogue in films, English subtitles are required.
3) Multiple entries from the same submitter are accepted.
4) The festival is open to submissions for people from anywhere in the world.
5) The decision of the festival selection committee will be final.
6) No fee waiver. All entry fees are non-refundable.
7) The final selection will be announced on the notification date.
8) Films that are submitted must be the entrant’s original work and shall not infringe on any copyrights or any other rights of any third Parties. Contestants agree that they have obtained all required copyright permissions regarding music, sound & images. etc presented in their work.
9) All participants warrant that their films do not violate applicable laws.
10) Each official selection comes with two free tickets to the festival.
11) Cinestars Chicago Film Festival is open to amateur or professional directors who are 18 years of age or older, or minors who have parental consent to enter.
12) Submissions are collected on FilmFreeway exclusively