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 2023, the 59th Chicago International Film Festival presented 103 feature films and 58 short films from 53 countries.

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 QHugo 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 28th 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.

Comedy
From slapstick to subversive, surrealist to satirical, this program presents a range of films that will leave you laughing all the way home.

In addition to After Dark, Black Perspectives, and Comedy, 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 60th Chicago International Film Festival and its programming staff.

OFFICIAL REGULATIONS

A.) Eligibility Requirements

Completion Date
- Films must have been completed on or AFTER August 1, 2023.
- Films completed before August 1, 2023 are NOT eligible.

Premiere Date
- Films must premier/have premiered AFTER October 22, 2023.
- Films premiered anywhere on or before October 22, 2023 are NOT eligible.

Premiere Status
- Films must be at least a Chicago premiere.
- U.S. premieres 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, 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, 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.

Accepted short films will be presented online through the Festival’s secure platform.
Films previously submitted to the Chicago International Film Festival are NOT eligible for consideration.

All entries must either be 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 8, 2024.
Regular deadline entries must be postmarked/submitted online by June 10, 2024.
Late deadline entries must be postmarked/submitted online by July 1, 2024.

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 60th 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 13, 2024. 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 OutLook 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.

F) Accessibility
The Chicago International Film Festival is committed to delivering an inclusive festival experience. In case of selection, we strongly encourage you to provide Open Captioning, Closed Captioning and/or Audio Description files with your film. This is for all films and in addition to the subtitle requirement for non-English language films.

As a reference, captions are a textual transcript of a film’s dialogue, sound effects, and music. Captions are different from subtitles in that subtitles only contain a transcript of dialogue.

At the time of submission, entries that already have these materials are eligible for a discounted submission fee of 20%. To inquire about the discount, please email entries@chicagofilmfestival.com.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Claudie Nazaire-Miller

    So extremely honored to be part of this years festival. This was a fantastic and truly wonderful experience. I Highly recommend this festival. I am grateful in every way.

    October 2023
  • Such an amazing festival with great films, events, and as a filmmaker you are really well taken care of. Grateful to have gotten to participate.

    October 2023
  • Laura Harrison

    A great festival here in chicago where I live. Supports local film makers and keeps a high international profile of extraordinary shorts and features.

    January 2023
  • Harriet Marin Jones

    I highly recommend Chicago International Film Festival as I had such an amazing time there. The festival team is fabulous, I had massive media coverage for my film, the two screenings were done in front of a captivated audience in two great locations and the closing ceremony was magical. Not only did my film won an award, but I got to meet some really interesting filmmakers. Anthony Kaufman, the senior programmer, truly loves films, as well as all the people who work with him. They make sure you have the best possible experience during your stay.

    December 2022
  • 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