Upcoming festivals

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• FACETS: Film Trivia

  • Start
    Thu, January 30, 2025
  •  
  • End
    Thu, December 25, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    12 sessions
  • Location
    FACETS (1517 W Fullerton Ave.)

  

  Every last Thursday, it’s trivia at 24 frames per second!

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  Test your knowledge against your friends and fellow cinephiles for bragging rights and take-home prizes. Questions from the arthouse to the multiplex, from current cinema news to the nitrate nights of yesteryear. We’re here to push you until the celluloid snaps.

  Join us at 7:00 pm for Film Trivia, a free team-based game with winning teams taking home special prizes, including film memorabilia. Then stick around until 9:00 pm for a one-night-only screening curated by our trivia host.

  
  

  Upcoming Screenings:

  The Doom Generation (Thu. January 30th @ 9pm)

  Natural Born Killers (Thu. February 27th @ 9pm)

  Falling Down (Thu. March 27th @ 9pm)

  
  

  Film Trivia takes place in the FACETS Lounge and is programmed by CineRomero Productions.

  Discover More about FACETS

  Official Website 

  facets.org

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• 61st Chicago International Film Festival

  • Start
    Wed, October 15, 2025
  • End
    Mon, May 25, 2026
  • Location
    AMC NEWCITY (1500 N. Clybourn Ave.), Gene Siskel Film Center (164 N. State St.), Music Box Theatre (3733 N. Southport Ave.), Chicago History Museum (1601 N. Clark St.), Reva and David Logan for the Arts (915 E. 60th St.), National Museum of Mexican Art (1

    

  Celebrating its 61st edition October 15 - 26, 2025, the Chicago International Film Festival is North America's longest-running competitive international film festival.

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  Showcasing acclaimed and exciting new films from around the world, the 61st edition will be held in person in theaters and venues around the city, featuring a select program of films with open and closed captions. From dramas and thrillers to documentaries and comedies, the Festival’s lineup spans a wide range of genres. Signature competitive sections and curated programs include Black Perspectives; International Comedy; Women in Cinema; OutLook; After Dark; and the City & State program, showcasing films made in Chicago and throughout Illinois.

  Full schedule announced in mid-September.

  Discover More about CIFF

  Official Website 

  chicagofilmfestival.com

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• Backstreet Cinema Series Vol. 2

  • Start
    Sun, December 14, 2025
  • End
    Sun, December 21, 2025
  • Location
    Music Box Theatre (3733 N. Southport Ave.) and FACETS (1517 W Fullerton Ave.)

    
  

  
  

  The Backstreet Cinema Series is BACK

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  As we continue our journey toward CJFC’s 5th anniversary in 2026, the Backstreet Cinema Series returns with Vol. 2: “The Cinematic Roar.” This installment explores the primal energy and emotional depth at the heart of Japanese creativity through two remarkable films—Ishirō Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director and Shiver. Together, they highlight the legacy of Godzilla’s creator and the visceral power of Kodo’s taiko, celebrating the pulse, rhythm, and spirit that shape Japanese artistic expression.

  Each screening is paired with a special post-program designed to deepen the experience—whether through conversation, performance, or reflection. Thank you for joining us and supporting this series as we build toward our 5th anniversary. We look forward to sharing more cinematic moments with you as we carry this “roar” into the future!

  Discover More about CJFC

  Official Website 

  cjfc.us

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• Chicago Film Frenzy

  • Start
    Fri, March 27, 2026
  • End
    Sun, March 29, 2026
  • Location
    FACETS (1517 W. Fullerton Ave.)

    

  Time for a whirlwind of cinema with the second ever Chicago Film Frenzy!

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  Chicago FiIm Frenzy is all about energy, diversity, and the power of film to ignite conversation and inspiration. Our lineup will feature a dynamic range of films, from gripping narratives and groundbreaking documentaries to daring experimental shorts and everything in between. Each selection has been chosen for its ability to captivate, challenge, and/or entertain audiences, offering fresh perspectives.

  Beyond film screenings, the festival will include lively panel discussions, filmmaker Q&A's, intriguing workshops, & a special networking party. Join us in celebrating another exciting year of the Chicago Film Frenzy!

  Discover More about Chicago Film Frenzy

  Official Website 

  https://www.chicagofilmfrenzy.com/

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• 25th Chicago Palestine Film Festival

  • Start
    Sat, April 11, 2026
  • End
    Sat, April 25, 2026
  • Location
    Gene Siskel Film Center 164 N State St, Chicago, IL 60601

  

  Founded in 2001, the Chicago Palestine Film Festival is an annual cultural event that serves as a vibrant platform for showcasing the rich and diverse narratives of Palestinian cinema. The festival provides a unique space for filmmakers, artists, and audience members to engage with compelling stories that explore the multifaceted aspects of Palestinian life. Through a carefully curated selection of feature films, documentaries, and shorts, the festival seeks to foster a deeper understanding of the Palestinian experience. Attendees can expect a thought-provoking and immersive cinematic journey, as the festival aims to celebrate the artistic contributions of both Palestinian filmmakers and filmmakers who make films about Palestine on an international stage.

  As the longest running Palestine Film Festival in the world, the Chicago Palestine Film Festival stands as a testament to the power of collaborative storytelling.

  

  Discover More about CPFF:

  Official Website 

  www.palestinefilmfest.com
  

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• Women Make Movies Film Festival

  • Start
    Fri, May 01, 2026
  • End
    Sat, May 02, 2026
  • Location
    Kinowerks - 5645 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60660

    

  Celebrate Women, Film, and Women in Film with WMMFF!

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  The Women Make Movies Film Festival champions the bold, the visionary, and the voices of women and gender-expansive filmmakers from around the world. Their mission is to amplify stories that challenge convention, celebrate resilience, and redefine how women are seen on screen and behind the camera. Don't miss out!

  Discover More about OPILFF

  FilmFreeway Page:

  filmfreeway.com/WomenMakeMovies

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• Chicago Critics Film Festival 2026

  • Start
    Fri, May 01, 2026
  • End
    Thu, May 07, 2026
  • Location
    Music Box Theatre (3733 N. Southport Ave.)

    

  The Chicago Critics Film Festival is back at the Music Box!

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  The Chicago Critics Film Festival annually features a selection of acclaimed films chosen by members of the organization, a combination of recent festival favorites and as-yet-undistributed works from a variety of filmmakers, from established Oscar winners to talented newcomers. It is the only current example of a major film critics group that hosts its own festival. Be part of history and get your tickets now!

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  Discover More about CCFF

  Official Website 

  chicagocriticsfilmfestival.com

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• Little Fort Environmental Film Festival

  • Start
    Sat, June 20, 2026
  • End
    Sun, June 21, 2026
  • Location
    Waukegan, Illinois

  
  

  
  

  A 2-Day International Film Festival on the Shores of Lake Michigan, Little Fort Film Festival Premieres June 20-21, 2026 in Waukegan, Illinois!

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  The June 20-21, 2026 festival will be at three venues in the City of Waukegan, promoted in both English and Spanish and is an inclusive event for all. If you are interested in climate change, environmental protection, plastic pollution, invasive species, drinking water, access to health, environmental justice or agricultural pollution, submit your film to Little Fort Film Festival

  Este festival se realizará en tres sedes en la ciudad de Waukegan, se promocionará tanto en inglés como en español y es un evento inclusivo para todos. Si está interesado en el cambio climático, la protección ambiental, la contaminación plástica, las especies invasoras, el agua potable, el acceso a la salud, la justicia ambiental o la contaminación agrícola, envíe su película al Little Fort Film & Music Festival

  Discover More about LFFF

  Official Website 

  wwwwww.littlefortfilmfestival.org

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