Accessibility

Accessibility icon overlayed on empty movie theatre seats

Accessibility at Cinema/Chicago

Cinema/Chicago is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible environment at all of our programs and events. We strive to provide an enjoyable viewing experience for all patrons. We invite feedback on how to improve our accessibility practices to accommodate a broader, more inclusive audience for all our programs.

We will continue to work with filmmakers and distributors to provide access to films in the form of captions and audio description. Screenings with these accessibility options will be listed on this page.

Audience members with disabilities can gain early access to any festival screenings if desired. Please speak with a Theater Manager when you arrive at the theater and they will assist you. Seating typically begins 30 minutes prior to screening start time. Companion pricing available, please email our accessibility or box office teams for more information.

For Accommodation requests or feedback, please email us at access@chicagofilmfestival.com, call us at 312.683.0121 x108, or fill out our Accommodation Request Form.

Accommodation Request Form

61st Chicago International Film Festival

Accessibility at the Chicago International Film Festival

Venue Accessibility

The 61st Chicago International Film Festival is held at multiple locations around the city. Please follow the links below to learn more about each venue, including transportation and accessibility options. Though all of our venues are ADA accessible, not all access fits everyone’s needs.  If you have any specific questions or concerns about venue accessibility (i.e. ramps vs. elevators, accessible door function, ADA restroom details, ect.), please contact access@chicagofilmfestival.com.

Screening & Event Accessibility

Click or tap a heading below to learn more about accessibility options at the festival.

Screenings & Events with Open Captions

Open Captions are available for the select screenings listed below. Live Open Captioning via CART will be provided for all Q&A’s following Open Captioned films and for all Industry Day presentations.

Sat Oct 18 5:00pm
Industry Days
Sun Oct 19 12:30pm

Shorts 4: City & State

 Various  |  Chile, U.S.
Chicago History Museum  

Mon Oct 20 1:30pm
A man stands in front of an audience, holding a cylindrical object with a wild expression on his face.

Frankenstein

 Guillermo del Toro  |  U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 06  

Tue Oct 21 8:30pm
A woman with dark hair pulled back stands in a forest, wearing a brown jacket, knit sweater, and backpack straps over her shoulders. She looks ahead with a serious, slightly tense expression. The background is blurred trees and soft light.

Whitetail

 Nanouk Leopold  |  Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 04  

Sat Oct 25 12:00pm
A man and a woman stand at a barbed wire fence in the middle of a field, using cellphones to film a looming storm.

A Brief History of Chasing Storms

 Curtis Miller  |  U.S.
Gene Siskel Film Center, Screen 1  

Sun Oct 26 11:30am
A man and a woman closely stand face to face in a deeply wooded area.

Hamnet

 Chloé Zhao  |  U.K.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 06  

Sun Oct 26 12:15pm
A man stands in the storage closet of a kitchen, hands clasped. There is a hopeful look on his face.

Gazelle

 Nadir Sarıbacak, Samy Pioneer  |  U.S., Turkey
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 13  

Screenings with Audio Description

Audio Description are available for the select screenings listed below.

Thu Oct 16 5:00pm
Two people tightly hug an elderly man, with another person placing a hand on the man's shoulder.

Holding Liat

 Brandon Kramer  |  U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 01  

Thu Oct 16 8:00pm
A close up of a woman lying down in the sand, eyes glassy.

If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

 Mary Bronstein  |  U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 06  

Fri Oct 17 12:00pm
Two people tightly hug an elderly man, with another person placing a hand on the man's shoulder.

Holding Liat

 Brandon Kramer  |  U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 04  

Fri Oct 17 6:15pm
In black and white, a man stands at a podium wearing a knit cap and a shirt with a graphic of a raised fist and the words “Black Power.” He leans into the microphone, flanked by two men on either side, with books titled Black Poetry and Black Pride displayed prominently in front.

True North

 Michèle Stephenson  |  U.S., Canada
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 05  

Sat Oct 18 3:00pm
In black and white, a man stands at a podium wearing a knit cap and a shirt with a graphic of a raised fist and the words “Black Power.” He leans into the microphone, flanked by two men on either side, with books titled Black Poetry and Black Pride displayed prominently in front.

True North

 Michèle Stephenson  |  U.S., Canada
Gene Siskel Film Center, Screen 2  

Sat Oct 18 8:30pm
Two men sit in a car at night, rain streaking the windshield. The man on the left leans forward tensely, holding a crumpled tissue and staring intently at the driver. The driver, wearing a beige trench coat, looks straight ahead with a grim, troubled expression. The atmosphere is tense and suspenseful.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

 Rian Johnson  |  U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 06  

Sun Oct 19 2:30pm
A woman with dark hair pulled back stands in a forest, wearing a brown jacket, knit sweater, and backpack straps over her shoulders. She looks ahead with a serious, slightly tense expression. The background is blurred trees and soft light.

Whitetail

 Nanouk Leopold  |  Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 04  

Sun Oct 19 3:00pm
A woman looks out of a window, her face reflected back to her.

Luisa

 Julia Roesler  |  Germany
Chicago History Museum  

Sun Oct 19 5:00pm
A woman stands in the middle of a lavish party, toying with the key on her necklace.

Hedda

 Nia DaCosta  |  U.S.
Music Box Theatre  

Mon Oct 20 8:15pm
An elderly person holds a strip of film up to a light, inspecting its contents.

The Eyes of Ghana

 Ben Proudfoot  |  U.S.
Gene Siskel Film Center, Screen 1  

Tue Oct 21 6:30pm
A man sits on a train car next to a young girl. The girl looks up at him with suspicion.

Centerpiece: Rental Family

 HIKARI  |  U.S., Japan
Music Box Theatre  

Tue Oct 21 8:00pm
A group of soldiers ride horses on a dusty path, holding guns into the air.

Palestine 36

 Annemarie Jacir  |  Palestine, U.K., France, Denmark, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 06  

Tue Oct 21 8:30pm
A woman with dark hair pulled back stands in a forest, wearing a brown jacket, knit sweater, and backpack straps over her shoulders. She looks ahead with a serious, slightly tense expression. The background is blurred trees and soft light.

Whitetail

 Nanouk Leopold  |  Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 04  

Wed Oct 22 12:00pm
An elderly person holds a strip of film up to a light, inspecting its contents.

The Eyes of Ghana

 Ben Proudfoot  |  U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 01  

Thu Oct 23 2:00pm
A woman in a pale yellow dress tenderly cradles the face of a bearded man as they lie together outdoors at dusk, the fading light illuminating the trees behind them.

Train Dreams

 Clint Bentley  |  U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 06  

Thu Oct 23 8:00pm
A group of soldiers ride horses on a dusty path, holding guns into the air.

Palestine 36

 Annemarie Jacir  |  Palestine, U.K., France, Denmark, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan
Gene Siskel Film Center, Screen 1  

Fri Oct 24 2:00pm
Two men sit in a car at night, rain streaking the windshield. The man on the left leans forward tensely, holding a crumpled tissue and staring intently at the driver. The driver, wearing a beige trench coat, looks straight ahead with a grim, troubled expression. The atmosphere is tense and suspenseful.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

 Rian Johnson  |  U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 06  

Sat Oct 25 5:45pm
A man and a boy sit together in bed, smiling at each other. A basketball is on the nightstand.

Pasa Faho

 Kalu Oji  |  Australia
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 01  

Sun Oct 26 5:00pm
A man and a woman stand face to face, both excited to see each other. Another man stands between them, shocked.

Closing Night: Eternity

 David Freyne  |  U.S.
Music Box Theatre  

Screenings with Assisted Listening Devices

Screenings at AMC NEWCITY 14, Gene Siskel Film Center, Music Box Theatre, Chicago History Museum, and the Logan Center for the Arts have Assisted Listening Devices and/or use a T-Coil system. These provide either amplified theater audio or the film’s designated assisted listening track. For more information about a particular screening, please contact access@chicagofilmfest.com.

Screenings with Closed Captions

There are a limited number of closed-captioned films available via CCAP at The Music Box, AMC New City, and via our streaming platform. There are a limited number of devices at each location. A Closed Caption screening does not automatically include visual language support for the possible Q&A that follows some screenings.

Please contact access@chicagofilmfestival.com to inquire about the availability for any specific film or request additional access.

Thu Oct 16 5:00pm
Two people tightly hug an elderly man, with another person placing a hand on the man's shoulder.

Holding Liat

 Brandon Kramer  |  U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 01  

Thu Oct 16 8:00pm
A close up of a woman lying down in the sand, eyes glassy.

If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

 Mary Bronstein  |  U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 06  

Fri Oct 17 12:00pm
Two people tightly hug an elderly man, with another person placing a hand on the man's shoulder.

Holding Liat

 Brandon Kramer  |  U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 04  

Fri Oct 17 6:00pm
A man stands in front of an audience, holding a cylindrical object with a wild expression on his face.

Frankenstein

 Guillermo del Toro  |  U.S.
Music Box Theatre  

Fri Oct 17 6:15pm
In black and white, a man stands at a podium wearing a knit cap and a shirt with a graphic of a raised fist and the words “Black Power.” He leans into the microphone, flanked by two men on either side, with books titled Black Poetry and Black Pride displayed prominently in front.

True North

 Michèle Stephenson  |  U.S., Canada
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 05  

Sat Oct 18 3:00pm
In black and white, a man stands at a podium wearing a knit cap and a shirt with a graphic of a raised fist and the words “Black Power.” He leans into the microphone, flanked by two men on either side, with books titled Black Poetry and Black Pride displayed prominently in front.

True North

 Michèle Stephenson  |  U.S., Canada
Gene Siskel Film Center, Screen 2  

Sun Oct 19 2:30pm
A woman with dark hair pulled back stands in a forest, wearing a brown jacket, knit sweater, and backpack straps over her shoulders. She looks ahead with a serious, slightly tense expression. The background is blurred trees and soft light.

Whitetail

 Nanouk Leopold  |  Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 04  

Sun Oct 19 5:00pm
A woman stands in the middle of a lavish party, toying with the key on her necklace.

Hedda

 Nia DaCosta  |  U.S.
Music Box Theatre  

Mon Oct 20 1:30pm
A man stands in front of an audience, holding a cylindrical object with a wild expression on his face.

Frankenstein

 Guillermo del Toro  |  U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 06  

Tue Oct 21 8:00pm
A group of soldiers ride horses on a dusty path, holding guns into the air.

Palestine 36

 Annemarie Jacir  |  Palestine, U.K., France, Denmark, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 06  

Tue Oct 21 8:30pm
A woman with dark hair pulled back stands in a forest, wearing a brown jacket, knit sweater, and backpack straps over her shoulders. She looks ahead with a serious, slightly tense expression. The background is blurred trees and soft light.

Whitetail

 Nanouk Leopold  |  Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 04  

Wed Oct 22 5:30pm
A man stands on stage in green light, holding a microphone to his mouth with a smug expression on his face.

Is This Thing On?

 Bradley Cooper  |  U.S.
Music Box Theatre  

Wed Oct 22 6:00pm
Six people pose together in front of a sky backdrop with a rainbow. They all wear light blue button-up shirts, khaki pants, oversized glasses, and curly black wigs, striking playful and exaggerated poses. One person kneels in front while the others stand, giving the scene a humorous, staged feel.

We Are Pat

 Rowan Haber  |  U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 06  

Thu Oct 23 2:00pm
A woman in a pale yellow dress tenderly cradles the face of a bearded man as they lie together outdoors at dusk, the fading light illuminating the trees behind them.

Train Dreams

 Clint Bentley  |  U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 06  

Thu Oct 23 2:45pm
Six people pose together in front of a sky backdrop with a rainbow. They all wear light blue button-up shirts, khaki pants, oversized glasses, and curly black wigs, striking playful and exaggerated poses. One person kneels in front while the others stand, giving the scene a humorous, staged feel.

We Are Pat

 Rowan Haber  |  U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 13  

Thu Oct 23 8:00pm
A group of soldiers ride horses on a dusty path, holding guns into the air.

Palestine 36

 Annemarie Jacir  |  Palestine, U.K., France, Denmark, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan
Gene Siskel Film Center, Screen 1  

Fri Oct 24 5:15pm
A man stands in the storage closet of a kitchen, hands clasped. There is a hopeful look on his face.

Gazelle

 Nadir Sarıbacak, Samy Pioneer  |  U.S., Turkey
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 04  

Fri Oct 24 5:15pm
An elderly man sits at a desk littered with legal pads. He looks at the camera, holding a sheet of paper with unseen text.

Cover-Up

 Laura Poitras, Mark Obenhaus  |  U.S.
Gene Siskel Film Center, Screen 1  

Sat Oct 25 12:00pm
A man and a woman stand at a barbed wire fence in the middle of a field, using cellphones to film a looming storm.

A Brief History of Chasing Storms

 Curtis Miller  |  U.S.
Gene Siskel Film Center, Screen 1  

Sat Oct 25 12:30pm
An elderly man sits at a desk littered with legal pads. He looks at the camera, holding a sheet of paper with unseen text.

Cover-Up

 Laura Poitras, Mark Obenhaus  |  U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 04  

Sat Oct 25 7:00pm
A man and a woman closely stand face to face in a deeply wooded area.

Hamnet

 Chloé Zhao  |  U.K.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 06  

Sun Oct 26 11:30am
A man and a woman closely stand face to face in a deeply wooded area.

Hamnet

 Chloé Zhao  |  U.K.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 06  

Sun Oct 26 12:00pm
Seen in black and white, a man holds a baby while standing in a small playground.

Seeds

 Brittany Shyne  |  U.S.
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 01  

Sun Oct 26 12:15pm
A man stands in the storage closet of a kitchen, hands clasped. There is a hopeful look on his face.

Gazelle

 Nadir Sarıbacak, Samy Pioneer  |  U.S., Turkey
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 13  

Sun Oct 26 5:00pm
A man and a woman stand face to face, both excited to see each other. Another man stands between them, shocked.

Closing Night: Eternity

 David Freyne  |  U.S.
Music Box Theatre  

ASL Interpreters

ASL Interpreters are available by request. When they have already been assigned to an event, they will be added to this page. If you would like to request an ASL interpreter, please fill out the Accommodation Request form or email access@chicagofilmfestival.com.

Sun Oct 19 3:00pm
A woman looks out of a window, her face reflected back to her.

Luisa

 Julia Roesler  |  Germany
Chicago History Museum  

Mon Oct 20 12:15pm
A woman looks out of a window, her face reflected back to her.

Luisa

 Julia Roesler  |  Germany
AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 04  

Tue Oct 21 6:30pm
A man sits on a train car next to a young girl. The girl looks up at him with suspicion.

Centerpiece: Rental Family

 HIKARI  |  U.S., Japan
Music Box Theatre  

Sun Oct 26 5:00pm
A man and a woman stand face to face, both excited to see each other. Another man stands between them, shocked.

Closing Night: Eternity

 David Freyne  |  U.S.
Music Box Theatre  

ADA Priority Entrance

In addition to reserved accessible seating, we offer ADA Priority Entrance. This will allow those who need accessible seating priority entrance into the theater so they can choose the seats that will make the film most accessible to them. If you would like to request ADA Priority Entrance, please fill out the Accommodation Request for or email access@chicagofilmfestival.com.

Sensory

For those with sensory sensitivities, there will be sensory items (ear plugs, sunglasses, fidget tools) available at the AMC New City, The Music Box, and GSFC. Staff and volunteers will also be equipped in showing you to a quiet space when asked for assistance.

Quiet Room

A sensory-friendly quiet room space will be available at AMC NEWCITY 14. It is located on the second floor, just past the red carpet. The room will be open October 17th–27th, will open 30 minutes before the first screening, and will close halfway through the last screening each day.

Service Animals

Service animals are always allowed. Emotional Support animals are not permitted.

Companion Pass

Attendees who require assistance during the event can request a Companion Pass for an attendant or aid to accompany them. The Companion Pass does not grant access to any events without the ticketed patron. If you would like to request a Companion Pass, please fill out the Accommodation Request form or email access@chicagofilmfestival.com.

Masking

We do not have any blanket mask requirements at this time.

The following screening is a Mask Required Screening.

Sat Oct 18 3:00pm
In black and white, a man stands at a podium wearing a knit cap and a shirt with a graphic of a raised fist and the words “Black Power.” He leans into the microphone, flanked by two men on either side, with books titled Black Poetry and Black Pride displayed prominently in front.

True North

 Michèle Stephenson  |  U.S., Canada
Gene Siskel Film Center, Screen 2  

Additional Accommodations

If something that is not listed here would make our event more accessible to you, please fill out the Accommodation Request Form or email access@chicagofilmfestival.com to discuss what options we may have available for you.

CineYouth 2025

Accessibility at CineYouth

CineYouth is Cinema/Chicago’s annual film festival for filmmakers 22-years-old and younger from around the world. All CineYouth events are free and open to the public. Learn all about CineYouth…

Location and Public Transportation

CineYouth 2024 will be hosted at:
FACETS
1517 W Fullerton Ave,
Chicago, IL 60614

in the Lincoln Park neighborhood

Paid parking is available on Fullerton Ave. Facets is located 0.7 miles from the Fullerton Red/Brown/Purple Line station, less than 200 feet from the Fullerton and Greenview stop on the #74 bus, and just over 500 feet from the Ashland and Fullerton stop on the #9 and #X9 buses. For more information, visit the FACETS website.

Access

FACETS main entrance is accessible via a covered ramp and has limited in-theater wheelchair seating. Restrooms are wheelchair accessible, single use, and gender neutral.

Wheelchair and companion seating reservations, interpreter requests, and other accommodation requests can be made by:

Accomodation Request Form

Accessibility Frequently Asked Questions

All event venues are fully wheelchair accessible for audiences, with no-step entrances or ramp access, and elevators. All venues offer wheelchair-designated spaces, companion seating, easy-access theater seating, and accessible restrooms. Those who have specific seating requirements can notify a staff member or theater manager and get early access to all screenings.

All of our non-English-language films have English subtitles. Select in-person and virtual films will have Closed Captions (CC) or Audio Description (AD) available. Please note, not all venues will have CC devices available. Select in-person films will screen with Open Captions (OC). These screenings will be announced and publicized on our website and program guides.

CART Captioning will be available at select Q&As and panels.

Open captions always are in view and cannot be turned off, whereas closed captions can be turned on and off by the viewer.

An assistive listening device are personal technologies that will amplify film or microphone audio. Please note, not all venues will have ALD’s, and not all ALD’s will be compatible with Audio Description.

While all of our theaters offer wheelchair accessible spaces, companion seats, or other accessible seating options, these are first-come first-serve. Please note if you have an accessibility need you do get early access to the theater, just notify a staff person or theater manager. To reserve a spot you can do any of the following:

ASL Interpreters are available upon request. Please fill out the Accommodation Request Form to request an interpreter. Please note that any requests made less than a week before your scheduled screening cannot be guaranteed.

The Chicago International Film Festival does not provide 1:1 interpreters, personal aids, or guides. Attendees who require these can request a Companion ticket for their selected film. This will allow them to provide the necessary accommodations to accompany them without the purchase of an additional ticket.

Our Accommodation Request Form is great for giving feedback as well! You can also fill out the Film Event Accessibility Scorecard to give us feedback.

For Filmmakers

Creating accessibility assets for your films means that a wider, more diverse audience has access to your work. Your captions and audio description are as much a part of your film’s completion as the editing and coloring and should be submitted to festivals along with your film.

Download our Film Submission Accessibility Resource Guide

Filmmakers submitting their films to Cinema/Chicago with one or more of these assets are eligible for a 20% discount on their submission fee through Filmfreeway. To inquire about the discount, please email entries@chicagofilmfestival.com.

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. Captions are primarily created for the d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities, but have grown in popularity with many audiences.

Captions can be presented to audiences in different ways. Open Captions are visible on the big screen for everyone in an audience to see. Closed Captions can be viewed on a personal closed caption device, only visible to an individual audience member. In the case of online content, closed captions can be toggled on and off.

Audio Description is a verbal description that provides context to key visual elements of a film. The Audio Description is carefully planned so as not to overlap with a film’s dialogue or important auditory cues. Audio Descriptions are primarily created for blind or visually impaired audience members to make film programming accessible.

Here is an example of Audio Description:

There are many ways to create these assets for your film! Many independent captioners and audio describers are available for collaboration.

There are also websites like REV and 3Play where you can upload your film to have your captions or audio descriptions generated. It’s important to QC, review, and edit errors when using services like these. For more curated captions or audio description, companies like All Senses Go are a great option. They can work with you to fulfill your creative vision for your captions.

Find Audio Describers for your film
Find Captioners for your film

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