Celebrating our 55th anniversary in 2019, the Chicago International Film Festival is now accepting entries for feature length, documentary, and short films!
Presented by Cinema/Chicago, we are North America’s longest-running competitive film festival. We screen films from around the world across a wide variety of competitions and programs. In 2018, the Festival showcased 175 short and feature-length films from 58 countries and hosted 200 guests from around the globe. We are an Academy Award-qualifying Festival for the winners of our Best Live Action Short and Best Documentary Short competitions. Submit your film today to be considered for our 2019 Festival!
The Earlybird Deadline for submissions is April 8, 2019. The Regular Deadline is June 17, 2019, and the Late Deadline for all entries is July 8, 2019. View our submissions page for guidelines and requirements as well as for information about how to enter your film.
More details about our competitive and non-competitive sections are below. The 55th Chicago International Film Festival will take place October 16-27, 2019.
Submit Your Film View our 2018 Program
COMPETITIVE SECTIONS
The Chicago International Film Festival is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America. Films programmed in these competitions are eligible for awards across a variety of categories.
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.
Out-Look Competition
From the edgy to the tender, these bold LGBTQ-themed films exhibit new artistic perspectives on sexuality and identity, and compete for the Q Hugo Award.
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 and Best Documentary 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.
Founder’s Award
All films in the Festival are eligible for the Founder’s Award, presented to one film or performance that captures the spirit of the Chicago International Film Festival for its unique and innovative approach to the art of the moving image.
NON-COMPETITIVE SECTIONS
The Chicago International Film Festival screens a wide range of films out of competition every year. All non-competition films at the Festival are programmed under one of the following categories.
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 23rd 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.
Cinemas of the Americas
With films from Cuba and Colombia to Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, this program spotlights the fresh and vibrant work of emerging and veteran filmmakers from South and Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
World Cinema
A mix of classic narratives and cutting edge forms, this program offers a snapshot of the contemporary cinematic landscape. Serving up the sights, sounds and stories from cultures around the globe, this section presents the latest from established masters, festival award winners, box-office hits, and hidden gems.
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