Film Guide
Movies A-Z • Directors A-Z • Countries A-Z • Categories • Calendar • Download Schedule
SO MANY FILMS, SO LITTLE TIME!
Here's a guide to help you with your choices:
Main Competition
Judged by a distinguished jury of film artists and critics, these works compete for the top honor, the Gold Hugo - as well as awards for best actor, actress, director, and writer - in North America's longest-running competitive film festival.
New Directors Competition
This juried competition of first and second feature films celebrates the spirit of discovery that the Festival was founded on.
Documentaries
Real stories, real people. This selection of documentaries, which compete for the Gold Hugo, tells the true stories that surprise us, entertain us, and challenge us to open our eyes.
Black Perspectives
Founded in 1997 through collaboration with director Spike Lee, this program showcases films that celebrate the richness and diversity of black cultures around the world.
World Cinema
The sights, sounds, and perspectives of diverse cultures from more than 30 countries across the globe come to audiences in Chicago.
Special Presentation
Some of the most anticipated films in the world are boosted by appearances from the artists behind them.
After Dark
Blood, terror, and dark twisted sense of humor run rampant throughout this selection of the most chilling films from around the world. Get a first look at tomorrow's cult classics and midnight favorites!
Cinema of the Americas
From the Bahamas and Brazil to Chile and Argentina, this program surveys the fresh and vibrant work emerging from South and Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
City & State
Join the Festival in celebrating Illinois? rich filmmaking tradition. This program showcases the best features, documentaries, and short films with their roots right here in Illinois.
Spotlight Middle East
This year, the Festival highlights one of the world’s richest, most diverse filmmaking regions with exciting new films from Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the UAE.
OUTrageous
From the edgy to the tender, these bold gay-themed films fearlessly exhibit new artistic perspectives on sexuality.
ReelWomen
Spotlighting the contribution that female writers and directors continue to make to film around the world, this program features films as diverse as the women who made them.
Panels
Filmmakers, industry members, film scholars and more join us for a program of exciting free panels designed to complement the Festival program.
Short Films
A rich and varied array of superb new short films, including a line-up of quirky, character-driven documentaries, a collection of stunning, award-winning short films from across the Middle East, a panorama of breathtaking new animation, a program celebrating Illinois’ remarkable filmmaking community, a midnight feast of scary shorts, and a salacious selection of films exploring the light and dark sides of our love and sex lives. 50 films from 30 countries provide a spectacular showcase of filmmaking talent and imagination.
The Chicagoans
Producer Tom Rosenberg, director Fisher Stevens, the Wachowski siblings, and Robert Zemeckis are but five examples from this year’s Festival. Chicago has been home to some of cinema’s best talents. In this series, native Chicagoans who have left a mark on the film industry share their expertise and experience with Festival audiences through a series of master classes and screenings.
