CineYouth

April 25–27, 2025

CineYouth

Discover the next generation of filmmakers

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.

Submissions for CineYouth 2025 are now open!

Submit Now
See below for full details.

CineYouth Festival 2025 Submissions

Submissions for CineYouth 2025 are now open!

Submission Deadlines

  • Early Bird Deadline: January 17, 2025
  • Regular Deadline: January 31, 2025
  • Final Deadline: February 14, 2025
  • Notification by March 24, 2025

Eligibility

  • Filmmakers must be 22 years old or younger at the time of the film’s completion. (Can currently be 23 if the film was finished while 22.)
  • Films must be 15 minutes or less.
  • All entries must be submitted through FilmFreeway.
  • We accept the following genres: drama, comedy, animation, documentary, horror, thriller, music video and experimental.

Questions? Email: cineyouth@chicagofilmfestival.com

Learn More

For full submission details, check out the CineYouth submission page on FilmFreeway using the link below:

Submit With FilmFreeway

Our Commitment to Diversity

As a step towards a more inclusive and accessible festival that addresses the systemic inequity and underrepresentation in film, CineYouth is offering a 50% discount to all films submitted by BIPOC filmmakers, as well as filmmakers with disabilities and/or films featuring performers with disabilities using the following codes:

BIPOCVOICES2025

DISABILITYVOICES2025

Get Involved

CineYouth 2025 Programming Committee Internship

Join the CineYouth Programming Team with this hands-on internship that provides experience programming and assisting with operations related to the 2025 CineYouth Festival.

Learn more & Apply

Get the latest CineYouth news!

Make sure you don’t miss any CineYouth events or deadlines. Sign up for our CineYouth mailing list and never be out of the loop.

CineYouth 2024 Information

CineYouth Program Book

Get a full breakdown of all the films and events in one handy PDF.
Download the 2024 Program Book…

CineYouth Awards

View the award winners from 2024’s CineYouth Festival.
View Award Winners…

Committees & Juries

Meet the people behind the scenes that made CineYouth 2024 possible.
Learn more…

2024 Schedule

Check out the screenings and events from the 2024 CineYouth Festival.
View the schedule…

Accessibility

CineYouth offers a variety of accessibility options at the festival
Learn about accessibility…

What is CineYouth?

CineYouth is the Cinema/Chicago’s annual film festival showcasing short films made by filmmakers 22-years-old and younger from around the world. Created in 2005, CineYouth encourages the talent of young filmmakers and supports diverse youth voices by providing opportunities to have their work showcased, to learn about filmmaking from industry experts, and to network with their peers. Held annually in Chicago, CineYouth offers both in-theatre and online film screenings, filmmaking workshops, live Q&A’s, and more!

Select award-winning CineYouth films are screened at the Chicago International Film Festival at the CineYouth “Best of the Fest” screening. All events at CineYouth are free and open to the public.

CineYouth 2024 Supporters

Want to help support the next generation of filmmakers? Become a CineYouth Sponsor today…

Major Sponsor

Logo: Adobe Premire Pro 257x85

Additional Support

Logo: DCASE Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events 311x100Logo: Illinois Arts Council - 133x100Logo: Acuqa Panna 125x133logo: Maison Perrier 125x146

This project is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.
This program is partially supported by a grant for the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

Venue Partner

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Official Agency

Logo: Ogilvy 175x75

Accessibility Partner

logo: Periscope Post & Audio 308x100

CineYouth is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.