Comedy

Hilarious, deadpan, and satirical, this program presents a range of films that will keep you laughing out loud.

A woman with dark hair wearing earbuds watchfully glances over her shoulder towards the viewer beside a mirror in a dim hallway.

Ana the Cleaner

DirGuy Bauer

True crime junkie Ana cleans the homes of Chicago’s elite. When one of her clients’ wives suddenly disappears, Ana believes she’s uncovered a murder.

Bob Odenkirk and David Cross stand in front of a vast mountain range at sunset, smiling and wearing hiking gear and knit hats.

Comedy Documentary

Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu

DirMichael LaHaie

Comedians Bob Odenkirk and David Cross trek the Inca Trail in this hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt portrait of male friendship and mid-to-late-life crisis.

An older man with gray hair and glasses lounges by a pool in a white robe with a book and a glass of wine, the bottle is set on a tray next to him.

Comedy Documentary

Burgundy

DirMichael Dweck, Gregory Kershaw

This playful, crisp, and charming documentary captures the haute société of a French vineyard at a moment of generational change.

A group of friends stands on a shaded city sidewalk beside iron fences and trash bins, wearing colorful clothing.

Black Perspectives Comedy

Chocolate Babies

DirStephen Winter

In 1990s NYC, a group of HIV-positive queer activists wage fierce guerrilla warfare on corrupt politicians in this sharp, militant comedy-drama.

A group of young adults in a crowded nightclub, a man and woman energetically dance together in the center amid the haze and colored lights.

Comedy Opening Night OutLook

Club Kid

DirJordan Firstman

A hard-partying New York City club promoter sees his whirlwind lifestyle upended by the arrival of the 10-year-old son he never knew he had.

Comedy Shorts Program

Comedy Shorts: Anxious/Attachments

DirVarious

Delight in the absurdities of the modern world through these hilarious and eccentric comedies—and take comfort in the fact that we all experience awkwardness, anxiety, and clumsy attempts to connect with one another. No matter the outcome, at least we’re trying!

A woman sits in a rehearsal room, she has auburn hair and a blue cardigan over a white collared shirt and a black skirt. She folds her hands in her lap with a nervous expression and sits alone as many other people work around her.

Comedy Special Presentation

The Debut

DirJesse Eisenberg

When an unassuming housewife (Julianne Moore) is unexpectedly cast in a small community theater production, she loses herself in the role under the spell of a strong-willed director (Paul Giamatti).

A tired woman sits in the middle of a lived-in home with a cello, she wears slippers and an oversized blue shirt.

Comedy Departures

Everything Else is Noise Lo demás es ruido

DirNicolás Pereda

A pretentious television crew stumbles through an interview with composers Rosa and Tere in this hilarious, satirical chamber comedy.

A woman in a ruffled white blouse and braids with hair jewelry performs into a microphone on stage, she stands before a brick wall and a poster that says Riddles Comedy Club.

Black Perspectives City & State Comedy Community Cinema Documentary

Finding Your Laughter

DirArlieta Hall, Brittany Alsot

In this joyful, moving documentary, Chicago comedian Arlieta uses improv comedy techniques to care for her father as he battles Alzheimer’s.

A woman and man converse outside on a rug, tea glasses in front of them. The woman wears an orange shirt and blue jeans, photography equipment and a walkie-talkie. The man wears simple linen clothing, and a deep purple head scarf.

Comedy New Directors Competition

Head to Head Sar beh Sar

DirGhasideh Golmakani

A filmmaker returns home to Iran to shoot a new project—one in which male actors are costumed in headscarves and skirts—in this razor-sharp comedy.

Two men stand back to back, the man in front has long hair and is holding a gun, the two are surrounded by sharks below them, sprawling wooded mountians stand behind them along with a harbor building.

After Dark Comedy

HotSpring SharkAttack: Great Kyushu Showdown Onsen Shark2: Kyushu Dai-Kessen

DirMorito Inoue

An aspiring music student attempts to save her town from an onslaught of vicious flying sharks in this riotous flick brimming with outrageous B-movie thrills.

A jovial woman with brown curly hair and a floral blouse holds up a half-full bottle of wine, celebrating in front of a blue garage style door.

Comedy Departures

Isabel

DirGabe Klinger

Feeling stymied by the world of fine-dining, sommelière Isabel sets out to open her own natural wine bar in this effervescent love letter to São Paulo.

A man stands alone, facing away, in a simply decorated yet elegant room. He has gray hair and wears a blue checkered suit and stares into his reflection in a distant standing mirror.

Comedy Departures

The Loneliest Man in Town

DirTizza Covi, Rainer Frimmel

When a real estate company targets blues legend Al Cook’s apartment for demolition, he’s forced to forge a new path in this winning blend of reality and fiction.

A young woman with brown curly hair lies back in a hospital bed holding up her shirt, a man and a woman lean over her, the man is a doctor with a clipboard skeptically looking at her stomach, the woman is older in patterned clothing and looking at the young woman with concern.

After Dark Comedy

Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant

DirTHUNDERLIPS

A depressed slacker and a man harboring an alien secret accidentally procreate in this outrageous horror comedy bursting with practical effects.

A woman and man relax in pool floats on a large body of water. The woman wears glasses and a bikini, a hat resting in her float as she lets her head fall into the water, a drink resting between her knees. The man is shirtless and has a beard, he lies on his back, head in his hands, a drink in his floaty.

Comedy Documentary Competition OutLook

Summer Drift Virages

DirCéline Carridroit, Aline Suter

Swiss watch technician Johanna sets out to restore her beloved VW bug and return to the tracks where she once raced in this celebration of trans identity.

A man stands before a house, the lawn buried in a towering and colorful pile of furniture, appliances, boxes, and clutter. Framed by a gray sky and leafless trees.

City & State Comedy OutLook

Trash Mountain

DirKris Rey

In this witty, queer coming-of-age comedy, Gavin (Caleb Hearon) leaves Chicago for his Missouri hometown after his father dies.

A woman in a high-collared, dark Victorian dress stands before a forest tapestry, lit by candle sconces. She looks over her shoulder apprehensively in the dim room.

After Dark Comedy

Victorian Psycho

DirZachary Wigon

A psychopathic governess struggles to tamp down her murderous tendencies in this delightfully unhinged twist on 19th century social conventions.

A young black woman wearing a blue t-shirt and a name tag carries mutliple VHS tapes in her arms inside a video store. The videos behind her are blurry and grainy in the distance with colorful covers.

Black Perspectives Comedy

The Watermelon Woman

DirCheryl Dunye

A video clerk unearths the hidden history of a 1930s Black actress in Cheryl Dunye’s landmark queer comedy.

Two men sit on an airport bench in vintage clothing. One man has mutton chops and suspenders, the other a cowboy hat and a thick mustache. Behind them a plane is visible through the window, they lean in laughing together.

Comedy Special Presentation

Wild Horse Nine

DirMartin McDonagh

Ahead of the 1973 Chilean coup, two CIA agents (John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell) travel to Easter Island, where their dark pasts threaten to reveal their current conspiracies.

Comedy

Everything Else is Noise Lo demás es ruido

Head to Head Sar beh Sar

HotSpring SharkAttack: Great Kyushu Showdown Onsen Shark2: Kyushu Dai-Kessen

Summer Drift Virages

Program Partner

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