Festival Archives: Chicago Intl Film Festival

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An animated man in a yellow cap holds a plastic bag of pills in one hand and his phone in the other while driving a car.

Luz Diabla

  Gervasio Canda, Paula Boffo, Patricio Plaza

  Argentina, Canada     11 minutes

Synopsis

On his way to a rave in the Argentine Pampas, a young queer man gets into an accident. Taking refuge in a mysterious rural tavern where he is conspicuously out of place, his paranoia begins to mount and he worries he might never escape.

This film screens as part of Shorts Program 10: Outré.

  

 Spanish 

Content Considerations

Media

Film Credits

  •   Gervasio Canda, Paula Poffo, Patricio Plaza, Courtney Wolfson
  •   Gervasio Ganda, Paula Boffo, Patricio Plaza
  •   Patricio Plaza
  •   Gianluca Zonzini, Gulliver Markert, Mario Alarcón, Emanuel Gabotto, David Tokar
  •   Emanuel Gabotto, David Tokar, Antu La Banca
  •   Ojo Raro, Lakeside Animation
  •   https://www.miyu.fr/distribution/luz-diabla/

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Shown in profile against a dark background, a blond transmasculine person kisses another person made up to resemble the moon.

Once in a Full Moon

  Bande James Bond (Cilu Dièl, Ernesto Fag, Popo La Sodo)

  Belgium     26 minutes

Synopsis

In a stylish and sensual fantasy world, a young vampire falls in love with the moon. The two yearn to consummate their impossible romance, and when the vampire is offered a choice between his immortality and one night with the moon, he departs on a journey to join his beloved in the sky for one night of cross-species bliss.

This film screens as part of Shorts Program 10: Outré.

  

 French 

Film Credits

  •   Bande James Bond (Cilu Dièl, Ernesto Fag, Popo La Sodo)
  •   Anna Jacob Gauzit
  •   Ben Grinand
  •   Cilu Dièl, Ernesto Fag, Popo La Sodo, Hyrel Venn
  •   Hyrel Venn
  •   https://horsdubocal.eu/films/once-in-a-full-moon

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Best of CineYouth 2025

  Various

  Poland, Spain, U.S.     82 minutes

Synopsis

The award-winning shorts of CineYouth 2025 showcase the talent and vision of eight young filmmakers from around the world. Fast-paced action-comedy, timely documentary, cheerful animation, and body horror help comprise this genre-spanning program. Join us immediately after the screening for a celebratory reception in the Festival Filmmakers Lounge.

Diagnosed with terminal insomnia, Cillian obsessively builds a time machine to escape death in the The Mechanization of Man. Perfect Casting follows the founding of an unlikely friendship. How to Smell Without a Nose is a dark and impactful short about the Korean war, illustrated through the prosecution of a Joseon woman. April struggles for self-expression in Arm and a Leg. In the action comedy Check Please, a Korean and a Korean-American fight over their pride, honor, and who gets to pick up the tab. A mother and daughter cope with grief in Chiquita Piconera. An evil king holds a princess captive in Paper Love. In Hey Hugo, a well-loved family man waits in prison for his conviction to be overturned.

 English, Korean, No Dialogue, Spanish 

Content Considerations

Screenings & Events

Screening

Sat, Oct 25 @ 10:00am

at AMC NEWCITY 14, Screen 04
Venue information...

Reception
Free reception to follow in the Festival Filmmakers Lounge, 12:00–1:30pm

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A black and white image of a person falling through an endless black abyss.

The Mechanization of Man

  Eion Nunez, Age 17

  Los Angeles, California, United States     15 minutes

Synopsis

Diagnosed with terminal insomnia, Cillian clings to his past, obsessively building a time machine in his final days only for it to fail. With shifting visual styles and a driving pace, The Mechanization of Man is a compelling thriller.

This film screens as part of the Best of CineYouth 2025 shorts program.

 English 

Content Considerations

Film Credits

  •   Andrea Ramirez Romo
  •   Eion Nunez
  •   Eion Nunez
  •   Eion Nunez
  •   Phoenix Ross, Yong Kim, Daryl Bryant, Billy Ross, Tamara Ross, Sean Kinney
  •   Andrea Ramirez Romo, Phoenix Ross, Julian Chui

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A woman wearing an apron in a dark hallway looks up in awe, her face is lit up.

Perfect Casting

  Autumn English, Age 22

  Chicago, Illinois, United States     5 minutes

Synopsis

Told through dynamic visuals and quirky character designs, this animated tale follows the founding of an unlikely friendship. A skilled costume designer struggles to collaborate with an asocial creature actor who is eerily good at playing the monster.

This film screens as part of the Best of CineYouth 2025 shorts program.

  

 English 

Film Credits

  •   Autumn English
  •   Maxine Coltin, Caleb Harbin
  •   Phoenix Moses, Andres Carlos-Tamez

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