CineYouth Program
CineYouth Selections: Captions Available
Screenings & Events
Virtual Screening
Available to stream globally April 24 @ 12:00pm CT through April 30 @ 11:59pm CT for a 72-hour watch window.
Synopsis
As part of our ongoing accessibility initiative, we are proud to present this selection of CineYouth films with captions available. Click on the Subtitles button to turn on the English Captions.
Films
The Big One: The Day Bigfoot Shot Dad
A gruff father follows his lifelong dream of tracking down and catching Bigfoot, only to realize that his greatest accomplishment has been by his side all along.
A Trip to the Moon
Faced with financial challenges, a single mother takes her young son to the moon using the magic and awe of storytelling.
As You Are
An interabled couple’s first night together leads them to confront complex relationships with desire, bodily autonomy, and what it means to truly love another person.
Earth’s Second Moon
This animated musical fantasy follows a pair of first-time parents and their baby, who seems to never stop growing.
Sacrificios
Salvadoran immigrant Carla struggles to navigate her rocky relationship with a Texas gubernatorial candidate.
Chicken
Faced with losing custody of his child, a 16-year old boy in juvenile prison learns what it takes to be a father by caring for a chicken.
There’s Something About Ryan
The strength of a family’s bonds are put to the test when their diabetic son is frightfully transformed.
Reaper
This moody and gripping work of animation follows a lost soul on the run from the Reaper.
Ambrosia
An activist drag queen in rural Alabama is forced to keep her identity secret as she fights for human rights in a race against the systemic erasure of her own history.
The River
This impassioned, poetic expression of a community’s response to the loss of a young girl addresses sexual violence, grief, and trauma.
CineYouth Program
Free Verse: Experimental
Screenings & Events
Virtual Screening
Available to stream globally April 24 @ 12:00pm CT through April 30 @ 11:59pm CT for a 72-hour watch window.
Synopsis
Cinematic poetry comes to life in this stunning and thought-provoking array of films that break boundaries and inspire creativity.
Note: Films in this program contain themes or language that may not be suitable for all ages.
Films
She Flies Heavy
When a pair of lovers retreats to the woods to reignite their fading feelings for one another, they find themselves drawn to the healing power of nature.
Lavender Menace
In the late 1960s a queer woman questions her own sanity in the face of the pervasive belief that to be gay is to be mentally ill.
Esperando al viento
Amidst the monotonous daily grind of factory work, a young man finds liberation in the movement of his body.
Chorus of the Sun
Hoping to rekindle a spark that once shone brightly, a poet reflects on his life and relationship with writing at the onset of the pandemic.
Contagion
An immersive and hypnotic depiction of a downward spiral.
Earth Hum
Dedicated to Rachel Martin’s drawing “Family Tree,” this experimental documentary invites the audience to hear directly from Martin about her art and her purpose.
Red Flavor No.1™
A “human” finds themself in a room with nothing but a plate of red jello.
time’s ticking
A filmmaker’s intimate exploration of the concept of time, reflections on the current moment, and their own identity.
The River
This impassioned, poetic expression of a community’s response to the loss of a young girl addresses sexual violence, grief, and trauma.
CineYouth Program
Be Seen, Be Heard: Documentary
Screenings & Events
Virtual Screening
Available to stream globally April 24 @ 12:00pm CT through April 30 @ 11:59pm CT for a 72-hour watch window.
Synopsis
These documentaries demonstrate that the personal is powerful, and sharing your unique voice and perspective can brighten the world and help make others feel seen.
Note: Films in this program contain themes or language that may not be suitable for all ages.
Films
Crown.
This celebratory exploration of young Black women’s relationships with their natural hair offers reflections on identity, expression, and community.
Guardians
The harsh psychological reality of a woman’s nightly walk home comes into sharp focus in this experimental documentary about the price of safety.
Hidden Pride: Life at BYU as a Queer Student
Past and present Queer Brigham Young University students share raw and powerful stories of their struggle to live truthfully at the Mormon University.
Believe in Wonder
One couple is a bright spot in their community as they run a publishing business for Black creatives and grow a family through foster-adoption in this inspiring portrait.
Sponsors
Presented by 
CineYouth Program
Playtime: Family Fun
Screenings & Events
Virtual Screening
Available to stream globally April 24 @ 12:00pm CT through April 30 @ 11:59pm CT for a 72-hour watch window.
Synopsis
Come share moments of joy, laughter, and comfort with these vibrant tales about family, friendships, and life—fun for all ages!
Films
The Big One: The Day Bigfoot Shot Dad
A gruff father follows his lifelong dream of tracking down and catching Bigfoot, only to realize that his greatest accomplishment has been by his side all along.
Life of a Mayfly
A curious mayfly’s adventures throughout the day invite us to reflect on the meaning of life and the beauty of finding purpose.
Mishkutashk
Teenager Maikan goes back to their childhood village to visit their grandmother, who hopes to reconnect Maikan with their Innu culture.
The Snowman’s Carrot
Two brothers get into a fight in the dead of winter, when one of them dives head first into the deep snow, transporting him to a future world.
Metamorphosis of the Old House
Even as an old house in a magic forest is on the verge of collapse, the cat who lives there refuses to move out.
Tiny Trooper: Green vs. Tan
Green Army and Tan Army fight to gain control over the last Oreo on the planet in this playful action-comedy.
Checkers
A boy is determined to beat an unlikely rival in a game of checkers in this quirky and endearing comedy.
The Magic Pencil
Once upon a time there was a Magic Pencil, who erased diseases, wars, and other bad things and drew a portal to give hugs to the children of the world.
Earth’s Second Moon
This animated musical fantasy follows a pair of first-time parents and their baby, who seems to never stop growing.
Startline
A teenage girl comes face to face with the trials and toils of adolescence as she dreams of becoming an athlete in this colorful and candid animation.
Sponsors
Presented by
CineYouth Program
Humor Me
Screenings & Events
Virtual Screening
Available to stream globally April 24 @ 12:00pm CT through April 30 @ 11:59pm CT for a 72-hour watch window.
Synopsis
Come experience the joys and absurdities of the world with these lighthearted knee-slappers–sure to make you laugh and delight in their quirky comedic sensibilities!
Films
Poultry Panic
Having promised to bring home a duck for dinner, a man must get creative in order to catch one in the wild.
Fork and Batter Get Worser
As the grand opening of their shop nears, two bakers anticipate the taste of their first sale.
Judgment
After an unfair evaluation of a classmate’s film, two students decide to get even with the principal by making a movie exposing the injustice.
Picture Day
An animated first-person retelling of the worst day ever, when picture day coincided with the onset of puberty.
George
An office plant facing an existential crisis is driven to the brink.
MORE
After joining an elite manufacturing firm, a young intern is tasked with suppressing a serious allegation that threatens to take down the entire company.
Sponsors
Presented by
212 W Van Buren St., Suite 400Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: 312.683.0121 | Fax: 312.683.0122
info@chicagofilmfestival.com
