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Festival Film List

Explore all of the films that this year’s festival has to offer, from thrilling dramas to outrageous comedies. Use the filter controls to find just the films you’re looking for, screening exactly the way you want to experience them.

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In-Person
A lone man stands overlooking a windswept grassy landscape, and a river.

About Dry Grasses Kuru Otlar Üstüne

Nuri Bilge Ceylan  |   Turkey, France, Germany
Turkish  
Drama

The harsh beauty of Turkish provincial life is highlighted in this intense character study of a teacher under investigation for inappropriate behavior.

In-Person

Adventures/Aventuras: Family Friendly Animated Shorts

Various  |   Germany, Mexico, Portugal, United States
English  
Animation, Coming of Age

Audiences of all ages can enjoy these three stories of adventure, all highlights from our Family Friendly Animation program, presented at the Harrison Park Field House in Pilsen.

In-Person
Within a maze, a man on a ladder leans over a hedge.

After Work

Erik Gandini  |   Sweden, Italy, Norway
English, Italian, Norwegian  
Documentary, Political, Social Commentary

In his funny and thought-provoking latest film, Erik Gandini (Videocracy) chronicles the past, present, and future of labor.

In-Person
A black and white image. Illimunated by a single bright light, a man sits in front of a ham radio.

Alien Island Isla Alien

Cristóbal Valenzuela  |   Chile, Italy
Spanish  
Documentary, Political, Science Fiction

During Chile’s military dictatorship, radio operators receive messages from an alien race. Are they real, or is it something more insidious?

In-Person
A woman wearing a white dress, cradles a baby in a diaper in a neighborhood surrounded by trees.

All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt

Raven Jackson  |   United States
English  
Coming of Age, Family Affairs, Women Centered

This lyrical, decades-spanning exploration of a woman’s life in Mississippi is a haunting, beautiful ode to the people and places that shape us.

In-Person

All Happy Families

Haroula Rose  |   United States
English  
Comedy, Drama, Family Affairs

In this delightful Chicago-set comedy, an aspiring actor grapples with the arrival of his more successful brother at his dysfunctional family’s crumbling two-flat.

In-Person
A man and woman smile while clinking glasses, as they focus on the man facing them.

All of Us Strangers

Andrew Haigh  |   United Kingdom
English  
Drama, LGBTQ, Literary Adaptation, Romance

As Adam falls into a new relationship, he’s drawn back to his childhood home. There, his parents are living just as they were on the day they died.

In-Person
A bald, bearded man wearing a white button up stands in front of a large home with an American flag hanging from it.

American Fiction

Cord Jefferson  |   United States
English  
Comedy, Political, Social Commentary

Cord Jefferson’s hilarious directorial debut confronts our culture’s obsession with reducing people to outrageous stereotypes. Starring Jeffrey Wright as Monk, a frustrated novelist who’s fed up with the establishment.

In-Person
A man lies in the snow, blood pooling behind his head. Two people stand nearby, embracing eachother, one holds a phone.

Anatomy of a Fall Anatomie d’une chute

Justine Triet  |   France
English, French, German  
Crime, Drama, Mystery, Women Centered

A wife is suspected of murdering her husband in this bracing psychological showstopper. Winner of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

In-Person
An older man and woman sit across from each other, sharing glasses of wine.

And the Party Goes On Et la fête continue

Robert Guédiguian  |   France
French  
Family Affairs, Political, Romance

In this joyful, humanistic drama, Rosa, the heart and soul of her community, faces retirement with mounting disillusionment — until she meets Henri.

In-Person
A man in a dark trench coat stands on a hill overlooking a vast landscape and open sky. A winged statue sits behind him.

Anselm

Wim Wenders  |   Germany
English, German  
Art, Documentary

Wim Wenders’ 3D documentary is a luminous portrait of iconoclastic German artist Anselm Kiefer, whose monumental work is captured in all its mythic splendor.

In-Person
A woman emraces a girl, kissing the side of her head, and holds a small black dog in her other arm.

Bad Living Mal Viver

João Canijo  |   Portugal, France
Portuguese  
Architecture, Drama, Family Affairs, Women Centered

The first in a pair of intricately interconnected films, five women struggle to keep their decaying family hotel afloat.

In-Person
A man and woman lay in the grass, gazing at each other.

Banel & Adama

Ramata-Toulaye Sy  |   Senegal, France, Mali
Pulaar  
Drama, Romance, Women Centered

Rebellious young lovers challenge tradition in this mesmerizing and emotionally charged romantic drama tinged with magical realism

In-Person
The black and white image of a woman leaning against a wall, the city street with a vintage car can be seen beyond.

The Battle A Batalha da Rua Maria Antônia

Vera Egito  |   Brazil
Portuguese  
Drama, Historical, LGBTQ, Political

On a pivotal night during Brazil’s dictatorship, a leftist student movement braces for violent conflict in this moody, stylized nod to history.

In-Person
People dancing in a vintage dance hall. Two women at center screen dance together.

The Beautiful Summer La bella estate

Laura Luchetti  |   Italy
Italian  
Coming of Age, LGBTQ, Romance, Women Centered

Summer 1938. Ginia moves to Turin and immerses herself in a sensual, bohemian world where she finds the courage to truly be herself.

In-Person
Virtual
Under a tent lined with string lights, a man and a woman stand closely. He looks down while she gazes as him.

Because We Have Each Other

Sari Braithwaite  |   Australia
English  
Documentary, Family Affairs, Women Centered

This wondrous and warm-hearted documentary follows a neurodivergent Australian family as they experience the joys, misfortunes, and traumas of everyday life.

In-Person
Virtual

The Best of CineYouth 2023

Various  |   Canada, Iran, South Korea, United States

Discover the next generation of great filmmakers with CineYouth’s 2023 award winners! From animated gems to impactful documentaries, experimental genre-benders to heartfelt dramas, this eclectic and impressive group of films are all made by directors 22-years-old or younger!

In-Person

Beyond the Frame: 376 Days (Nick Cave: Keep it Movin’) + Chronicle of a Summer Day

Various  |   United States
English  
Art, Documentary, LGBTQ

This suite of films explores the fusion of the natural world and cultural narratives, as well as the limitless possibilities of creative expression and transcending convention.

In-Person
Virtual
Two black cyclists, in full kits, ride past camera on a flat road.

Bike Vessel

Eric D. Seals  |   United States
English  
Documentary, Social Commentary, Sports

A father and son embark on an epic bike ride from St. Louis to Chicago in this stirring documentary that takes a hard look at health disparities in the Black community.

In-Person
A black and white image of a man riding a motorcycle over a bridge. He looks at something behind him.

The Bikeriders

Jeff Nichols  |   United States
English  
Crime, Drama, Historical

From writer-director Jeff Nichols comes a furious drama following the rise of a fictional 1960s Midwestern motorcycle club through the lives of its members.

In-Person
A woman stares out a dirty window, the paint on the exterior is old and cracked.

Black Box

Aslı Özge  |   Germany, Belgium
Andi, Arabic, English, French, German, Russian, Turkish  
Architecture, Drama, Social Commentary, Thriller

A Berlin apartment building is placed under lockdown, igniting social, cultural, and familial tensions in this intoxicating potboiler.

In-Person
A woman sits on the floor in her bra and skirt while resting her hands on the man laying his head in her lap.

Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry

Elene Naveriani  |   Switzerland, Georgia
Georgian  
Comedy, Romance, Women Centered

48-year old Etero’s world is turned upside down when she falls for a local deliveryman in this endearing and off-kilter dry comedy.

In-Person
In a countryside home, Mahito Maki sits at a table facing a humanoid man in a bird costume. Both have serious gazes.

The Boy and the Heron Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru ka

Hayao Miyazaki  |   Japan
Japanese  
Animation, Coming of Age, Drama

A semi-autobiographical fantasy about life, death, and creation,
 in tribute to friendship, from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.

In-Person
A man and woman sit beside eachother in front of a fireplace. The man looks pleased and relaxed, the woman is upset.

The Bride

Myriam U. Birara  |   Rwanda
Kinyarwanda  
Drama, LGBTQ, Social Commentary, Women Centered

Kidnapped and forced into marriage, Eva forms a tender friendship with her new husband’s cousin as together they face the ghosts of Rwanda’s past.

In-Person
Three children sit in the backseat of a car, their parents in the front seat in the foreground.

The Burdened

Amr Gamal  |   Yemen, Sudan, Saudi Arabia
Arabic  
Drama, Family Affairs, Social Commentary

Beleaguered parents Isra’a and Ahmed are forced to make a difficult decision when they receive some unsettling news: Isra’a is pregnant again.

In-Person
Two women stand on a rooftop, staring out at the countryside.

Bye Bye Tiberias

Lina Soualem  |   France, Palestine, Belgium, Qatar
French, Palestinian Arabic  
Documentary, Family Affairs, Political, Women Centered

Filmmaker Lina Souaelm traces the journeys of her mother — Palestinian actress Hiam Abbas — and the women of her extended family, whose lives have been defined by separation, exile, and resilience.

In-Person
A young man with glasses glares straight ahead. His face is sweaty and battered.

Carnal Sins Almamula

Juan Sebastián Torales  |   France, Argentina, Italy
Spanish  
Drama, Horror, LGBTQ, Religion

Seduced by the myth of a local monster that punishes impure acts, gay teen Nino pursues temptation within a deeply religious community.

In-Person
A group of colorfully dressed young people celebtate together.

La Chimera

Alice Rohrwacher  |   Italy, France, Switzerland
Italian  
Art, Crime, Drama

A group of misfits scour the Tuscan countryside for artifacts, until an invaluable find makes them question their role in plundering history.

In-Person
A woman in an orange polo and red shorts strides confidently through a courtyard. Two women watch from behind her.

Club Zero

Jessica Hausner  |   Austria, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark
English  
Drama, Social Commentary, Women Centered

Mia Wasikowska stars as a teacher who encourages her students to stop eating in this mannered blend of dry satire and gross-out body horror.

In-Person
A group of men wearing winter coats, gather together while facing a crowd of people.

Concrete Utopia

Um Tae-hwa  |   South Korea
Korean  
Action, Social Commentary

After a devastating earthquake, the residents of the last remaining apartment building in Seoul must fight both outsiders and each other for survival.

In-Person
Three women stand on the front steps of a grand building, looking at each other conspiratorially.

The Crime is Mine Mon crime

François Ozon  |   France
French  
Comedy, Crime, Mystery, Women Centered

A penniless actress and lawyer put on the performances of a lifetime in the courtroom in this farcical caper set in 1930s Paris.

In-Person
A close up of a woman over a black and red backdrop.

The Daughters of Fire [short film] As filhas do fogo

Pedro Costa  |   Portugal
Portuguese  
Art, Drama

Directed by Pedro Costa, The Daughters of Fire represents a radical step forward in form and ambition for the singular Portuguese maestro.

In-Person
Five people watch an older man speak, while another man slumps over a desk in defeat.

The Delinquents Los delincuentes

Rodrigo Moreno  |   Argentina, Luxembourg, Brazil, Chile
Spanish  
Comedy, Crime, Drama, Social Commentary

Morán works a dead-end job at a bank. Fed up, he dreams up a scheme to break free: walk into the vault and steal enough cash for a comfortable retirement.

In-Person
A trippy, almost 3D colored image of a boy staring fearfully right into the camera.

Departing Seniors

Clare Cooney  |   United States
English  
Comedy, Horror, LGBTQ

In this Chicago-set update on the teen slasher, a gay Latinx high school student becomes an unlikely vigilante when he develops psychic powers.

In-Person
Two men speak to each other. Framed behind them is a large mirrored structure, reflecting trees and buildings.

Depot – Reflecting Boijmans

Sonia Herman Dolz  |   Netherlands
Dutch, English, German  
Architecture, Art, Documentary

This playful documentary chronicles the construction of the Depot, a shimmering open-concept space in Rotterdam that reimagines the possibilities for art storage and exhibition.

In-Person
A woman in a sequin dress takes a selfie in a public bathroom. Another woman pokes her head in to look.

Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World Nu Aștepta Prea Mult De La Sfârșitul Lumii

Radu Jude  |   Romania, Luxembourg, France, Croatia
Romanian  
Comedy, Political, Social Commentary

A production assistant attempts to cast actors for a workplace safety video in this wry, absurdist satire of capitalism in the digital age.

In-Person
A balding man in glasses and a parka stands in front of a car with the word 'loser' spray painted on the side behind him

Dream Scenario

Kristoffer Borgli  |   United States
English  
Comedy, Horror, Social Commentary

Family man Paul Matthews (Nicolas Cage) finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams.

In-Person
A girl in a warm hooded coat leads a horse by the bridle.

The Echo El Eco

Tatiana Huezo  |   Mexico, Germany
Spanish  
Coming of Age, Documentary, Women Centered

From the acclaimed director of Prayers for the Stolen comes an exquisitely textured coming-of-age story about an adolescent girl in rural Mexico.

In-Person
A woman looks to the side, resting her chin on her hands.

Eric LaRue

Michael Shannon  |   United States
English  
Drama, Religion, Social Commentary, Women Centered

In his masterful directorial debut, Michael Shannon tells the riveting story of a mother grappling with the fallout of a school shooting.

In-Person
A young girl wearing a blue puffer coat and yellow gloves, looks straight ahead as she blocks her face from the sun.

Evil Does Not Exist Aku Wa Sonzai Shinai

Ryûsuke Hamaguchi  |   Japan
Japanese  
Drama, Environmental, Social Commentary, Thriller

In this captivating eco-thriller, life in the tranquil village of Harasawa is threatened when a Tokyo company announces plans for a glamping site for urbanites.

In-Person
In a classroom, a crowd of onlookers watches a teenage boy read from a piece of paper.

Explanation for Everything Magyarázat mindenre

Gábor Reisz  |   Hungary, Slovakia
Hungarian  
Coming of Age, Drama, Social Commentary

Abel, a lovesick highschool student, is distracted. His life is turned upside down when his failed graduation history exam turns into a national scandal.

In-Person
In a lightly attended screening in the movie theater, a man glances at the woman seated next to him.

Fallen Leaves

Aki Kaurismäki  |   Finland, Germany
Finnish  
Drama, Romance

Two strangers meet by chance in a karaoke bar. Despite an instant spark, a series of everyday obstacles threatens to derail their joint destiny.

In-Person
A girl in a pink button-up, soaking wet, looks off camera. Behind her a pond surrounded by lush trees

Family Portrait

Lucy Kerr  |   United States
English  
Drama, Family Affairs, Women Centered

Spring 2020. A Texas family reunion morphs into a hectic mess when a family matriarch goes missing in this potent distillation of early pandemic paranoia.

In-Person
A man and woman, looking concerned, kneel next to a retro-futuristic looking microwave.

Fingernails

Christos Nikou  |   United States
English  
Drama, Romance, Science Fiction

In this offbeat romance, Anna and Ryan take a test that proves their love is true. Then Anna meets another man, throwing everything she knows into doubt.

In-Person
Two men wearing matching yellow polos lean against a fence topped with barbed wire, one smokes a cigarettes.

firedream lumbrensueño

José Pablo Escamilla  |   Mexico
Spanish  
Coming of Age, Drama, Family Affairs

In an industrial city, aimless teenager Lucas searches for meaning and connection. A friend’s sudden departure will send him on a poetic odyssey.

In-Person
A colorful truck weaves through winding mountain roads, two people sit on its roof observing the passing scenery.

Food Roots

Michele Josue  |   United States, Philippines
English, Tagalog  
Culinary, Documentary, Family Affairs

This heartfelt tribute to food, family, and cultural identity charts Chicago restaurateur Billy Dec’s journey to reconnect with his Filipino heritage.

In-Person
Two women relax by a body of water in reclined chairs, shaded by a tree.

Foremost by Night Sobre todo de noche

Víctor Iriarte  |   Spain, Portugal, France
Spanish  
Crime, Drama, Noir, Women Centered

Two mothers and a son, separated across space and time, come together and put a clever plot into motion in this unique contemporary noir.

In-Person
Four women lay together, holding each other tenderly.

Four Daughters

Kaouther Ben Hania  |   France, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Tunisia, Cyprus
Arabic  
Documentary, Family Affairs, Religion, Women Centered

An artistic Cannes-winning tour-de-force blending documentary and fiction that explores the secret trauma at the heart of a Tunisian family.

In-Person

Generations: Black Perspectives Shorts

Various  |   United States
English  
Comedy, Drama, Sports

Discover stories that resonate, inspire, and spark meaningful conversations in this year’s Community Cinema Shorts Program.

In-Person
A woman in a silk pink robe watches a young Sudanese woman with a smile.

Goodbye Julia

Mohamed Kordofani  |   Sudan
Arabic  
Drama, Political, Women Centered

Two women from different class and racial backgrounds form a dangerous bond against the tumultuous backdrop of South Sudan’s impending secession.

In-Person
A man kneels next to a little girl while a soldier holds out his hands.

Green Border Zielona Granica

Agnieszka Holland  |   Poland, France, Czech Republic, Belgium
Arabic, English, French, Polish  
Drama, Political, Social Commentary, Women Centered

The plight of a Syrian family on the Poland-Belarus border prompts an everyday woman to action in this clear-eyed portrait of a political crisis.

In-Person
Three people look out at a snowy, mountainous landscape.

A Happy Day

Hisham Zaman  |   Norway
Norwegian  
Comedy, Coming of Age, Political

Endearingly deadpan, this wholly original tale finds three teenage friends plotting their escape from a frozen, hopeless place — until one falls in love.

In-Person
A cyclist wearing a gold chain, maroon jersey, and black helmet screams intensly.

Hard Miles

RJ Daniel Hanna  |   United States
English  
Coming of Age, Drama, Sports

A social worker at a juvenile detention center assembles an unlikely team of incarcerated teens who must outrace their pasts on a transformative 1000-mile bike ride.

In-Person
A man and woman crouch in a green forrest, a book lays open between them.

Here

Bas Devos  |   Belgium
Dutch, French, Mandarin, Romanian  
Drama, Romance

A construction worker is preparing to leave Brussels for good when he makes an unlikely connection with an enchanting microbiologist.

In-Person
A woman and two men sit in a dimly lit dining hall, having a meal. A Christmas tree stands behind them.

The Holdovers

Alexander Payne  |   United States
English  
Comedy, Coming of Age, Drama

Paul Giamatti stars as a curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school who is forced to babysit a handful of students over Christmas break.

In-Person
A young woman with blue eyes, wrapped in an embrace, looks over a woman's shoulder.

Holly

Fien Troch  |   Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, France
Flemish  
Coming of Age, Drama, Women Centered

Holly’s uncanny premonition makes her the focal point of a community in need of healing, but is the teenaged outsider the answer to their prayers?

In-Person
In a large brick waiting room, 4 people sit across a table from two others, all dressed professionally.

Housekeeping for Beginners Domakinstvo za pocetnici

Goran Stolevski  |   North Macedonia, Poland, Croatia, Serbia, Kosovo
Albanian, Macedonian, Romani  
Drama, Family Affairs, LGBTQ, Sex and Sexuality

When the head of the household passes away suddenly, a collective of queer misfits reluctantly come together to protect their found family.

In-Person
A couple sits side-by-side on a blue couch.

The Hypnosis Hypnosen

Ernst de Geer  |   Sweden, Norway, France
English, Norwegian, Swedish  
Comedy, Social Commentary, Women Centered

On the eve of a big presentation, Vera tries hypnotherapy to quit smoking in this ironic, uproarious satire of entrepreneurial culture.

In-Person
A family in a car together, all eyes on a little girl in centerframe. She holds out a note.

In the Rearview Skąd dokąd

Maciek Hamela  |   Poland, France, Ukraine
English, French, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian  
Documentary, Political, Social Commentary

In this sublime documentary, civilians fleeing war-torn Ukraine share intimate stories of struggle and resilience in the backseat of a minivan.

In-Person
A blurred image of two people walking down a beach, and another person with a camera on a tripod.

in water mul-an-e-seo

Hong Sangsoo  |   South Korea
Korean  
Art, Drama

Three friends wander Jeju Island in search of inspiration for a film in this formally bold meditation on the enigmatic nature of the creative process.

In-Person
A man with blood splattered down the side of his face yells as two people standing behind him look straight ahead in shock.

Infested Vermines

Sébastien Vaniček  |   France
French  
Action, Architecture, Horror

When a venomous spider escapes and multiplies in a Paris apartment building, a group of friends must find a way out of the web of nightmares.

In-Person
A dirty, bloodied man holds a baby close to him, his other hand flung behind him off camera.

Joram

Devashish Makhija  |   India
Hindi  
Action, Drama, Social Commentary, Thriller

A cat-and-mouse styled thriller finds Dasru on the run with baby in tow after he is framed for the murder of his wife by insidious political forces.

In-Person
A clergyman sits on a golden throne, holding an alterboy in his lap. They are surrounded by more members of the clergy.

Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara Rapito

Marco Bellocchio  |   Italy, France, Germany
Hebrew, Italian  
Drama, Historical, Religion

The true story of a six-year-old boy who was stolen from his Jewish parents and raised by the Catholic Church, told in shocking, stately style.

In-Person
A mysterious man wearing a hat and leather gloves, looks through a monocular at an unseen view in Paris, France.

The Killer

David Fincher  |   United States
English  
Action, Crime, Drama

After a fateful near-miss, an assassin (Michael Fassbender) battles his employers — and himself — on an international manhunt he insists isn’t personal.

In-Person
A man stands in the center of a darkened studio set with bright lights shining down on him as an audience watches.

Late Night With the Devil

Colin Cairnes, Cameron Cairnes  |   United States, United Arab Emirates, Australia
English  
Drama, Horror, Religion

A flailing late-night talk show host (Chicago native David Dastmalchian) makes a desperate move for ratings in this retro possession chiller.

In-Person
The black and white image of a man in glasses leans against his vintage car.

Limbo

Ivan Sen  |   Australia
English  
Crime, Drama, Noir, Western

A white detective investigates the twenty-year-old cold case of a murdered Indigenous girl in this outback-set noir.

In-Person
A dark haired woman leans over the shoulder of another woman, her shoulder strap sliding down, as they look out a window.

Living Bad Viver Mal

João Canijo  |   Portugal, France
Portuguese  
Architecture, Drama, Family Affairs, Women Centered

The events of companion film Bad Living are seen through the eyes of the hotel’s guests, who are juggling problems of their own.

In-Person
A young boy, wearing smeared red lipstick, lays back in bed holding back tears. A older woman lay next to him, comforting.

Lost Country

Vladimir Perišić  |   Serbia, France, Luxemburg, Croatia
Serbian  
Coming of Age, Drama, Historical, Political

Serbia, 1996. When an election is stolen, 15-year-old Stefan is forced to confront his mother, a television spokesperson for the corrupt Milosevic regime.

In-Person
A woman in a red swimsuit smiles as she stares at something. Behind her, the vast blue ocean glistens in the sunlight.

The Love Stories of Liv S. Les histoires d'amour de Liv S.

Anna Luif  |   Switzerland
French  
Comedy, Romance, Sex and Sexuality, Women Centered

Filmmaker and post-punk singer Liv drifts through a cycle of love and separation in this charismatic, funny look at the pain and joy of partnership.

In-Person
A person with a mustache, wearing blush and frills, smiles over their shoulder behind them.

Lubo

Giorgio Diritti  |   Italy, Switzerland
Italian, Jenisch, Swiss-German  
Drama, Historical, Literary Adaptation, Political

1939. The nomadic Lubo is conscripted into the Swiss army. When his children are taken by the state, he begins a desperate search to reunite his family.

In-Person
In a bathroom mirror, a dark haired woman takes notes and observes as an older blonde woman applies makeup to her skin.

May December

Todd Haynes  |   United States
English  
Drama, Family Affairs, Women Centered

Twenty years after their notorious tabloid romance gripped the nation, a married couple (Julianne Moore and Charles Melton) buckles under the pressure when an actress (Natalie Portman) arrives to do research for a film about their past.

In-Person
Virtual
Two people sit on the floor of the street and draw a heart. We see that "#HPromise" is written on the heart.

Memorial [short film]

Jon Siskel  |   United States
English, Spanish  
Documentary, Social Commentary

The community of Highland Park, Illinois, commemorates those who lost their lives in the Independence Day shooting of 2022.

In-Person
A bearded man and a red-haired woman look at each other while sitting in a forest in winter.

Memory

Michel Franco  |   Mexico, United States
Drama, Family Affairs, Social Commentary

Sylvia (Jessica Chastain) is a social worker who leads a simple and structured life: her daughter, her job, her AA meetings. But when Saul (Peter Sarsgaard) follows her home from their high school reunion one night, their surprise encounter will profoundly impact their lives.

In-Person
A high angle of a man wearing a backpack walking down the shoreline next to the blue ocean.

The Mission

Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine  |   United States, India
English, Hindi, Latin, Onge, Piraha, Sarikoli  
Documentary, Religion, Social Commentary

An absorbing, multilayered account of the journey of an American missionary who was killed while attempting to convert an Indigenous people.

In-Person
Two young children, splattered with mud, look towards the camera with serious expressions.

Monster Kaibutsu

Hirokazu Kore-eda  |   Japan
Japanese  
Drama, Family Affairs, LGBTQ, Mystery

Young Minato is behaving strangely, and his mother demands answers. Through the eyes of mother, teacher, and child, a complex truth emerges.

In-Person
A dark haired woman stands with her arms, covered in rubber gloves, bent in front of her.

The Nature of Love Simple comme Sylvain

Monia Chokri  |   Canada, France
French  
Comedy, Sex and Sexuality, Women Centered

A philosophy professor is forced to choose between sexual and intellectual gratification in this seductive, playful French-Canadian rom-com.

In-Person
An older woman treads water a few yards beyond a boat. Smiling, she wears a swim cap and goggles.

NYAD

Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin  |   United States
English  
Biopic, Drama, Sports, Women Centered

Three decades after giving up marathon swimming in exchange for a prominent career as a sports journalist, at the age of 60, Diana (four-time Academy Award nominee Annette Bening) becomes obsessed with completing an epic swim that always eluded her: the 110 mile trek from Cuba to Florida, often referred to as the “Mount Everest” of swims.

In-Person
A child in a snowsuit lays down on a snowy hill surrouded by people going up and down with sleds.

Occupied City

Steve McQueen  |   The Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States
Dutch, English  
Documentary, Historical, Political, Social Commentary

From the streets of Amsterdam, McQueen creates two interlocking portraits: a vivid journey through the last years of pandemic and protest, and a door-to-door excavation of the Nazi occupation that still haunts his adopted city.

In-Person
A man watches in front of him as a light shines from the projector beside him.

Only the River Flows He Bian De Cuo Wu

Wei Shujun  |   China
Mandarin  
Drama, Mystery, Noir, Thriller

A body washes up in a river in rural China. A hasty arrest is made, but the mystery lingers in the police chief’s mind. What kind of darkness is truly at play here?

In-Person
Two young women and a girl lay in the middle of a grassy field laughing and smiling with each other.

Paradise is Burning Paradiset Brinner

Mika Gustafson  |   Sweden, Italy, Denmark, Finland
Swedish  
Coming of Age, Drama, Family Affairs, Women Centered

The anarchic freedom of three sisters, left alone by an absent mother, is threatened by social services, confronting them with the realities of growing up.

In-Person
A woman wearing a vibrant green wig and elaborate makeup, blows smoke into the air from a cigarette.

The People’s Joker

Vera Drew  |   United States, Canada, Scotland
English  
Comedy, LGBTQ

A trans coming-of-age story encased in a comic-book parody, The People’s Joker kicks down the doors of IP with witty humor and surprising heart.

In-Person
A man in a blue utility uniform smiles, looking up toward the sky, while sitting with a young woman wearing a pink sweater.

Perfect Days

Wim Wenders  |   Japan
English, Japanese  
Drama

Living a life of solitary, quiet contentment, a public toilet cleaner’s routine is interrupted when his niece arrives for an unexpected visit.

In-Person
A group of well-dressed people dance in a ballroom.

The Persian Version

Maryam Keshavarz  |   United States
English, Persian  
Comedy, Family Affairs, LGBTQ, Music

In this snappy comedic drama featuring vibrant dance numbers, an Iranian-American woman must navigate her relationship with her opposing cultural identities and her mother.

In-Person
A man in the passanger seat of a car looks backwards over his shoulder past camera.

Pet Shop Days

Olmo Schnabel  |   United States, Italy, United Kingdom, Mexico
English, Spanish  
Drama, Family Affairs, LGBTQ, Sex and Sexuality

Two young men meet in New York City and enter a whirlwind romance, sending them into a dead-end world of passion, drugs, and depravity.

In-Person
In the center of a brick city street gathers a group of people in strange vintage costumes.

Pictures of Ghosts Retratos fantasmas

Kleber Mendonça Filho  |   Brazil
Portuguese  
Architecture, Art, Documentary, Social Commentary

From acclaimed Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho comes an incisive and whimsical essay film about movies, memory, and the places of one’s past.

In-Person
An older man with white hair leans back in his armchair. The room is blue, and on the table before him is 6 eggs.

The Pigeon Tunnel

Errol Morris  |   United Kingdom
English  
Biopic, Documentary, Political

Academy Award-winning documentarian Errol Morris (The Fog of War) pulls back the curtain on the storied life and career of former British spy David Cornwell, better known as John le Carré, author of the most classic espionage novels of all time.

In-Person
A pale woman in a yellow dress looks over her shoulder, her black hair cascading down her back. A man stands behind her.

Poor Things

Yorgos Lanthimos  |   United States, United Kingdom, Ireland
English  
Drama, Sex and Sexuality, Social Commentary, Women Centered

The fantastical evolution of Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), a young woman brought back to life from the brink of death by the brilliant, daring scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe).

In-Person
A close up of actor Mads Mikkelsen.

The Promised Land Bastarden

Nikolaj Arcel  |   Denmark, Germany, Sweden
Danish  
Biopic, Drama, Historical, Thriller

A retired soldier (Mads Mikkelsen) embarks on a quest to tame the unforgiving Danish Jutland, where he violently clashes with a local landowner.

In-Person
A woman stands at the base of a winding staircase in a grand entryway, the furniture covered with sheets.

Raging Grace

Paris Zarcilla  |   United Kingdom
English, Tagalog  
Horror, Mystery, Social Commentary, Women Centered

In this bold, bloody gothic horror film, a Filipina worker and her daughter confront the shocking colonialist legacy of a wealthy English family.

In-Person
A robot curiously observes a dog eating a hotdog at a food stand in bustling Central Park.

Robot Dreams

Pablo Berger  |   Spain, France
Animation, Drama, Music

1980s New York City. Dog builds himself a robot companion, and their adventures begin in a charming and bittersweet celebration of friendship.

In-Person
A civil rights march. People standing arm in arm and walk in unity.

Rustin

George C. Wolfe  |   United States
English  
Biopic, Historical, LGBTQ, Political
The architect of 1963’s momentous March on Washington, Bayard Rustin was one of the greatest activists and organizers the world has ever known. He challenged authority, never apologized for who [...]
In-Person
A man in a tuxedo is seated at a mirrored table. His face is reflected up at him between the table settings.

Saltburn

Emerald Fennell  |   United Kingdom
English  
Comedy, Drama, LGBTQ, Sex and Sexuality

Struggling to find his place at Oxford University, student Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) finds himself drawn into the world of the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric family’s sprawling estate, for a summer never to be forgotten.

In-Person
A dark haired woman and child share a warm smile as the girl rests her hand on the womans.

Shayda

Noora Niasari  |   Australia
English, Persian  
Drama, Family Affairs, Women Centered

After Shayda takes refuge in an Australian women’s shelter with her young daughter, the arrival of her husband jeopardizes her path to freedom.

In-Person
Virtual

Shorts 1: City & State – Revelations

Various  |   United States, Japan
Canronese, English, Khmer, Vietnamese  
Animation, Documentary, Drama, Experimental

The six shorts in this program represent distinct modes of storytelling through film, while reflecting the diversity and creativity of our region.

In-Person
Virtual

Shorts 2: Animation – Desires

Various  |   Argentina, Belgium, France, Hungary, Israel, Mexico, The Netherlands, United States
Arabic, Dutch, English, French, Hungarian, Spanish  
Animation, Comedy, Documentary, Horror, LGBTQ

These animated shorts create an idiosyncratic mosaic of the difficulties, joys, enigmas, and triumphs of the human experience.

In-Person
Virtual

Shorts 3: After Dark – Twisted Tales & Shadows of Innocence

Various  |   Canada, France, United States
English, French, Tagalog  
Coming of Age, Horror, LGBTQ, Social Commentary, Women Centered

These tense and terrifying shorts reflect how everyday life can turn into horror.

In-Person
Virtual

Shorts 4: Documentary – In Motion

Various  |   Bhutan, Germany, Switzerland, Ukraine, United States
Dzongkha, English, French, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainain  
Documentary, Environmental, Social Commentary, Sports, Women Centered

These short documentaries offer singular looks into lives that have been transformed by pivotal events.

In-Person
Virtual

Shorts 5: Drama – Breaking Points

Various  |   Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, France, Qatar, Switzerland, Turkey
Arabic, English, Persian, Spanish, Turkish  
Crime, Drama, Family Affairs, LGBTQ, Social Commentary

These powerful shorts reflect on life’s twists and turns, exploring what we do in moments of profound impact.

In-Person
Virtual

Shorts 6: Comedy – Awkward Laughs

Various  |   Canada, Chile, Iran, United States
English, French, Persian, Spanish  
Comedy, Coming of Age, Drama, Family Affairs, LGBTQ, Science Fiction, Sex and Sexuality

The works in this program muck around the dark corners of human experience, bringing forth the darkly comedic, can’t-help-but-laugh moments that arise in difficult times.

In-Person
Virtual

Shorts 7: Black Perspectives – Resonance

Various  |   Tanzania, United States
English  
Comedy, Documentary, Drama, LGBTQ, Sports

Vibrant cultural legacies come to life, hidden histories are unearthed, everyday life is illuminated, and resonant stories unfold in captivating splendor in this collection of shorts.

In-Person
Virtual

Shorts 8: Architecture – Versions of Home

Various  |   France, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Ukraine, United States
French, Mandarin, Russian, Ukrainian  
Animation, Architecture, Comedy, Documentary

In celebration of this year’s Chicago Architecture Biennial, this program tracks how we establish strong connections to a place, and the complications of staying in it.

In-Person
Virtual

Shorts 9: Family Friendly Animation – Better Together

Various  |   Canada, Germany, Mexico, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United States
Arabic, English, Korean, Mayan, Spanish, Tigrinya, Urdu  
Animation, Coming of Age, Family Affairs

All ages are welcome in this family-friendly program, full of colorful films that celebrate play, encourage curiosity, and emphasize the importance of communal bonds.

In-Person
A black family of six poses together in front of their home.

Silver Dollar Road

Raoul Peck  |   United States
English  
Documentary, Political, Social Commentary

Acclaimed director Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro) tells the shocking story of a Black family who fought for decades to keep their ancestral land.

In-Person
Three teenage girls, dressed brightly, sit together in front of a metal fence.

Sisterhood HLM Pussy

Nora El Hourch  |   France, Morocco
French  
Coming of Age, Drama, Social Commentary

The bond between three teenage girls is tested when a viral video denouncing a sexual assault exposes the divides between them.

In-Person
A red-headed child and an old man with a beard stare each other down over a chessboard set out on a kitchen table.

Solitude Tilverur

Ninna Pálmadóttir  |   Iceland, Slovakia
Icelandic  
Coming of Age, Drama, Social Commentary

As gentle and idiosyncratic as its characters, Solitude is a transformative tale of friendship between a latchkey kid and fish-out-of-water farmer.

In-Person
A drag queen in a long wig and leotard performs in front of an adoring crowd.

Solo

Sophie Dupuis  |   Canada
English, French  
Drama, Family Affairs, LGBTQ, Music

A talented drag performer searches for love from a passionate yet domineering new relationship, and from his long-estranged mother.

In-Person
Astronaut Ronald McNair smiles while holding a film slate. He wears a name badge that says Cecil B. McNair.

The Space Race

Lisa Cortés, Diego Hurtado de Mendoza  |   United States
English  
Documentary, Historical, Political, Social Commentary

Pioneers in civil rights and outer space, Black astronauts boldly ventured where no Black Americans had ever gone before. This is their untold story.

In-Person

Stamped from the Beginning

Roger Ross Williams  |   United States
English  
Documentary, Historical, Political, Social Commentary

Based on the book by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi (How to Be An Antiracist), this searing documentary explores the roots of anti-Black racism in America.

In-Person
A very disheveled pregnant woman sits on a rock by a waterfall, looking at the shirtless man lounging next to her.

Sweet Dreams

Ena Sendijarević  |   The Netherlands, Sweden, Indonesia
Dutch, Indonesian  
Drama, Historical, Social Commentary, Women Centered

A Dutch plantation owner’s death sparks a rancorous clash over his estate in this surreal satire of the end of Indonesia’s colonial era.

In-Person
In a kitchen, four people smile and talk as a man in an apron places meat onto a table holding fresh herbs.

The Taste of Things La passion de Dodin Bouffant

Tran Anh Hung  |   France
French  
Culinary, Drama, Historical, Romance

Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel star in this mouthwatering romantic drama, about a gourmand wooing his longtime love with a decadent meal.

In-Person
A woman with ginger hair, wearing a red sweater, yells while standing in a classroom.

The Teachers’ Lounge Das Lehrerzimmer

İlker Çatak  |   Germany
English, German, Polish, Turkish  
Drama, Social Commentary, Women Centered

An idealistic high school teacher who advocates for a student accused of stealing becomes embroiled in conflict when she becomes the target of a theft herself.

In-Person
A bearded man seated before a desk holds up his fist to show a tattoo on his forearm.

Terrestrial Verses

Ali Asgari, Alireza Khatami  |   Iran
Persian  
Drama, Political, Religion

Incisive, often darkly comic vignettes offer a glimpse into the world of everyday citizens grappling with the absurdity of life in modern Iran.

In-Person
A group of Jazz musicians record in a studio.

They Shot the Piano Player

Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal  |   Spain, France
English, Portuguese, Spanish  
Animation, Documentary, Musical, Political

In this lively animated music documentary, a New York journalist (Jeff Goldblum) seeks the truth behind the disappearance of a Brazilian jazz pianist.

In-Person
A woman with short hair works at a desk, behind her the sky is painted orange from the setting sun.

Through the Night Quitter la nuit

Delphine Girard  |   Belgium, Canada, France
French  
Crime, Drama, Social Commentary, Women Centered

Late one night, a woman in danger calls the police. Anna fields the call. A man is arrested. Weeks go by and tensions build. What really happened?

In-Person
A young girl looks off to the side with a sad expression on her face as candles are lit in front of her.

Tótem

Lila Avilés  |   Mexico, Denmark, France
Spanish  
Coming of Age, Drama, Family Affairs, Women Centered

Over the course of a day preparing a birthday party for her ailing father, young Sol watches her family’s bonds erode as they honor life and loss.

In-Person
Black and white image of men at table, cigarette smoke curling around them. An older man stands behind the table, watching.

The Universal Theory Die Theorie Von Allem

Timm Kröger  |   Germany, Austria, Switzerland
French, German, Swiss-German  
Environmental, Historical, Noir, Thriller

1962. A PhD student investigates a dark secret in the Swiss Alps after a scientist goes missing and bizarre cloud formations appear in the sky.

In-Person
A young boy smiles, his back to the bright blue sky, with his arms and legs spread as if tossed in the air.

We Grown Now

Minhal Baig  |   United States
English  
Coming of Age, Drama, Family Affairs

In this heartfelt story set in Chicago’s Cabrini-Green projects in the early 1990s, two boys come of age amid change in their community.

In-Person
An idilic scene of a forest and a lake. A family lounges on the shore nearby, while some swim.

The Zone of Interest

Jonathan Glazer  |   United Kingdom, Poland, United States
German  
Drama, Historical, Political

The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig strive to build a dream life for their family in a house next to the camp.