Founded in 1965 by filmmaker Michael Kutza, the Chicago International Film Festival is North America's longest-running competitive film festival. Held each October across venues including AMC NEWCITY 14 and the Gene Siskel Film Center, its roughly 61st edition in 2025 screened around 150 films from more than 50 countries.
Its long history and international programming make it a core Illinois film row.
The Chicago International Film Festival, founded by filmmaker and graphic artist Michael Kutza and hosted by the nonprofit Cinema/Chicago, holds the distinction of being North America's longest-running competitive film festival, a title it has kept since its founding in the mid-1960s
Its 2025 edition, the 61st, ran roughly twelve days in October, screening around 120 features and 70 shorts from more than 50 countries across venues including AMC NEWCITY 14, the Music Box Theatre, and the Gene Siskel Film Center
The festival is Academy Awards-qualifying for Best Live Action Short, Documentary Short, and Animated Short, and it has long showcased filmmakers early in their careers, among them Martin Scorsese, John Carpenter, Ava DuVernay, Hirokazu Kore-eda, and Wim Wenders
Programming dedicated competitive sections
including International Competition
New Directors Competition
and Black Perspectives
keeps the festival's identity built around genuine competition and discovery rather than simply showcasing already-established films
Its Academy Awards-qualifying status for short film categories has become an established professional draw
giving emerging filmmakers a concrete career incentive to submit to Chicago rather than only larger festivals
14–25 October 2026
Transit/rideshare between venues may be useful.
Casual clothing works for most screenings; a few premiere or gala events may lean smart-casual to dressier, but the festival overall does not require formal attire outside of specific...
Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.
Chicago
Official ticket link is available. Confirm access rules before booking.
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Chicago International Film Festival is listed for 14–25 October 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.
The festival is listed in Chicago, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.
12 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.
Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.
Chicago, IL
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