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61st edition
Chicago International Film Festival
Chicago, United States
October 14-25, 2026
12 days
About Chicago International Film Festival
Founded in 1964 by Michael Kutza, the Chicago International Film Festival is the longest-running competitive international film festival in North America. Presented by Cinema/Chicago, it features a dedicated Documentary Competition alongside international feature, new directors, LGBTQ+, and short film categories, having introduced U.S. audiences to directors like Martin Scorsese, Wim Wenders, and Krzysztof Kieslowski.
Festival details
Location
212 W Van Buren St., Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60607 · Chicago, United States
Scope
International
Focus
International Cinema · Independent Film · Documentary · New Directors · LGBTQ+
Duration
12 days
Founded
1964
Special programs
Documentary Competition
Competitive section dedicated to outstanding non-fiction feature filmmaking.
International Feature Competition
Main juried competition for international narrative features.
New Directors Competition
First- and second-time feature directors.
OutLook
Section dedicated to LGBTQ+ cinema.
CineYouth Festival
Filmmakers aged 22 and under (April 24-26, 2026).
For filmmakers
Submission deadline
2026-06-30
Eligible production years
Completed after August 1, 2025
Screening eligibility
Chicago premiere minimum; U.S. premieres prioritized. Early Apr 7, Regular Jun 8, Late Jun 30, 2026.
Accepted formats
Online screener via Vimeo
Best Documentary Films
Award-Winning Documentaries
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