Somebody grab the popcorn! The Chicago International Film Festival is back this October 16-27. The festival’s 60th edition boasts a stacked lineup of films from around the world and right here in the Windy City.
The Chicago film festival spans numerous theaters around the city, including its hub theater AMC New City 14, the Gene Siskel Film Center, the Music Box Theater, the Chicago History Museum, and others.
This year’s lineup includes 122 feature films, 71 film shorts, and numerous world and U.S. premieres, according to Cinema/Chicago. The festival will feature films from more than 60 countries.
Along with big name studio premieres, attendees will have the opportunity to view a curated selection of films from local Chicago directors. Five locally produced feature films will compete for the festival’s Chicago Award. The contestants include the following:
Desire Lines – A hybrid documentary from director Jules Rossam, Desire Lines is described as a story “in which a trans man becomes immersed in an LGBTQ archive whose oral histories push against stigmas and boundaries.”
The Light of Truth: Richard Hunt’s Monument to Ida B. Wells – From producer Rana Segal, The Light of Truth follows artist Richard Hunt as he sculpts a monument in honor of civil rights activist and journalist Ida B. Wells.
Okie – From director Kate Cobb, Okie follows a famous novelist as he returns to his small Illinois hometown only to find himself outcast.
A Photographic Memory – A Photographic Memory follows filmmaker Rachel Elizabeth Seed as she retraces family history and connects with her late mother, an acclaimed Chicago-born photojournalist.
Time Passages – Director Kyle Henry’s Time Passages explores the bond between mother and son.
Visit the Chicago International Film Festival site to view the full lineup, purchase tickets, and learn more information.