Opening Night

CHICAGO – The annual CineYouth Festival for 2024 is on tap beginning Friday, April 19th, presenting 66 short films across 10 programming blocks featuring everything from comedy to animated shorts to highlights from the Chicago region. Plus, CineYouth features two workshops focused on accessibility tools and good collaborative practices, live filmmaker Q&As, and more.

CHICAGO – Taiwan is the focus for the Asian Pop-Up Cinema this upcoming Saturday and Sunday, March 23rd and 24th, as Season 18 kicks off. Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com will moderate the post film Q&A sessions on Saturday, with the films “A Boy and a Girl” and “The Young Hoodlum.” Click TAIWAN for tickets.

CHICAGO – A reimagining of the 1980s cult classic “Road House,” featuring Jake Gyllenhaal, is the Opening Night Film for the 2024 SXSW Film & TV Festival on March 8th, 2024. Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com will be covering the festival through March 13th.

CHICAGO – Opening Night of the 40th Chicago International Children’s Film Festival’s (CICFF40) is November 3rd, and Festival Director Deidre Searcy presents a night at Chicago History Museum. For details/tickets, click CICFF.

CHICAGO – As Chicago’s Black Harvest Film Festival enters its third decade, new leadership are providing the filmmaker’s showcase. The theme for 2023 is “Revolutionary Visions,” and putting the program together is Lead Film Curator Jada-Amina and Fest Coordinator Nick Leffal. Opening Night is November 3rd, and for a list of films/info, click BLACK HARVEST.

CHICAGO – When one man wanted to screen independent films beyond Chicago, he founded the Lake County Film Festival (LCFF). That Founder and now Executive Director is Nat Dykeman, and the 13th LCFF will take place over the next two weekends, with Opening Night on Halloween. For details and tickets, click 13th LCFF.

CHICAGO – Actor/filmmaker Clare Cooney began her career in Chicago, and is returning to represent her debut as feature film director for “Departing Seniors,” a North American Premiere on Opening Night (October 11th, 2023) at the 59th Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF). For tickets and info, click SENIORS.

CHICAGO – The 41st edition of the REELING International LBGTQ+ Film Festival kicks off on September 21st, 2023, and runs through October 7th. The Opening Night film is “The Mattachine Family” at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre. For info/tickets click REELING41.

CHICAGO – One of the longest running and most important Black film festivals is right here in Chicago, as the 28th edition of the Black Harvest Film Festival has Opening Night on Friday, November 4th, and runs in-person until November 20th at the Gene Siskel Film Center in the downtown Loop. For Opening Night details and ticket information, 28th BHFF OPENING.

CHICAGO – The spiritual film “Two Eyes” is in the spotlight at the REELING40 LGBTQ+ International Film Festival on Thursday, September 29th, 2022 (7p). Producer Steve Kozlowski will appear on behalf of the film, click TWO EYES for info and tickets.