The 62nd Chicago International Film Festival will take place from October 14 to 25, 2026, in Chicago, United States. The festival will open with American comedy-drama film Club Kid by Jordan Firstman. The full program including competition and non-competition titles, Tributes and Retrospectives was unveiled on September 17, 2026.
The festival will present 113 feature films and 57 shorts from around 60 countries, which includes four world premieres, 15 North American premieres and 21 United States premieres. It will close with American drama film Behemoth! by Tony Gilroy.
Festival overview This section sums up the main things taking place during the festival:
Physical Media Fair
On 17 and 18 October, the festival will host its first physical media fair. Visitors can bring their own LaserDiscs, VHS tapes, DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K movies to swap with others. There will also be a temporary shop selling movies from film distributors and local stores.
Black Perspectives 30th Anniversary
The festival will mark the 30th anniversary of its Black Perspectives program during the run of the festival. The celebration will include special tributes, screenings of past films, and a program honoring Marlon Wayans. Created in 1997 in partnership with Spike Lee, the Black Perspectives program was established to showcase the talent, achievements, and diversity of Black American filmmakers, as well as films by people of African heritage from around the world.
Juries The juries consists of the following members: International competition John C. Reilly, American actor Carolina Cavalli, Italian writer-director Davy Chou, Cambodian-French filmmaker Ildikó Enyedi, Hungarian director Henk Handloegten, German filmmaker
New Directors competition Karla Badillo, Filmmaker Marya E. Gates, journalist Nicky Ni, programmer
Documentary competition Alina Marazzi, Italian filmmaker Curtis Miller, independent filmmaker and educator based in Chicago Bruno Santamaría Razo, Mexican filmmaker Katy Scoggin, American documentary director, producer, and camerawoman
OutLook jury The OutLook jury will be awarding the Q-Hugo for LGBTQ+ cinema.
Elizabeth Arnott, Music Box Films marketing and publicity head Annie Howard, journalist, historian and writer based in Chicago Stephen Winter, American film director City & State Jury Malik Bader, Chicago bases director Liz Kaar, independent editor, director, and producer Texas Smith, Chicago-based, Arkansas filmmake
Live Action Short Film Competition Cortlyn Kelly, Chicago based writer, film critic, art appreciator Troy Lewis, award-winning editor based in Chicago Daniella Mazzio, award-winning journalist and critic
Documentary Short Film Competition Blair Barnes, conceptual artist from South Central Los Angeles Kim Joshua Min-soo, music and film critic, film programmer, and high school science teacher based in Chicago Fernando Saldivia Yáñez, Chicago-based Chilean filmmaker Animated Short Film Competition
Davis Cameron Chu, Chicago-based motion designer and independent filmmaker Alex Reis, Brazilian filmmaker Elizabeth Yoo, fine artist specializing in hand-painted key art for physical media
Official Selection
The full slate of films and programs presented at the festival was announced on September 17, 2026.
Special Presentations English Title Original Title Director(s) Production countrie(s) Opening Night Club Kid Jordan Firstman United States Centerpiece Mouse Kelly O'Sullivan and Alex Thompson United States Closing Night Behemoth! Tony Gilroy United States Special PresentationsBitter Christmas Amarga NavidadPedro AlmodóvarSpain The Debut Jesse Eisenberg United States Elsinore Simon Stone United KingdomFatherlandVaterlandPaweł PawlikowskiPoland, France, Italy, Germany Gentle Monster Marie Kreutzer Austria Ink Danny Boyle United Kingdom, France, United States The Liberation Guy Nattiv United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd Tim Blake Nelson United States Paper TigerJames GrayUnited States, Brazil Ray Gunn Brad Bird United States Tender Loving Care Mike Leigh United Kingdom Wild Horse Nine Martin McDonagh United Kingdom, United States, Chile
International Competition
The following films compete for the Gold Hugo of the International Competition:
English Title Original Title Director(s) Production countrie(s)All of a SuddenSoudain / Ryusuke HamaguchiFrance, Japan, Germany, Belgium Clarissa Arie Esiri, Chuko Esiri Nigeria, United States The Diary of a Chambermaid Le journal d'une femme de chambre Radu Jude France, Romania The Difficult Bride Rubaiyat Hossain France, Bangladesh, Germany, Norway, Portugal The Dreamed Adventure Das Geträumte Abenteuer Valeska Grisebach Germany, France, Bulgaria, AustriaThe Echo ChamberAndrea PallaoroItaly, BelgiumEverytimeSandra WollnerAustria, GermanyFar From the TreesLejos de los árbolesMeritxell ColellSpain, Peru, ItalyI See Buildings Fall Like Lightning Clio Barnard United Kingdom, France, United States La Gradiva Marine Atlan France, Italy Look Back ルックバック Hirokazu Kore-eda Japan Possible Love 가능한 사랑 Lee Chang-dong South Korea The Spiral L'estranea Paolo Strippoli Italy, France, Belgium
New Directors Competition The following films compete for the Gold Hugo of the New Directors section:
English Title Original Title Director(s) Production countrie(s)Al Baraneya Ashgan El-Hamus Netherlands, Egypt, Belgium, Saudi ArabiaClementine Orange Lisa Forslund Sweden A Common Story Una storia Anna Foglietta Italy Congo Boy Rafiki Fariala Central African Republic, France, Democratic Republic of Congo, Italy Dear Future Self Erzähl Mir Dein Morgen Ella Cieslinski, Nina Wesemann GermanyForever Your Maternal AnimalValentina MaurelCosta Rica, Belgium, France, Mexico Head to Head Sar beh Sar Ghasideh Golmakani Iran, GermanyI'll Be Gone in June Katharina RivilisGermany, Switzerland, United StatesMary Magdalene Gessica GénéusHaiti, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada The Riverbank A Margem do Rio Enock Carvalho, Matheus Farias Brazil, Germany Saints Sants Six Months in a Pink and Blue Building Bruno Santamaría Razo Mexico, Brazil, DenmarkWhat Belongs to OthersCudze rzeczyGrzegorz DębowskiPoland Documentary Competition The following films compete for the Gold Hugo of the Documentary Competition:
English Title Original Title Director(s) Production countrie(s)32 Meters Morteza Atabaki Turkey, Iran, QatarCitizen Osamaالمواطن أسامةAhmed HassounaPalestine, France The Illusion of an Everlasting Summer La ilusión de un verano sin fin Alessandra Sanguinetti Argentina, United StatesSumo: Spirit Weighs NothingErik ShiraiJapan, United States, Denmark, United Kingdom The Ultra Runner Mila Aung-Thwin Canada
Outlook The following films competed for the Q-Hugo Awards, for films with LGBTQ+ themes; some of these competitors appear in other sections and are already listed in previous tables:
English Title Original Title Director(s) Production countrie(s) Club Kid Jordan Firstman United StatesElephants in the Fog तिनीहरूAbinash Bikram ShahNepal, France, Germany, Brazil, Norway Rose Markus Schleinzer Austria, Germany Elsinore Simon Stone United KingdomI Rarely Wake Up DreamingSelten wache ich träumend aufIsabelle SteverGermany, UkraineThe Man I Love Ira SachsUnited States, FranceNagi Notes Koji FukadaJapan, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, France No Rest for the Wicked Kasper Kalle Denmark, Faroe Islands, Iceland Rose Markus Schleinzer Austria, GermanyTangles Leah NelsonCanada, United States Trash Mountain Kris Rey United States
After Dark English Title Original Title Director(s) Production countrie(s)Castration Movie Chapter iii. Junior Ghosts—Premorphic Drift; a fragmentary passage Louise Weard CanadaMum, I'm Alien PregnantTHUNDERLIPSNew ZealandSpecies SanguineMarion Le CorollerFranceVampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000) バンパイアハンターD Yoshiaki Kawajiri Japan, Hong Kong, United StatesVictorian PsychoZachary WigonUnited Kingdom, Ireland
Animate! English Title Original Title Director(s) Production countrie(s)Ana, en passant Fernanda Salgado Brazil, Portugal, France Cherry and Virgin Masanao Kawajiri Japan Iron Boy Le Corset Louis Clichy France, Belgium
Black Perspectives
English Title Original Title Director(s) Production countrie(s)14th Ava DuVernayUnited StatesBen'Imana Marie Clémentine DusabejamboRwanda, Gabon, France, Norway, Ivory CoastChocolate Babies Stephen Winter United States Clarissa Arie Esiri, Chuko Esiri Nigeria, United States Dao Alain Gomis France, Guinea-Bissau, SenegalMary Magdalene Gessica GénéusHaiti, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, CanadaOnce Upon a Time in Harlem William Greaves and David GreavesUnited StatesThe Watermelon Woman Cheryl DunyeUnited States
City & State
English Title Original Title Director(s) Production countrie(s)Ana the Cleaner Guy Bauer United StatesEver After Frankie Nasso United StatesFinding Your Laughter Arlieta Hall, Brittany Alsot United States
Comedy
English Title Original Title Director(s) Production countrie(s)Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu Michael LaHaie United States, PeruBurgundy Michael Dweck, Gregory Kershaw United States, France Club Kid Jordan Firstman United States The Debut Jesse Eisenberg United StatesEverything Else is Noise Nicolás Pereda Germany, Canada, Mexico Wild Horse Nine Martin McDonagh United Kingdom, United States, Chile
Departures
English Title Original Title Director(s) Production countrie(s)9 Temples to Heaven Sompot ChidgasornpongseThailand, Singapore, France, Norway, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, QatarBen'Imana Marie Clémentine DusabejamboRwanda, Gabon, France, Norway, Ivory CoastA Day in the Life of Jo: Chapter PhaedraMia mera sti zoi tis tzo: kefalaio FaidraJacqueline LentzouGreece, Germany, France Eight Bridges James Benning United StatesThe Girl with the Leica La ragazza con la LeicaAlina MarazziItaly, Germany Isabel Gabe Klinger Brazil, France Josephine Beth de Araújo United States The Loneliest Man in TownWiener Blues – The Loneliest Man in Town Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel AustriaNowhere to Lay My Eyes눈둘데가 없네Hong Sang-sooSouth KoreaThe Only Living Pickpocket in New York Noah Segan United States Sad Girlz Chicas tristes Fernanda Tovar Mexico, Spain, France Will You Still Be My Friend 日光 Lu Po-shun
Documentary
English Title Original Title Director(s) Production countrie(s)14th Ava DuVernayUnited States Carl Sagan: We Are Made of Star StuffNanette Burstein United States Musk Alex Gibney United StatesRehearsals for a Revolution Pegah AhangaraniIran, Czech Republic, Spain
Spotlight
English Title Original Title Director(s) Production countrie(s)The BelovedEl ser queridoRodrigo SorogoyenSpain, FranceA Bit of Lightکمی نورAli AsgariIran, Switzerland, Italy, Canada, TurkeyBunkerFlorian ZellerFrance, SpainA Good Little SoldierUn bon petit soldatStéphane BrizéFrance I Play Rocky Peter Farrelly United StatesIt Will Happen TonightSuccederà questa notteNanni MorettiItaly, France, SpainLet Us Through, Dear AncestorsMakikiraan poLav DiazPhilippines A Long Winter Andrew Haigh United States, Canada, United Kingdom Minotaur Минотавр Andrey Zvyagintsev France, Germany, Latvia Musk Alex Gibney United States
Shorts Program
After Dark Shorts: Siren Songs Animation Shorts: Altered States Best of CineYouth 2026 Black Perspectives Shorts: Love with No Place to Go City & State Shorts: Homegrown Talent City & State Shorts: Journey Within Comedy Shorts: Anxious/Attachments Documentary Shorts: Fault Lines Drama Shorts: We’ll Meet Again Family Friendly Animation: Tender Bonds ICE OUT: Sawyer Avenue, Sunday Afternoon and A Month in Minnesota Outré: Deviants and Deviations
Official awards
Artistic Achievement Awards
Carrie Coon, American actress for The Liberation
Q-Hugo: Ira Sachs, American filmmaker for The Man I Love
Spotlight Award Andrew Haigh, English filmmaker for A Long Winter Tour de Force Award