Chicago International Film Festival 2024

The Chicago International Film Festival is held every fall since 1964. The festival's program consists of many categories, including the International Competition, New Directors Competition, Docufest, Black Perspectives, Cinema of the Americas, and Reel Women. The International Connections Program was founded in 2003 to raise awareness of the international film culture and diversity of Chicago. Foreign movies are screened for free at theaters from July through September.

Festival Program

During the eleven days of the event, CIFF welcomes its visitors to numerous screenings of documentaries, feature films, short films, and works of various genres. The festival holds other special events, including competitions, exhibits, panel talks, and block parties.

Venues

The festival unfolds throughout various locations in Chicago. Most of the Chicago International Film Festival events take place in the AMC River East 21 (322 East Illinois Street), with some special events being an exception. Other locations include Gene Siskel Film Center, Music Box Theatre, Chicago History Museum, and Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA).

Tickets

Single tickets to general screenings cost $24 for the general public and $20 for students and seniors. Tickets to special presentations cost $28, while passes to the opening night cost $45. Matinees, late-night screenings, and short films cost $15 to attend. A pass for 20 admissions costs $400, while a pass for 10 admissions costs $220.

History & Past Guests

Filmmaker and graphic artist Michael Kutza founded the festival as an alternative to commercial Hollywood movies. The festival featured François Truffaut, Orson Welles, Sophia Loren, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Satyajit Ray, Howard Hawks, George Cukor, Spike Lee, Luchino Visconti, Faye Dunaway, Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg, and Quentin Tarantino. It has introduced directors like Martin Scorsese, Wim Wenders, Bertrand Tavernier, Margarethe von Trotta, and Krzysztof Kieslowski.