Chicago International Film Festival Opens Its 62nd Annual Run
Roughly 45,000 cinephiles are expected to pack theaters across the city as the 62nd Chicago International Film Festival kicked off its two-week run on October 14, chicago.suntimes.com reported. The marquee annual event features an eclectic mix of celebrities, 113 feature films, and 57 shorts running through October 25 across multiple venues.
Opening Night Stars and Red Carpet Screenings
Chicago native John C. Reilly delighted crowds on the red carpet at the Music Box Theatre during the opening night festivities. Reilly serves as a festival jury member and is in town to promote Going For Home,
a documentary he executive-produced that screens during the event. Opening night also featured Jordan Firstman’s A24-distributed debut feature, Club Kid.
Derrick Rose appeared at AMC Newcity 14 for a screening of Three Colors: Pan-African,
a film he co-executive-produced with Steppenwolf Theatre Artistic Director Glenn Davis and playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney. The feature co-stars Chicago native and former South Side
actor Bashir Salahuddin.
Honors and Retrospective Tributes Across Venues
Carrie Coon receives the Artistic Achievement Award during a screening of her new film, The Liberation,
while Naperville native Bob Odenkirk presents his new documentary, Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu,
according to chicago.suntimes.com. Marlon Wayans receives a Career Achievement Award as the festival’s Black Perspectives program marks its 30th anniversary. Wayans will sit for a conversation with actor Omar Epps, reflecting on their time attending Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School together in New York. The Black Perspectives program, marking its 30th anniversary in collaboration with director Spike Lee, also showcases screenings of Ava DuVernay’s documentary 14th and David and William Greaves’ Once Upon a Time in Harlem, hoodline.com reported. Additional honorees include Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, who receives the Tour de Force Award, and filmmaker Cheryl Dunye, who receives a career achievement award at a retrospective screening of her 1996 film The Watermelon Woman.
Local Filmmakers and International Cinema Slate
Local talent anchors the centerpiece presentation with Mouse,
co-directed by Chicago-based filmmakers Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson, who previously helmed the 2019 independent drama Saint Frances.
Both Mouse
and their earlier film Ghostlight
feature local actress Tara Mallen. The international lineup features directors Carolina Cavalli and Davy Chou serving as jurors, Andrew Haigh participating in a conversation with fellow filmmaker Ira Sachs, and Paolo Strippol, whose film The Spiral
has been submitted by Italy for a Best International Feature Film Oscar nomination. Food culture takes center stage as well, with Chicago chef Curtis Duffy appearing for screenings of the documentary Ever After,
alongside Iron Chef
Chairman Mark Dacascos joining Duffy on a panel.
Festival Rankings and Closing Night Details
The festival arrives following national recognition in March 2026, when the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards ranked the Chicago International Film Festival as the No. 2 Best Film Festival in the United States following a four-week public vote, according to Cinema/Chicago. The event concludes on October 25 with Tony Gilroy’s Behemoth!,
a Searchlight Pictures release starring Pedro Pascal and Olivia Wilde. Tickets for select screenings and events remain available at the festival’s official website.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 62nd Festival
Where do festival screenings take place?
Screenings and events are held across multiple venues in Chicago, including the Music Box Theatre and AMC Newcity 14, running through October 25.
What marks the milestone for the Black Perspectives program?
The Black Perspectives program marks its 30th anniversary in 2026, featuring special honorees such as Marlon Wayans, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, and filmmaker Cheryl Dunye.
Which film closes the festival on October 25?
The festival closes with Tony Gilroy’s Behemoth!,
a Searchlight Pictures release starring Pedro Pascal and Olivia Wilde.