Chicago International Film Festival

Chicago International Film Festival
Location212 W Van Buren St., Suite 400, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Founded1965
Most recent62nd Chicago International Film Festival
Hosted byCinema/Chicago
LanguageInternational
Websitechicagofilmfestival.com

The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964 by filmmaker and graphic artist Michael Kutza, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America.

The Festival has a history of discovering and showcasing directors including Martin Scorsese, John Carpenter, Ava DuVernay, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Wim Wenders, and more.

In 2025, the Festival featured 150+ films from more than 50 countries over 12 days. Each year, the Festival welcomes more than 40,000 filmmakers and film lovers for 12 days of international and independent cinema.

Festival programming includes the International Competition, New Directors Competition, Documentary, Black Perspectives, After Dark, City & State, Shorts, and more. It is also an Academy Awards qualifying Festival in the categories of Best Live Action Short, Best Documentary Short, and Best Animated Short.

The Festival’s main venue is AMC NEWCITY 14. The Festival also hosts screenings across Chicago, including at Music Box Theatre, the Chicago History Museum, Gene Siskel Film Center, the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, Kennedy-King College, and the National Museum of Mexican Art.

Black Perspectives Program

The Chicago International Film Festival’s Black Perspectives Program was founded in 1997 in collaboration with Spike Lee to highlight the excellence and diversity of African American cinema and films by the African diaspora from around the world. In addition to showcasing the work of emerging filmmakers, the program also features an annual tribute, with past honorees that include Viola Davis, Sidney Poitier, Halle Berry, Morgan Freeman, Steve McQueen, and more.

Awards

Winners are awarded Hugo Awards (named after a mythological god of discovery "of shadowy origin"; not to be confused with the literary Hugo awards) in eight different competition categories.

  • Gold Hugo
  • Gold Hugo
  • Gold Q-Hugo
  • Gold Hugo
  • Gold Hugo
  • Gold Hugo

Gold Hugo

Year Winning film Director(s) Country Ref.
1965The Lollipop CoverEverett Chambers United States
1966Bushido (Bushidō zankoku monogatari)Tadashi Imai Japan
1967Here's Your Life (Här har du ditt liv)Jan Troell Sweden
1968Innocence Unprotected (Nevinost bez zastite)Dušan Makavejev Yugoslavia
1969Eeny Meeny Miny Moe (Ole dole doff)Jan Troell Sweden
1970The Green Wall (La muralla verde)Armando Robles Godoy Peru
1971Mon oncle AntoineClaude Jutra Canada
1972Bleak MomentsMike Leigh United Kingdom
1973Mirage (Espejismo)Armando Robles Godoy Peru[citation needed]
MorgianaJuraj Herz Czechoslovakia
1974PirosmaniGeorgy Shengalaya Soviet Union
1975Land of Promise (Ziemia obiecana)Andrzej Wajda Poland
1976Kings of the Road (Im Lauf der Zeit)Wim Wenders West Germany
1977The Huntsmen (Oi kynigoi)Theo Angelopoulos Greece
1978To an Unknown God (A un dios desconocido)Jaime Chávarri Spain[citation needed]
1979Angi VeraPál Gábor Hungary
1980Camera Buff (Amator)Krzysztof Kieślowski Poland
1981The German Sisters (Die bleierne Zeit)Margarethe von Trotta West Germany
1982Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy DeanRobert Altman United States
1983The South (El Sur)Victor Erice Spain
 France
1984Khandhar (The Ruins)Mrinal Sen India
1985The Official Story (La historia oficial)Luis Puenzo Argentina[citation needed]
1986Welcome in Vienna (Wohin und zurück)Axel Corti Austria
 West Germany
  Switzerland
1987Whooping Cough (Szamárköhögés)Péter Gárdos [hu] Hungary
1988Little Vera (Malenkaya Vera)Vasili Pichul Soviet Union
1989Zerograd (Gorod Zero)Karen Chakhnazarov Soviet Union
1990Ju DouZhang Yimou China
 Japan
1991DelicatessenJean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro France
1992Dream of Light (El sol del membrillo)Victor Erice Spain[citation needed]
1993Twinkle (Kira kira hikaru)Joji Matsuoka Japan[citation needed]
199471 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance (71 Fragmente einer Chronologie des Zufalls)Michael Haneke Austria
 Germany
1995Maborosi (Maboroshi no Hikari)Hirokazu Koreeda Japan
1996RidiculePatrice Leconte France
1997The Winter GuestAlan Rickman United Kingdom
1998The Hole (Dong)Tsai Ming-liang Taiwan
1999Sachs' Disease (La maladie de Sachs)Michel Deville France
2000Amores perrosAlejandro González Iñárritu Mexico
2001Fat Girl (À ma soeur!)Catherine Breillat France
2002Madame SatãKarim Aïnouz Brazil
2003Crimson Gold (Talaye Sorkh)Jafar Panahi Iran
2004KontrollNimród Antal Hungary
2005My Nikifor (Mój Nikifor)Krzysztof Krauze Poland
2006Fireworks Wednesday (Chaharshanbe Suri)Asghar Farhadi Iran
2007Silent Light (Stellet Lijcht)Carlos Reygadas Mexico
2008HungerSteve McQueen Ireland
2009Mississippi DamnedTina Mabry United States
2010How I Ended This Summer (Kak ya provyol etim letom)Alexei Popogrebski Russia
2011Le HavreAki Kaurismäki Finland
2012Holy MotorsLeos Carax France
2013My Sweet Pepper LandHuner Saleem Iraq
2014The PresidentMohsen Makhmalbaf Georgia
 France
 United Kingdom
 Germany
2015A ChildhoodPhilippe Claudel France
2016SieranevadaCristi Puiu Romania
2017A Sort of FamilyDiego Lerman Argentina
2018Happy as LazzaroAlice Rohrwacher Italy
  Switzerland
 Germany
 France
2019Portrait of a Lady on FireCéline Sciamma France
2020SweatMagnus von Horn Sweden
2021MemoriaApichatpong Weerasethakul Thailand
 Colombia
 Germany
 France
 Mexico
 China
2022GodlandHlynur Pálmason Iceland
 Denmark
 France
 Sweden
2023Explanation for EverythingGábor Reisz Hungary
 Slovakia
2024VermiglioMaura Delpero Italy
 France
 Belgium
2025SirātOliver Laxe Spain
 France

Silver Hugo

Jury Award

Best Director

Best Actor

Best Actress

Best Performance

Best Screenplay

Best Editing

Best Cinematography

Best Sound

Best Art Direction

Best New Director

Special Mention

Lifetime Achievement Awards

Winners of the festival's Lifetime Achievement Award include Steven Spielberg, Helen Hunt, Dustin Hoffman, Martin Landau, Shirley MacLaine, Lord Richard Attenborough, François Truffaut, Jodie Foster, Sigourney Weaver, Robin Williams, Manoel de Oliveira, and Clint Eastwood.[citation needed]

Career Achievement Awards

Television awards

The Television Awards started with the idea of honoring television commercials in a special event of the film festival, but over time evolved and grew into a bigger event, comprising not only commercials but also television productions, series, and online television. In 2003, a separate ceremony was launched for the TV awards, and in 2017, the event became a separate event, named the Chicago International Television Festival. Winners and runners-up for the various categories, which include Gold and Silver Hugos, are listed on the film festival website.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Chicago International Film Festival Winners". The Scorecard Review. 2009-10-19. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  2. ↑ Phillips, Michael (2016-10-22). "Rule, Romania: 'Sieranevada,' 'Graduation' win big at Chicago Film Fest". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  3. 1 2 "Festival Award Winners". Cinema/Chicago.
  4. ↑ "1965 — 1st Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  5. ↑ "1966 — 2nd Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  6. ↑ Award section at Svenskfilmdatabas.se (in Swedish) Swedish Film Institute
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "50 Years of Memories: Highlights from the History of the Chicago International Film Festival" (PDF). chicagofilmfestival.com. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  8. ↑ "1969 — 5th Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  9. ↑ "Juraj Herz Double Bill: The Cremator + Morgiana". Czech Centre. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  10. ↑ "1977 — 13th Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  11. ↑ "A Year in the Artsl". Chicago Tribune. 28 December 1986. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  12. ↑ "Chicago Fest Winners". Variety. November 9, 1988. p. 14.
  13. ↑ "1994 — 30th Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  14. ↑ "1995 — 31st Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  15. ↑ "1996 — 32nd Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  16. ↑ "1997 — 33rd Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  17. ↑ "1998 — 34th Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  18. ↑ "1999 — 35th Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  19. ↑ "2000— 36th Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  20. ↑ "2001— 37th Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  21. ↑ "2002— 38th Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  22. ↑ "2003— 39th Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  23. ↑ "2004— 40th Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  24. ↑ "2005— 41st Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  25. ↑ "2006— 42nd Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  26. ↑ "2007— 43rd Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  27. ↑ "2008— 44th Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  28. ↑ "2009— 45th Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on April 29, 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  29. ↑ "2010— 46th Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  30. ↑ "2011— 47th Chicago Film Festival". chicagofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  31. 1 2 3 "Highest Standards of Filmmaking Celebrated at the 50th Chicago International Film Festival's Awards Night". chicagofilmfestival.com. October 17, 2014. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  32. 1 2 3 Byrge, Duane (October 24, 2015). "'A Childhood' won the dramatic competition; 'Volta A Terra' prevailed in the documentary competition". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  33. 1 2 3 Phillips, Michael (October 22, 2016). "Rule, Romania: 'Sieranevada,' 'Graduation' win big at Chicago Film Fest". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  34. 1 2 3 "53rd Festival Award-Winning Films". Chicago International Film Festival. October 25, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  35. 1 2 3 "54th Chicago International Film Festival Award Winners". Chicago International Film Festival. October 19, 2018. Archived from the original on January 30, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  36. 1 2 3 "55th Chicago International Film Festival Award Winners". Chicago International Film Festival. October 27, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  37. ↑ "58th Chicago International Film Festival Award Winners". Chicago International Film Festival. October 21, 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  38. ↑ Phillips, Michael (20 October 2023). "Chicago International Film Fest winners are announced, and there's an explanation for everything". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  39. ↑ "Chicago International Film Festival Awards Top Prizes to 'Vermiglio,' 'All We Imagine as Light'". IndieWire. October 25, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  40. ↑ "Thrilled to announce the award winners in the International Features Competition at the 61st #ChiFilmFest!". Instagram. October 24, 2025. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  41. ↑ "50 years of memories: Highlights form the history of the Chicago International Film Festival" (PDF). Chicago International Film Festival.
  42. ↑ "50 years of memories: Highlights form the history of the Chicago International Film Festival" (PDF). Chicago International Film Festival.
  43. ↑ Chicago International Film Festival - News & Events - Bruce Dern Comes Home to Chicago for the Centerpiece Presentation of Alexander Payne's "Nebraska". Chicagofilmfestival.com (2013-08-27). Retrieved on 2014-05-25. Archived October 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  44. ↑ "Chicago International Television Festival History". Cinema / Chicago. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  45. ↑ "Cinema/Chicago Television Awards: 2010 Award Winners". Cinema/Chicago. Retrieved 24 November 2021.