Chicago Critics Film Festival 12th Year

The Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA) has announced the complete lineup, schedule & special guests expected for the 12th annual Chicago Critics Film Festival that takes place May 1st to 7th at the city’s historic Music Box Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. The festival opens with a screening of “The Invite” with director & star Olivia Wilde scheduled to attend. The week-long event closes with Joe Swanberg’s “The Sun Never Sets” with Swanberg & star Cory Michael scheduled to attend. Additional selected films for the 2026 festival include Chicago premieres of the most anticipated films of the year such as John Carney’s “Power Ballard” starring Paul Rudd & Nick Jonas, John Early’s “Maddie’s Secret”, Adrian Chiarella’s “Leviticus”, Sara Dosa’s “Time & Water” & Edd Benda & Stephen Helstad’s “Chili Finger” with the filmmakers scheduled to attend. In addition to the more than 20 acclaimed new feature films & two short film programs making their Chicago premieres the festival will present several anniversary screenings including 40th anniversary screenings of David Cronenberg’s classic “The Fly” & Jonathan Demme’s “Something Wild” as well as a 25th anniversary screening of Steven Spielberg’s “A.I.: Artificial Intelligence” all presented on 35mm. The Chicago Film Critics Association supports & celebrates quality filmmaking that has something to say about our world, our lives & our society. Rotten Tomatoes joins the CFCA in presenting the CFCA / Rotten Tomatoes as an official sponsor of the festival’s Audience Award. For more than 30 years the Music Box Theatre has been the premier venue in Chicago for independent & foreign films, festivals & some of the greatest cinematic events in Chicago.

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