Your Last-Minute Guide to the Chicago International Film Festival

The 61st Chicago International Film Festival is running through Oct. 26. (Perhaps you’ve noticed the stark, vamp-y logo peeking out at you throughout the city.)

This is North America’s longest-running competitive film festival. It’s also your chance to actually see those foreign films that get nominated for Oscars every year! But not all events are part of the competition. Screenings range from shorts to docs to pulpy “After Dark” flicks. 

Here’s what we’re still looking forward to.

An Evening With Spike Lee

Spike Lee earned the fest’s 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award after decades of involvement with the program. In 1997, he helped establish its Black Perspectives series, which is ongoing.

🎟️ Lee will join Dr. Jacqueline Stewart in conversation Friday at AMC NEWCITY 14. Tickets are $60. Earlier that day, at the same venue, you can catch Lee’s newest film, “Highest 2 Lowest,” starring Denzel Washington.

“No Other Choice”

The latest movie from suspense master Park Chan-wook stars Lee Byung-hun of “Squid Game” fame. And it looks awesome. It follows a man who, after years of unemployment, moves to directly eliminate his competition. A thriller for the recession era.

🎟️ “No Other Choice” plays Saturday and Sunday at AMC NEWCITY 14.

“One Golden Summer”

This documentary follows Chicago’s Jackie Robinson West Little League, which became the first all-Black team to win the Little League U.S. Baseball Championship in 2014. The boys were a media sensation … until a rival coach accused them of breaking residential boundary rules.

🎟️ “One Golden Summer” kicked off the fest opening night, but you can still catch a screening Sunday at Logan Center for the Arts.

“Shorts 10: Outré”

With Halloween around the corner, you know I had to include a creepier pick. But I think even the faint-hearted could handle this showing of shorts which veer more fantastically irreverent than scary. Topics covered include ghosts, vampires, dating apps, abortions, and queer raves.

🎟️ “Shorts 10: Outré” plays Saturday at AMC NEWCITY 14.

Bonus: “It Was Just an Accident”

Recommended to City Cast by TV host Brandon Pope, “It Was Just an Accident” has stirred controversy, coming out of Iran with backing by the French government. It follows the story of a man who captures someone he thinks tortured him when he was previously captured.

🎟️ Although the fest’s screening of “It Was Just an Accident” passed, you can catch it at AMC River East or the Music Box starting Oct. 30.

Cinema/Chicago, the nonprofit that runs the fest, also hosts events year-round, including free screenings in Englewood and Pilsen.