Industry Days Program Announced at 62nd Chicago International Film Festival
INDUSTRY DAYS AT 62nd CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2026 PROGRAM
The 62nd Chicago International Film Festival, presented by Cinema/Chicago, today announced the program and schedule for Industry Days, running October 15 - 18, 2026. Now in its 12th year, the four-day conference is the Festival’s hub for filmmakers and industry professionals to connect, share ideas, and find inspiration. Participants engage in informative and thought-provoking workshops; hear from film executives, producers, and distributors; and meet their next collaborators at networking events.
A roster of high-profile producers join this year’s conference, including Oscar winner Alex Coco, producer of Sean Baker’s ANORA and RED ROCKET as well as this year’s Opening Night presentation, Jordan Firstman’s CLUB KID; Ryan Bartecki (THE LIFE AND DEATHS OF WILSON SHEDD, DEAD MAN’S WIRE); former A24 head of production Corey Deckler; Kenneth Yu, who co-produced SINNERS and executive produced Greg Kwedar’s upcoming SATURN RETURN), and Level Forward’s Adrienne Becker, producer of THE YEAR BETWEEN and co-founder of Killer Content.
Industry Days offers registrants unique access to panels and discussions such as Tim Blake Nelson’s Directing the Actor workshop; a film composing Master Class led by BEHEMOTH! composer Michael Abels; and the fourth annual International Contenders Panel, bringing the filmmakers behind their countries’ official Oscar submissions together to talk about the industry and culture worldwide.
The full schedule of Industry Days 2026 events is as follows:
Thursday, October 15, 2026
5 - 6 p.m.: Industry Days Kickoff Happy Hour
CineCity Studios (2429 W. 14th St Chicago)
Ease into the Industry Days by joining fellow filmmakers, industry professionals, and festival guests for a casual happy hour to connect, unwind, and get the night started!
6 - 7 p.m.: From Premiere to Purpose: How Indie Films Make Their Way into the World Now
CineCity Studios (2429 W. 14th St Chicago)
Launching an independent film requires far more than securing a premiere or, even more rare these days, a distribution deal. It demands a strategic, community-centered roadmap for distribution, sustainability, and impact. This opening panel grounds our gathering in the realities of today’s release landscape, exploring how independent creators can leverage festival exposure, strategic partnerships, and grassroots organizing to maximize a film's reach and purpose.
Speakers: Brittany Alsot (FINDING YOUR LAUGHTER), Elijah Davis (THREE COLORS: PAN-AFRICAN), Neto Villalobos (LOVE IS THE MONSTER)
Moderator: Aymar Jean Escoffery
7 - 9 p.m.: Industry Days Opening Night Mixer
CineCity Studios (2429 W. 14th St., Chicago)
Keep the conversation going after the Industry Days Kickoff Panel at our Opening Night Mixer.
Friday, October 16, 2026
9 - 10 a.m.: Networking Breakfast
Chicago International Film Festival Filmmakers Lounge (1538 N Clybourn Ave., Chicago)
Start your Industry Days morning with coffee, breakfast, and conversation. Connect with fellow filmmakers and industry professionals in a relaxed setting designed to spark new relationships, ideas, and collaborations.
10:15 - 11:30 a.m.: Documentary Summit: Innovative Survival Strategies
Chicago International Film Festival Filmmakers Lounge (1538 N Clybourn Ave., Chicago)
In the face of sustained unprecedented crises in financing and distribution for nonfiction storytellers, Industry Days’ second-annual Doc Summit brings together the documentary community for another urgent, action-oriented assembly. We will begin with an opening discussion anchored by veteran filmmakers to diagnose where the industry stands, evaluate current survival models, and frame the path forward. Following the panel, attendees will transition into facilitated breakout working groups structured around key operational challenges and tactics, including such topics as alternative financing, direct-to-consumer distribution, collective organizing, and advocacy. Rather than lingering on the industry's losses, this gathering is designed to convert shared friction into strategic power.
Speakers: Katy Scoggin (FLOOD), Erik Shirai (SUMO: SPIRIT WEIGHS NOTHING), Mars Verrone (BUCKSKIN), haydêe souffrant (Kartemquin)
Moderator: Naeema Jamilah Torres
12 - 1 p.m.: Mastering the Hustle: The Foundations of Film Freelancing
AMC NEWCITY 14 Theater 5 (1500 N. Clybourn Ave., Chicago)
Building a sustainable, long-term career requires more than just stepping into your role on a set. This panel breaks down the essentials of navigating the film industry as a freelancer with confidence. Designed specifically for emerging filmmakers and crew members, this practical discussion demystifies the business side of jobs in media production that they don't teach you in film school. You’ll hear from industry veterans, experienced freelance producers, and below-the-line crew who will share real-world strategies for paving a career path forward.
Speakers: Dashawna Wright (Producer, DEPARTING SENIORS), Sarah Minnie (Producer, A REAL ONE), Matt Hyland (Production Designer, TRASH MOUNTAIN), Jason Chiu (Director of Photography, DEPARTING SENIORS)
Moderator: Winter Davis
1:30 - 2:30 p.m.: Fix It In Post?: How to Get Ahead of the Post Process for Your Project
Presented by: Adobe
AMC NEWCITY 14 Theater 5 (1500 N. Clybourn Ave., Chicago)
Projects don’t end when the cameras stop rolling. In many ways, post-production is where the work truly takes shape: from finding the final cut to building the sound design, score, color, and visual effects. But top-quality post-production starts long before the edit. With time and budgets often under pressure, smart pre-production decisions can make all the difference. Join a range of post-production experts as they share practical advice, best practices, and behind-the-scenes insights for setting your post team up for success.
Speakers: Troy Lewis (Editor, TRASH MOUNTAIN), Guy Bauer (Editor, ANA THE CLEANER), Victoria Salazar (Noisefloor), Ana Christian (Anarchrony Post)
3 - 4 p.m.: Film Composing Master Class with Michael Abels
AMC NEWCITY 14 Theater 5 (1500 N. Clybourn Ave., Chicago)
Join award-winning composer Michael Abels (GET OUT), one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed and influential composers, for a conversation about creating music for the screen and his groundbreaking collaboration on the score for this year’s Closing Night film BEHEMOTH! starring Pedro Pascal. Abels is best-known for his score for Jordan Peele’s Oscar-winning film GET OUT. Among his accolades, Abels’ scores for Peele’s US and NOPE were Academy Awards shortlisted for Best Original Score. A three-time Emmy nominee, Abels was recently nominated for the series THE ‘BURBS. For his score for the Disney+ Star Wars series THE ACOLYTE, he received an NAACP Image Award. In 2023, Abels was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music for the acclaimed opera Omar, which opens October 23 at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Abels’ other film credits include THE BURIAL, BAD EDUCATION, and most recently, Na Hong-Jin's HOPE. His television credits include SIRENS and the docuseries ALLEN V. FARROW.
4:30 - 5:30 p.m.: Keynote: Keeping the Indie Spirit Alive with Producer Alex Coco
AMC NEWCITY 14 Theater 5 (1500 N. Clybourn Ave., Chicago)
Oscar-winning producer Alex Coco speaks about his producing and filmmaking career, stewarding some of the most iconic projects of the last few years. Coco is best known for producing Sean Baker's ANORA, which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival before going on to win five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Most recently, Coco produced Jordan Firstman’s CLUB KID. His company Rapt Film's upcoming slate includes Elijah Bynum's MY DARLING CALIFORNIA, starring Jessica Chastain, MikeyMadison, Chris Evans, Chris Pine, and Don Cheadle; Behn Zeitlin's HOLD ON TO YOUR ANGELS starring JessieBuckley and Paul Mescal; and TI AMO!, the upcoming feature from Sean Baker, produced for Warner Bros.' new label, Clockwork. Coco's previous producing credits include THE SWEET EAST, PET SHOP DAYS, and RED ROCKET.
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.: Industry Days Mixer
Co-Hosted by Adobe
Chicago International Film Festival Filmmakers Lounge (1538 N Clybourn Ave., Chicago)
Keep the Industry Days conversation going with an evening of drinks, connection, and community at the Filmmakers Lounge, co-hosted by Adobe.
Saturday, October 17, 2026
9 - 10 a.m.: Networking Breakfast
Co-Hosted by: DePaul University
Chicago International Film Festival Filmmakers Lounge (1538 N Clybourn Ave., Chicago)
Start your Industry Days morning with coffee, breakfast, and conversation. Connect with fellow filmmakers and industry professionals in a relaxed setting designed to spark collaboration.
10:15 - 11:30 a.m.: People vs. Money: Valuing Your Crew and Protecting Your Budget
Presented by: IPA
Chicago International Film Festival Filmmakers Lounge (1538 N Clybourn Ave., Chicago)
OBSESSION famously earned over $263 million at the U.S. box office on a budget of under $1 million, sparking debate about how indie crews are paid. New directing “boy wonder” Curry Barker’s future may be set, but what about the people who worked on his first feature? On the other hand, filmmaker Greg Kwedar’s SING SING paid every crew member the same flat day rate and created a guaranteed profit pool for cast and crew. While few people are getting rich in independent filmmaking, how can filmmakers budget, produce, and finance their movies in ways that benefit everyone involved? How do you protect workers’ rights and well-being on a low budget? And how do you get investors to agree to these standards?
Speakers: Tony Barraca (IATSE), Sarah Marie Flores (Anarchists United), Eugene Sun Park (Full Spectrum Features)
Moderator: Kyle Henry (Filmmaker, Northwestern Professor)
12 - 1 p.m.: Let’s Get Physical (Media)! Is the DVD Comeback Real?
AMC NEWCITY 14 Theater 5 (1500 N. Clybourn Ave., Chicago)
Judging from the headlines (“DVDs are the new vinyl records!” (Los Angeles Times); “Buy to own: the resurgence of physical media!” (NPR)), you might think it’s 1999 again, when DVD players were declared the fastest-selling consumer electronics product in history. While VHS exchanges are a fun new hobby and 4K/UHD Blu-Ray collectible sales are on the rise (check out this year’s Physical Media Fair), how much is physical media actually making a comeback, and does it really meaningfully change the way independent filmmakers can distribute and monetize their work? Filmmakers, distributors, and collectors discuss the allure of physical media, the economics of its distribution, and whether the resurrection of non-streaming video is real. Physical media collectors and casual consumers can also visit the Physical Media Fair at this year’s Festival, Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18.
Speakers: Andrew Van Beek (Music Box Films), Roy Millonzi (MPI Media), Natalie Djordjevic (Librarian, Archivist, and owner of Night Natalie)
1:30 - 2:30 p.m.: State of the Industry Game Show!: Your Questions Answered
Presented by: SAGindie
AMC NEWCITY 14 Theater 5 (1500 N. Clybourn Ave., Chicago)
Do I need a star to make my movie? Is equity financing still a thing? Do film festivals matter anymore? Can I self-distribute? Do I need influencers or celebrity executive producers? Can you really build an audience online? Is YouTube the future? To AI or not to AI? These are just some of the many, many, many questions you might have about our rapidly changing and influx entertainment industry. Join industry experts/contestants in this game-show-style round of questions–supplied by you, our Industry Days attendees–and find the burning answers to everything you want to know. Everyone wins!
Contestants: Ryan Bartecki (THE LIFE AND DEATHS OF WILSON SHEDD, DEAD MAN’S WIRE), Corey Deckler (IT COMES AT NIGHT, JOHN MULANEY AND THE SACK LUNCH BUNCH), Erica Weiss (G20, THE RED LINE)
Emcee: Darrien Michele Gipson (SAGindie)
3 - 4 p.m.: Master Class: Directing the Actor with Tim Blake Nelson
AMC NEWCITY 14 Theater 5 (1500 N. Clybourn Ave., Chicago)
Tim Blake Nelson is most famous for his work as an actor, providing memorable and much-lauded performances, but he is also a celebrated filmmaker. As a writer-director, this year’s Festival selection THE LIFE AND DEATHS OF WILSON SHEDD marks his sixth film, joining THE GREY ZONE, EYE OF GOD, LEAVES OF GRASS, ANESTHESIA, and O. His filmography of over 100 on-screen credits includes the Coen Brothers’ O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? and THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS, Steven Spielberg’s LINCOLN and MINORITY REPORT, Guillermo del Toro’s NIGHTMARE ALLEY, Terrence Malick’s THE THIN RED LINE, and HBO’s WATCHMEN. He next stars in the feature THE LEADER and Season 2 of HBO’s TASK. As a longtime professional working both in front of and behind the camera, Nelson will offer advice, inspiration, and best practices for creating a productive relationship with a filmmaker and their most valuable collaborator, their actors.
4:30 - 5:30 p.m.: Out of This World: International Contenders Roundtable
AMC NEWCITY 14 Theater 5 (1500 N. Clybourn Ave., Chicago)
Meet this year’s top international auteurs! This year’s Chicago International Film Festival continues its tradition of showcasing many of the movies submitted as their country’s official entry in the Oscar race for Best International Feature Film, from Austria to Germany, Palestine to Japan, South Korea to Thailand. As the U.S. becomes more isolated, these touching and beautifully crafted stories feel more important than ever to experience. Take part in this engaging conversation about the current state of world cinema, and how their makers have crafted films that resonate across borders.
Moderator: Seth Abramovitch (The Hollywood Reporter)
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.: Industry Days Mixer
Co-Hosted by: SAG-AFTRA and Delta Air Lines
Chicago International Film Festival Filmmakers Lounge (1538 N Clybourn Ave., Chicago)
Join us at the Filmmakers Lounge for an evening of drinks, conversation, and community, co-hosted by SAG-AFTRA and Delta Air Lines. Your first impression matters! Don’t miss our Frame Your Future Headshot Moment from 6 - 8 p.m. to get a free professional headshot, available on a first come, first served basis, with our photographer courtesy of SAG-AFTRA.
Sunday, October 18, 2026
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.: The Pitch
Presented by DCASE | Chicago FIlm Office
Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St., Chicago)
The culminating event of the CIX: Lab, the Chicago International Film Festival’s year-long development program, features five filmmaking teams with new narrative projects in active development sharing their pitch presentations in front of a panel of three judges composed of veteran producers in front of a live audience. The pitches will receive feedback and the winning project will receive an awards package of in-kind services, including consultation, production, and post-production, totaling over $200,000.
Pitch Judges: Adrienne Becker, Corey Deckler, Kenneth Yu
For more information, visit https://www.chicagofilmfestival.com.
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Applications for media accreditation for the 62nd Chicago International Film Festival are now open at this link.
Images and press materials available in the Chicago International Film Festival Media Center at this link.
Facebook: facebook.com/chicagofilmfestival/
Instagram: @ChiFilmFest
Hashtag: #ChiFilmFest
Festival Information
Celebrating its 62nd edition October 14 - 25, 2026, the Chicago International Film Festival is North America's longest-running competitive international film festival and an Oscar® and BAFTA-qualifying festival. Showcasing acclaimed and exciting new films from around the world, the 62nd edition will be held in theaters and at venues across the city, featuring a select program of films with open and closed captions. From dramas and thrillers to documentaries and comedies, the Festival’s lineup spans a range of genres. Signature competitive sections include International Feature Film, New Directors, International Documentary, and Shorts, alongside curated programs such as Black Perspectives, Comedy, OutLook, After Dark, and City & State, which showcases films made in Chicago and throughout Illinois.
2026 Festival Sponsors and Partners
The 62nd Chicago International Film Festival's sponsors include Festival Sponsors: Acqua Panna, Adobe, Chicago Transit Authority, CineCity Studios, Cinespace Studios, Delta Air Lines, DePaul University, Fannie May, Illinois Production Alliance, Make It Better Foundation, MPB, MUBI, Sanpellegrino, SAG-AFTRA, SAGindie, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Wintrust. Official Agency: Ogilvy; Publicity Agency: Acacia Consulting Group; With Major Support from Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation, John and Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Foundation, Charles Droege and Julie Wroblewski, GS Gives - Christopher M. Keogh, and Cynthia Stone Raskin. The Chicago International Film Festival acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council.
2026 Industry Days Sponsors Industry Days sponsors include: Acqua Panna, Adobe, Chicago Film Office, Chicago Transit Authority, CineCity Studios, Cinespace Studios, Delta Air Lines Depaul University, Illinois Film Office, Illinois Production Alliance, MPB, MUBI, SAG-AFTRA, SAGindie, Sanpellegrino, and Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
The Chicago International Film Festival acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council.
2026 Industry Days Supporters
Industry Days supporters include: AJ Links Casting, Anachrony Post, Constellation Brands, Eleven04, Glunz Wines, The Fields Studios, Independent Studio Services, Journeywork Entertainment, Maverick Beverage Company, The MBS Equipment Company, Noisefloor, Panavision, Quicksilver Color, Ramo Law, Revolution Brewing, and VineJoy Chicago.
2026 Industry Days Pitch Supporters
Industry Days Pitch supporters include: AJ Links Casting, Anachrony Post, The Fields Studios, Independent Studios Services, Journeywork Entertainment, The MBS Equipment Company, Noisefloor, Panavision, Quicksilver Color, Ramo Law
About Cinema/Chicago
Cinema/Chicago, the non-profit 501(c)(3) presenting organization of the Chicago International Film Festival, enriches the community through year-round programming devoted to international and independent cinema. We strengthen communication and inspire empathy among people of diverse cultures through artistic, educational, and creative development programs that promote discovery and discussion and inspire new visions of our shared future.
Cinema/Chicago's programs include the Chicago International Film Festival, Industry Days, Summer Screenings, CineYouth Festival, Community Cinema, the Digging Deeper into Movies lecture series, and year-round Chicago Industry Exchange Lab (CIX: Lab). Celebrating its 62nd edition October 14 - 25, 2026, the Chicago International Film Festival is North America's longest-running competitive film festival. For more information, please visit www.chicagofilmfestival.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
