CineYouth Film Festival — Youth Filmmakers Showcase
- Cinema/Chicago’s 21st CineYouth festival is running in Chicago from April 24 to April 26, with free screenings, workshops and live filmmaker Q&As centered on directors age 22 and younger. - The 2026 lineup spans 71 short films from 16 countries across 10 programming blocks at FACETS, before a global streaming run begins April 27 and continues through May 3. - CineYouth has run since 2005 and serves as Cinema/Chicago’s youth pipeline, pairing screenings with industry access and workshops for emerging filmmakers. (chicagofilmfestival.com)
CineYouth is back in Chicago this weekend, with Cinema/Chicago staging its 21st youth film festival at FACETS from April 24 through April 26. (chicagofilmfestival.com) The festival is limited to filmmakers age 22 and younger, and Cinema/Chicago says this year’s edition includes in-theater screenings, hands-on workshops and live question-and-answer sessions with filmmakers. (chicagofilmfestival.com) The 2026 program includes 71 short films from 16 countries across 10 programming blocks, with animation, documentary, drama and Chicago-made work in the lineup. (chicagofilmfestival.com) All in-person events are being held at FACETS, 1517 West Fullerton Avenue, and Cinema/Chicago says every screening and workshop is free and open to the public. (chicagofilmfestival.com) (choosechicago.com) The schedule pairs film blocks with practical sessions, including Adobe-backed workshops on editing workflows, captions, graphics and title design. (chicagofilmfestival.com) Cinema/Chicago says the festival has operated since 2005, making this year its 21st edition and extending a program built to connect young directors with peers and industry professionals. (chicagofilmfestival.com) Columbia College Chicago is also involved as a sponsor, with student and alumni films in the program and an alumni panel tied to the festival. (colum.edu) After the Chicago screenings end on April 26, selected films will stream globally on the Chicago International Film Festival platform from April 27 at noon through May 3 at 11:59 p.m. (chicagofilmfestival.com) For young filmmakers, CineYouth is both a public showcase and an entry point: a place to screen work in a theater, meet programmers and learn how festivals operate before the larger Chicago International Film Festival returns in October. (chicagofilmfestival.com) (colum.edu)
