Doc10 All-Documentary Film Festival
- A curated lineup of documentary features and shorts highlighting diverse stories and filmmakers. - Festival runs April 25–May 3, 2026 with screenings and panels throughout the week. - Screenings at Chicago venues; see schedule and ticket info at choosechicago.com
Chicago’s Doc10 returns this week for its 11th edition, expanding its documentary showcase into a 10-day run from April 24 through May 3. (doc10.org) The festival is centered at the Davis Theater in Lincoln Square, with at least one screening at the Gene Siskel Film Center, and organizers list official-selection tickets at $20 and most “Speak Truth” events at $10. (choosechicago.com) (siskelfilmcenter.org) Doc10 says it is Chicago’s only all-documentary film festival, and this year’s schedule mixes 10 official selections with a new “Speak Truth” sidebar built around post-screening conversations and civic dialogue. (doc10.org) (doc10.eventive.org) The 2026 lineup opens its main showcase on April 30 with “Give Me the Ball!,” an ESPN documentary about Billie Jean King, after “Speak Truth” events begin on April 24 with “Sabbath Queen.” (variety.com) (doc10.eventive.org) The schedule runs through May 3 with films including “American Doctor,” “Steal This Story Please!,” “Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story,” “Closure,” and “Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie.” Many listings include filmmaker question-and-answer sessions or post-show discussions. (doc10.eventive.org) (siskelfilmcenter.org) Doc10’s pitch has long been curation over scale. The festival says it pulls titles from top-tier stops including Sundance, Telluride, Venice and Berlin, and says 20 of the more than 50 films it has premiered have later been shortlisted or nominated for Academy Awards. (doc10.org) That awards-track reputation arrives during a harder stretch for nonfiction film. WBEZ reported Tuesday that Chicago Media Project, the group behind Doc10, had National Endowment for the Arts funding rescinded, and organizers responded by leaning further into the new “Speak Truth” program. (wbez.org) Chicago Reader reported the added program is meant to encourage dialogue and engagement, while Block Club Chicago said the expanded edition includes features, shorts, events and guests such as Henry Winkler and Salman Rushdie. (chicagoreader.com) (blockclubchicago.org) For Chicago moviegoers, the practical change is simple: Doc10 is no longer just a long weekend of premieres. In 2026, it stretches across 10 days, with screenings, panels and ticketing already live ahead of Friday’s opening night. (doc10.eventive.org) (choosechicago.com)
