Lakefront Trail Maintenance Alert: Over the next several months, repairs will be made throughout the trail, one section at a time. Work will start on the south end and move north. Signage will be placed ahead of the construction site. Please be alert and safe, and avoid these active construction work zones. Learn more: Lakefront Trail Maintenance. Posted 9/15/26
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Now an annual staple, The Chicago Onscreen Local Film Showcase returns each summer with a new lineup of some of the most exciting work the Chicago filmmaking community has to offer. Take a look back at the Chicago films that we’ve featured since the showcase began.
The idea for the Chicago Onscreen Local Film Showcase began to germinate in the summer of 2013, with an experiment. For the first time ever, Movies in the Parks patrons were treated to a locally-produced film telling stories from their own neighborhood. Building on the success and promise of that experiment, the festival came to life in 2014, growing from one film in one park to 15 exciting new local films in 6 parks throughout Chicago. In 2015, the program expanded slightly and the festival was fine-tuned to increase awareness, participation and promotion in the showcase’s second season.
2026 Official Selections
- ABEL (Directed by Brian Zahm, Produced by Tasha Matsumoto)
- Be Mine, Mime (Directed by Mathew Sharifi, Produced by Brace FuCai, Mathew Sharifi, Kishore Hariharan, Samaran Kapa)
- COEXIST (Directed by Angie Panganiban)
- Draft Paper (Directed by Olivia Moon, Produced by Adrian Nuño)
- First Person: Civic Matters Stories (Directed by David DiGangi, Produced by Bartram Nelson)
- First Winter (Directed by Schantelle Alonzo)
- Humboldt Park Riots (Directed and Produced by Javier Vargas)
- Jacuzzi Man (Directed and Produced by Jesse Rothenberg)
- Queer Up the Details (Directed by Anna Rose Ii-Epstein, Produced by Anna Rose Ii-Epstein, Hannah Ii-Eptestein, Lehua Ii-Michaelson, Geoffrey Michaelson, Penelope Strauss Villars)
- Roots and Blues: The Muddy Waters MOJO Museum (Directed by Chandra Cooper and Nate Wyse, Produced by Chandra Cooper)
- Six Hour Pass (Directed and Produced by Juelle A. Daley)
- Super Parent (Directed by Tapree Collins and Kevin Fervil, Produced by Tapree Collins, Kinswana Collins, and Kevin Fervil)
- Taste of Community (Directed by Aiden Shah and Leila Kniffen, Produced by Amanda Saucedo and Joshua Romero)
- The Good News (Directed by Christopher Hoerdemann, Produced by Norma Hoerdemann)
- The Protagonist Gene (Directed and Produced by Kyle Leland Cullerton)
- The Wild Mile: A River Reborn (Directed by House of Bug Productions, Produced by Lexie Garrett, Taylor Evans Ghosal, Duncan Hoag, Christina Hoffmann
- What I Am Today: Maa Maa Dei (Directed by Ian Szetho, Produced by Eunice Wangadi and Matt Hebron)
- Your Tomorrow Will Be My Song (Directed by Fernando Saldivia Yáñez, Produced by Fernando Saldivia Yáñez and Ignacio Cavieres Maragaño)
Past Chicago Onscreen Official Selections
2025 Official Selections
Ariba's Delivery at the Healing Home (Directed by Schantelle Alonzo)
Artista (Directed by Juan Linares)
Between the Silence (Directed by Juan C. Linares)
Beyond Closure (Directed by Erin Babbin and Michael Sullivan)
Bike Vessel (Directed by Eric D. Seals)
Bronzeville to Harlem: An American Story (Directed by Diana Quiñones Rivera)
Cecily with Apple (Directed by Katelyn Douglass and Drew Angle)
Check Please (Directed by Shane Chung)
Don Chingón (Directed by Carlos Lerma)
Don't Forget to Say Goodbye (Directed by Alexander Zimmer and Jeremy Handrup)
Fishy Fish Fish (Directed by Andrea Julieta Guillen Lopez)
Getcho (Directed by Ashley Tyler McKeithen)
Kolbe House (Directed by Trevor Thomas Tosto)
Pictures Only (Directed by Charles A. Honeywood)
The Premiere (Directed by Jon Silver)
The Show! (Directed by Samantha Herrera)
2024 Official Selections
a film called black: King's Speech, Directed by Cam Be
Between Clouds and Glass, Directed by Mykhailo Bogdanov
Cat City, Directed by Ben Kolak
Color My World, Directed by Georgina Cahill
I Said, No, Directed by Gabriella Wiltz
Kedai Tapao: Love and a Malaysian Takeout Shop, Directed by Ian Szetho
Last Date, Directed by Andrea Zile Bish
No Matter How Much, Directed by Dorian Weinzimmer
No Permit Necessary, Produced by Bughouse Productions
Photosynthesis, Directed by Brian Zahm
Sankofa Chicago: The Untold, Directed by Vanessa Page Wright
The Spaghetti Man, Directed by Jerry S. Gonzalez
This Train is Invisible Until it Crashes, Directed by Oona Taper
Treasure Haunt, Directed by Carlos Lerna
Twenty Five, Directed by Lonnie Edwards
Viewfinder Falling For You, Directed by Grant I. Worden
2023 Official Selections
CIRCVS MAXIMVS, Directed by Maxime Chudeau
Documenting Our Story Vol. 1: TRQPiTECA, Directed by Sandra Vanessa Oviedo
The Front Lines, Directed by Ethan Herman
i3:BLACKOUT, Directed by Ladu Pearson and Eugene Robinson
Kiss 'n Ride, Directed by Olivia Jensen
Lifetimes, Directed by Amber Love
Marias, Directed by Salvador Salazar and Andres Aurelio
Masterpieces, Directed by Ronan Morrissey and Bridget Johnson
Mr. Bulloch: Chicago's Donut King, Directed by Claude Edward Fethiere
Nuestra Herencia, Directed by Erin Babbin
Roadkill, Directed by Will Angelico
Straphanger, Directed by Martin Mulcahy
SymBionic, Directed by Jack Tenbusch
Team Dream, Directed by Luchina Fisher
Yellow Polka Dot, Directed by Tin Nguyen
2022 Official Selections
Change the Name, Directed by Cai Thomas
Changing the Disciple, Directed by Kamelya Alexan
Citric, Directed by Katie Kapuza
Conversations Between Shifts, Directed by Ben Basem
Daily Bread, Directed by Manuel Sirgo
Don't Worry About It, Directed by Melissa Kong
Emergence, Directed by Rey Tang
Encounter Englewood, Directed by Anthony Moseley
For the Left Hand, Directed by Leslie Simmer and Gordon Quinn
Gut Feelings, Directed by Vanessa S. Valliere and John Gregorio
Handpan Journey, Directed by Manuela Hung
It's Different in Chicago, Directed by David Weathersby
Nuestra Herencia, Directed by Erin Babbin
Ray & the Agave, Directed by James Kozar
Recovery of the Fallen, Directed by Curtis James Matzke
Room Rodeo, Directed by Daniel Kayamba
Teacher in the Window, Directed by Henry van Zytveld
2021 Official Selections
As We Are Planted - Directed by Anna Lee Ackermann
Bijou Doozie - Directed by Maureen M. Miller
Divine - Directed by Monique Marshaun
Dorm - Directed by Elisa Stanis
The Ephemeral Orphanage - Directed by Lisa Barcy
Ferdinand Avenue - Directed by Robert Nelson and Noah Keckler
A Galaxy Sits in the Cracks - Directed by Amber Love
Kenya's Symphony - Directed by Carlos Douglas Jr.
Mama Gloria - Directed by Luchina Fisher
Part of Me - Directed by Nick Forsythe
Rebel Bells - Directed by Anne Colton and Michelle Yates
Sacred Brick Technology - Directed by Ian Bertorelli
Sankofa Chicago - Directed by Vanessa Page Wright
The Sweet Pursuit - Directed by Kendall L. Barachy
Together Apart - Directed by Ruby Fuller, Hannah Hafner, Rae Burczyk and Joanna Sodke
Walking for Water - Directed by Erin Babbin and Michael Sullivan
2020 Official Selections
Bird of Paradise - Directed by Alexander Zorn
Bittersweet - Directed by Dan Holmes
Break - Directed by Lucas Guy Taylor
The Chicago River - Produced by The Chicago Jazz Philharmonic
Douglass - Directed by Cai Thomas
The First Lions - Directed by Erin Babbin and Michael Sullivan
Generation One - Directed by Sohib Boundaoui
Go Go, Boy - Directed by Oriana Opice
The Good of Chicago - Directed by El C. Concepcion
Kim's Big Date - Directed by Claire McFadden
Last Slice - Directed by Ankur Singh and Cai Thomas
Muse - Directed by Max Zuckert
My Mattachine - Directed by Martin Mulcahy
Noodles & Incense - Directed by Rey Tang
Periphery - Directed by Lonnie Edwards
Rear View - Directed by Steve Kniss
Touch and Go Chess Party - Directed by Paul Restivo
Transparent Delusion - Directed by Haomin Peng
Viktory - Directed by Stephanie Jeter
2019 Official Selections
The Art of Flocking: Cultural Stewardship in the Parks - Directed by Jackie Richter
Businessmen - Directed by Aaron Legg, Produced by Kyle Rudolph
The Color of Art - Directed and Produced by David Weathersby
Eventual Blindness - Directed by Malachi Pulte, Produced by Glenn Garrabrant
Exit Zero: An Industrial Family Story - Directed by Chris Boebel, Produced by Chris Boebel and Christine Walley
Freddy - Directed by Ian Bertorelli
Limbo - Directed and Animated by Jennifer Stachovic
Rendezvous in Chicago - Directed by Michael Smith
Richie Beyond - Directed by Lars Steier, Produced by Dasha Gorin
Save It - Directed by Leo Gallagher
Something Different - Directed by Anna Rose Ii-Epstein, Produced by Dasha Gorin and Anna Rose Ii-Epstein
Stalled - Directed by Eddie Rybarski, Produced by Damon Griffin
Yesterday - Directed by Jon Slavin and Tommy Byrne
2018 Official Selections
Brooks People - Directed and Produced by Shahari Moore
Charming Strangers - Directed and Produced by Weichao Xu
Continuing Ed. - A Free Spirit Media Film, Directed by Laura Landry and Chad Rispalje, Produced by Free Spirit Media and IL Humanities
The Exchange - A Camovement LLC Film, Directed by Cam Be, Produced by Keenan Allen, Yaw Aygeman, Vladimir Ladouceur and Cam Be
I Can Only Be Mary Lane - Directed and Produced by Jesseca Ynez Simmons
King, Hereafter - An Unfurnished Films, LLC Film, Directed by Curtis Matzke, Produced by Danny Rhodes, Curtis Matzke and Daniel McEvilley
Moah's Ark - Directed and Produced by Jose Donoso
Parts & Labor - A Kartemquin Films Production, Directed and Produced by Bing Liu
Red Line Lounge - Directed and Produced by Jens Ericson
Rogers Park - An AOK Productions LLC Film, Directed by Kyle Henry, Produced by Jason Wehling, Kyle Henry, Ross Putman, Alan Berg and Lewis Black
Runner - A Seeker Films Production, Directed by Clare Cooney, Produced by Shane Simmons and Clare Cooney
The Spy Who Knew Me - An A.B.L.E. - Artists Breaking Limits and Expectations Film, Directed by Lawrence Kern, Produced by Katie Yohe
The Wayward Wind - A montom arts Film, Directed by Steve Delahoyde and Monica Thomas, Produced by Delahoyde Projects
Uninsurable: Erin Potter's Story - Directed by Clare Austen-Smith, Produced by Anya Solotaire and Mimi Wilcox
2017 Official Selections
B Love – Directed and Produced by Shahari Moore and Christine List
Beyond the Sole – Directed by Derek Dow, Produced by Angie Browne and Jonathan Keijser
The Big Chop – Directed by Derek Dow, Produced by Katrelle N. Kindred and Caymen Grant
A Bodega – Directed and Animated by Samuel R. Mendez
Bound – Directed and Choreographed by Monica Thomas
Count Me In – Directed and Produced by Ines Sommer
Counting – Directed and Produced by Dan Pal, Executive Produced by David Zak
The Dividing Line of Chicago – Produced by Casey Pitts, Andres Delgado, Jaliyah Armstead, Yahyness Hill-White and Free Spirit Media
Emergence – Directed by Rocco Cataldo and Produced by Mary Kay Cook
Father Burke’s Boss Battle – Directed by J. Paul Preseault, Produced by J. Paul Preseault and John Otterbacher
Home – Directed by Barry Brewer, Produced by Jasmine Money Brewer
Home I – Directed and Choreographed by Helen Lee, Produced by Sarah Dahnke
Nia & Kim – Produced by Free Spirit PRO
Nuoc – Directed by Bing Liu, Produced by Bing Liu, Nguyen Van Hai, Phuong Kanh Nguyen Than and Youme Nguyen
The Orange Story – Directed by Erika Street, Produced by Eugene Sun Park and Jason Matsumoto
Ubuntu: The Peace Exchange in South Africa – Produced by Jeff McCarter, John Mjoseth, Chad Rispalje, Jessica Work and Free Spirit PRO
Unbroken Glass – Directed by Dinesh Das Sabu, Produced by Dinesh Das Sabu, J. Patrick Lile and Kartemquin Films
Yellow Gold – Directed and Animated by Cristen Leifheit
2016 Official Selections
The Amazing Mr. Ash - Directed and Produced by Brian Gersten
Baby Mary - Directed by Kris Swanberg, Produced by Jacqueline "JJ" Ingram and Annie Goldberg
Bedrooms - Directed by Alex Thompson, Produced by Quinn Tsan Alex Thompson and Zoe Lubeck
Calumet - Directed by Alex Thompson, Produced by Nate Lewis, Alex Thompson and Edward May
Chi-Voices: A Poetic Film Series - Directed by Shiri Burson, Created and Produced by Jessica Estelle Huggins
Cool Apocalypse - Directed by Michael Glover Smith, Produced by Clare Kosinski
Crystal Lake - Directed by Jennifer Reeder, Produced by Steven Hudosh and Penelope Bartlett
Hacia Adelante: Moving Forward - Directed by Chad Rispalje, Produced by Free Spirit Media
Half-Life of War - Directed by Kyle Henry
I'm an Actor (Yo soy Actor) - Directed and Produced by Aaron Greer
In the Game - Directed and Produced by Maria Finitzo
Oreo - Created and Directed by Cydia Flowers
Power(less) - Directed and Produced by Cristen Leifheit
2015 Official Selections
Common Decency – Directed by Marya Spont-Lemus and Andrés Lemus-Spont
Come to Light – Directed by Todd Tue, Produced by the Chicago Public Art Group and Milk Products Media
Dissolve – Directed and Produced by Justin Leyba
Elsewhere, the Survivors- Directed by Ali Aschman
An Entirely Ordinary Individual – Directed by Kevin Orzel, Produced by Quincy Oliver
Get Involved! – Produced by LaShawnda Lampley
Hurricane – Directed by Todd Tue, Produced by Milk Products Media
Knock – Directed and Produced by Ben Feldman
Love & Capitalism, Parts 1 & 2 – Directed by Bret Hamilton and Harrison Martin
Offsides – Directed by Tytania Holliman, Produced by John Mossman
Private Eye – Directed and Produced by Tristian Montgomery
South Chicago: In Progress – Directed and Produced by David Granskog
The Curse of the Tempest Jewel – Directed by Lawrence Kern, Produced by Lawrence Kern and Kathryn Yohe
The Man – Directed and Produced by Taylor Brown
Toy Car – Directed by Muamer Celik, Produced by Muamer Celik and Digital Hydra
Two Cents – Directed by Rachit Trehan
Redmoon Summer Park Series – Directed by Montel Williams, Paris “Twiggy” Brown, Chris Summers and Jackie Gonzalez, Produced by Free Spirit Media PRO
2015 Selection Committee: Teish Daniel, Dawn Dewald, Jon Ravenscroft, Kimeco Roberson, Beckie Stocchetti
2014 Official Selections
CATalogue – Directed and Produced by Michael Gabriele
Close Quarters – Directed by Jack C. Newell, Produced by Joe Rosengarten, Jack C. Newell and Ron Falzone
Dirty Laundry – Directed by Gustavo Martin, Produced by Rod Grable
The End of August – Directed and Produced by Tim Coghlan
Fanfare for Marching Band – Directed by Danièle Wilmouth, Produced by Mucca Pazza, Danièle Wilmouth and Peter Carpenter
Ghetto Art – Directed and Produced by Sam Paakkonen
Hatboxes – Directed by Susana Darwin, Produced by Etta Worthington and Fernwork Productions
Left Alone – Directed by Seth Boggess, Produced by Natasha Warloe and Christopher BB Warloe
Louder Than a Bomb – Directed and Produced by Greg Jacobs and Jon Siskel
Maydays – Directed by Ricardo Gamboa and Ben Kolak, Produced by David Jacobson
Michael’s Last Ride – Directed by Melissa Thornley and Phillip Maniaci, Produced by Wholesome Midwestern Girl Productions
Natural Life - Directed and Produced by Tirtza Even
The Peace Exchange – Directed and Produced by J’mme Love, Tim McBride and Chad Rispalje
Scotty Works OUT – Directed by Dan Pal, Produced by Dan Pal and Jason Knade
White Lotus Rising – Directed and Produced by Jason and Jean Boulware
2014 Selection Committee: Pamela Sherrod Anderson, Amir George, Natalie Laczek, Jon Ravenscroft, Beckie Stocchetti
Showcase Testimonials
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Jean and Jason Boulware, Directors/Producers, White Lotus Rising(image of film above)
We were originally interested in being a part of the Chicago Onscreen Local Film Showcase because it’s unique and it does something unique, it lets the city speak for itself through film. The local approach means so much to so many Chicagoans -we're passionate about this city which is why we make work about her, tell stories about her, use her as the backdrop in everything from fantasy to gripping tales of sorrow and loss. There's no city like Chicago and the films made here have a feeling all their own. It’s platforms like the Chicago Onscreen Local Film Showcase that let filmmakers show their love.
We learned so much by screening at the showcase. The feedback from the audience was wonderful and the ability to engage people one on one and as a group and talk about work and process and formula is so important to filmmakers. The showcase is a great testing ground and place for important local interaction and discussion about film.
What we remember most about being a part of Chicago Onscreen is the excitement. It's always a thrill to see your work up on a big screen in front of Chicagoans. The energy from the crowd is fantastic and it’s a thrill to be around so many people that care about the city and her artists and her future.
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Sam Paakkonen, Director/Producer, Ghetto Art
When I heard the Chicago Park District's Movies In the Parks program was introducing the Chicago Onscreen Local Film Showcase, I thought it was a perfect opportunity to share with my community and meet others in my city. I was able to share my film’s story and connect with an audience, which in return wanted to share their story with me.
Chicago Onscreen is a wonderful festival for all kinds of filmmakers and works. Films are screened in Chicago’s parks where audiences can attend and watch with their local community and filmmakers. Anyone who wants to submit their film should submit. Chicago Onscreen embraces new perspectives, creativity and most importantly the power of film to bring people together in Chicago.