Fest FAQ's
The 30th annual Chicago International Children's Film Festival October 25 - November 3, 2013
What is the Chicago International Children's Film Festival?
The Chicago International Children's Film Festival is the largest festival of films for children in North America, welcoming 25,000 Chicago-area children, adults, and educators each year, and featuring over 250 films from 40 countries. The Festival screens a wide range of projects, from live-action and animated feature films to shorts, TV series, documentaries, and child-produced works. One of the most unique festivals in the country, the Chicago International Children's Film Festival showcases the best in culturally diverse, non-violent, value-affirming new cinema for children, and is one of the only Academy Award qualifying children's film festivals in the world.
For more than 30 years, the Chicago International Children's Film Festival has set new standards for what children's festivals can achieve. As the largest and longest running children's film program in North America, the Festival discovers the best in world cinema and continually raises the bar for quality children's programming.
What is the Festival's mission?
It is the mission of the Chicago International Children's Film Festival to set an internationally recognized standard of excellence in film, video, and television production for children. It is further our mission to support the work of talented and dedicated filmmakers by awarding prizes, by showcasing international films of the highest quality, and by providing a professional forum through which quality children's film may gain increased distribution and access to wider audiences. The Festival is also committed to engaging young viewers with positive media images and to using media as a tool to stimulate critical thinking.
When will the Festival Schedule be available?
The film festival schedule is available in September.
Where does the Festival take place?
The Festival takes place at Facets Cinema (1517 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago) in Lincoln Park, and other Chicago venues. Please refer to the screening schedule for theater details.
How can I purchase tickets?
General Public Admission: $6.00 for children (2-16) and $9.00 for adults.
Tickets for weekend screenings can be purchased at the box office 30 minutes prior to a screening or via Ticketweb - just click on the green icon by the program. The ONLY way to guarantee seating is to pre-purchase through Ticketweb. All seating is general admission.
Group Reservations: Special rates are available for groups of 25 or more.
Please contact Kat Keish at 773-281-9075 ext. 3009 or fldtrips@facets.org for details.
Do special guests attend the Festival?
Yes! Each year, 100 filmmakers, media professionals, and celebrities attend the Festival to lead interactive workshops and post-screening Q&A sessions with kids. Past attendees include: Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey), Shia LaBeouf (Transformers, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull), Animators from LAIKA Studios (creators of Coraline and ParaNorman), LeVar Burton (Reading Rainbow, Star Trek: The Next Generation), Jane Seymour (Wedding Crashers), Harold Ramis (Ghostbusters), Sissy Spacek (Coal Miner's Daughter); Terry Jones (Monty Python's Flying Circus); and film critic Roger Ebert.
Are there Q&A's for screenings?
The Festival welcomes 100 filmmakers & celebrities each year. When a filmmaker is present for a screening, they are introduced at the end of the program to speak a little about the making of their film & to take audience questions. The Q&A period can last between 5 and 20 minutes.
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Do you have workshops?
YES! Interactive workshops comprise an important part of the Festival's mission to make media a participatory rather than a passive experience. During the film festival workshops provide children with an unprecedented opportunity to benefit from the knowledge and experience of accomplished media professionals. Each year, the Festival offers workshops in a variety of media or film-related areas.
Workshop space is limited and registration must be done in advance. You can register for a workshop via the website through Ticketweb or by calling Facets Children's Programs 773-281-9075 ext. 3011.
What are your age ranges?
Our festival features films for children and young people ages 2 to adulthood. Age range suggestions are offered as a general guideline only.
Are the films rated?
Symbols are be used to mark programs that contain profanity 
, violence 
, or mature themes 
, relative to the suggested age range of the program.
What if films are in a language other than English?
Professional actors will read the English subtitles aloud for programs for kids 7 years old and younger. The sound from the film will be audible while subtitles are read.
When are prizes awarded?
Prizes are announced at the Closing Night Awards Presentation, the second Sunday of the Festival.
CLICK HERE for award lists from past festivals.
