From international offerings to local projects, there is no shortage of intriguing films to see this fall, thanks to the many festivals in the Chicago area. Movie-lovers can enjoy buzzy Oscar contenders at the Chicago International Film Festival, experimental projects at the Chicago Underground Film Festival or culturally significant stories at fests celebrating works by women, queer, Black and South Asian filmmakers.And there are plenty of pictures by up-and-coming local filmmakers, such as "Driven," by Max and Gabrielle Fitzpatrick, whose short includes the last of onscreen performance from their father, the late Chicago artist Tony Fitzpatrick. Green Room Newsletter You’re subscribed!Please check your inbox for your confirmation. Stay ahead of what’s hitting Chicago stages, galleries, museums and more with Green Room, WBEZ’s weekly arts culture newsletter! Sorry, there was an error registering your email. Email Sign Up By subscribing, you agree with WBEZ’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy What especially stands out among this year’s selections are the long-form and short documentaries. Attendees can learn about everything from the launch of Chicago chef Curtis Duffy’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Ever, to WNBA player Brittney Griner’s high-profile imprisonment in Russia. Read on to learn more about those films and more in our fall film festival guide. Among the short nonfiction films at the Oak Park Film Festival is Brian Zahm’s “Abel,” a short documentary about a locl photographer who suddenly lost his sight.Oak Park Film Festival Oak Park Film FestivalWhere: Lake Theatre, 1022 Lake St., and Madison Street Theater, 1010 Madison St.When: Sept. 16, 19-20Chicago isn’t the only city in Illinois teeming with talent. The Oak Park Film Festival will illustrate that point by celebrating the wealth of actors, directors and writers from the west suburb. The event begins with a showing of Nicole Holofcener’s 2013 film, “Enough Said,” followed by a video interview with cast member and Oak Park Native Tavi Gevinson. The rest of the schedule is populated with documentaries, such as Dan Greenstone and Travis Chandler’s 81-minute “Surviving Zenkik Farm,” which focuses on former members of a commune who are working to rebuild their lives, a list that includes an Oak Park resident. Among the short nonfiction films is Brian Zahm's "Abel," about a photographer who suddenly lost his sight, and Risé A Sanders-Weir’s “Be the People,” which profiles six Oak Park residents trying to better their community. Several teen directors will also screen their projects. Tickets $15+. Northwestern University student Shreya Saini’s short, “Meethi,” is among the selections at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival.Chicago South Asian Film Festival Chicago South Asian Film FestivalWhere: AMC River East, 322 E. Illinois St.When: Sept. 17-20Full-length documentary may be the least-populated category at the fest this year, but the three entries are diverse and compelling. Amita Arudpragasam’s “Thayakam (Motherland)” explores climate crisis in Sri Lanka, while Shashwati Talukdar’s “Marriage Cops” features officers-turned-relationship counselors in northern India. In “The Energy That Heals,” Christina Vircillo Bresson examines the science of bodily restoration. The short film category is another highlight, as many filmmakers have offered dynamic stories in small packages. For example, there’s a drama that features a crime lord and his wife in a dimly lit bathroom (“What Remains of Us”), an animated film about how Muslim parents discuss sex with their kids (“Halal Bodies”) and a documentary that revisits a Nepali immigrant’s lawsuit against the state of Mississippi (“Threading the American Dream”). The sole entry from a local filmmaker comes from Northwestern University student Shreya Saini, whose short, “Meethi,” uses the preparation of food to tackle themes of love and grief. Tickets $5+. Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi’s award-winning “La Bola Negra” is the opening film at Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival.Carla Oset/Netflix Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film FestivalWhere: Music Box Theater, 3733 N. Southport Ave.; Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark St.; Chicago Filmmakers, 1326 W. Hollywood Ave.When: Sept. 17-27The event kicks off with Oscar contender “La Bola Negra,” Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi’s sweeping drama that won best director at Cannes. Another standout is “The Brittney Griner Story,” Alexandria Stapleton’s documentary on the WNBA star’s harrowing imprisonment in Russia in 2022. Chicago is well-represented at the fest, through a host of short films directed by locals, including a presentation of “My Brother’s Killer,” produced and edited by resident Dion Labriola; and a showing of the trans rom-com “Something You Should Know About Me,” executive produced by native Lilly Wachowski. Additionally, Charlene A. Carruthers’ narrative short “Plenum” follows two siblings from Chicago to the 1995 Black Nations/Queer Nations Conference. And footage of Firebrand, a Chicago LGBTQ+ country-western dance group, is featured in Graham Clayton-Chance’s “Last Dance at the Sundance Stompede.” Tickets $15+. The City of Lights Film Festival opens with Rich Newey’s “Adult Children,” a coming-of-age, Chicago-based comedy/drama centered on the experiences of a 17-year-old female protagonist.City of Lights Film Festival City of Lights Film FestivalWhere: The Venue, 21 S. Broadway, AuroraWhen: Sept. 18 -19The Aurora-based fest opens with Rich Newey’s “Adult Children,” a coming-of-age, Chicago-based comedy/drama centered on the experiences of a 17-year-old female protagonist. A QA with Chicago-based producer Mark Glassgow will follow the screening.Another highlight is Christopher King Maia Lekow’s documentary, “How to Build a Library,” which follows two Nairobi women as they transform a former white-only library into a cultural hub. The event lineup also includes showings of Baz Luhrmann’s “Moulin Rouge,” which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and a presentation of student films, short films and even a music video. Tickets $6+. The Chicago Underground Film Festival closes with C.S. Nicholson’s “A Stranger Has No Eyes,” a documentary about a woman confronting her family’s legacy as notorious enslavers.Chicago Underground Film Festival Chicago Underground Film FestivalWhere: Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St., and Harper Theater, 5238 S. Harper Ave.When: Sept. 23-27The festival, which features eclectic, genre-bending films, opens and closes with documentaries that examine pivotal past events. First, there is “Nova ‘78,” Rodrigo Areias and Aaron Brookner’s peek into a notable counterculture event headlined by novelist William S. Burroughs. Then, there is C.S. Nicholson’s “A Stranger Has No Eyes,” a story about a woman confronting her family’s legacy as notorious enslavers. The fest also includes plenty of experimental narrative films, such as Leonardo Pirondi’s Portuguese science fiction picture, “Tropical Fractals,” Parker Corey’s comedy-thriller, “Nightgame,” and Chicago director Elijah Valter’s boundary-pushing “Moth.” Audiences can also see multiple short films by local directors, including Max and Gabrielle Fitzpatrick’s “Driven,” which features the last onscreen performance by their father, Chicago artist Tony Fitzpatrick. Tickets $13+. The Cinema Femme Short Film Festival includes a special presentation of “Ugly Cry,” Emily Robinson’s feature-length horror film co-starring Chicago native Robin Tunney.Cinema Femme Short Film Festival Cinema Femme Short Film FestivalWhere: Music Box Theatre, 3733 N, Southport Ave.When: Oct. 11-13Now in its eighth year, the three-day event includes a party, panels and showings of films by women and gender-expansive directors. This year, there are several short films by Chicagoans, including Erika Valenciana’s “Brewer” documentary, Rey Tang’s “Love in Process,” Emma Duvall and Skyler Verity’s “Stretch,” Casey Hartnett’s “The Actress and the Photographer” – shot in one take – and Juliette Strangio’s “Learning to Eat Cake.” Taylor Blackwell’s film, “It Happened: The Judy Tenuta Story,” is based on the life of the accordion-playing comedian from Oak Park, who died in 2022.The fest will also include a special presentation of a feature-length horror movie, Emily Robinson’s “Ugly Cry.” It co-stars Chicago native Robin Tunney, who is known for her work in “Empire Records” and “The Craft.” Tickets $15. Illinois native Bob Odenkirk will appear at the Chicago International Film Festival for a screening of Michael LaHale’s “Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu.”Provided Chicago International Film FestivalWhere: Multiple venuesWhen: Oct. 14-25CIFF opens with A24's "Club Kid," directed by Jordan Firstman, who will receive the "breakthrough award" for the comedy-drama. Other highlights include Martin McDonagh’s Oscar contender, “Wild Horse Nine,” Tim Blake Nelson’s “The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd,” Paweł Pawlikowski’s “Fatherland” and James Gray’s “Paper Tiger.” The fest's "centerpiece" presentation, "Mouse," comes from Chicago-based filmmakers Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson. Local heroes are also represented with two documentaries: Michael LaHale’s “Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu,” starring Illinois native Bob Odenkirk, and Frankie Nasso’s “Ever After,” which chronicles Chicago chef Curtis Duffy’s rise to prominence. While the Mobile Criterion Closet is (sadly) not returning, the event will host a Physical Media Fair, where attendees can swap movies, hear from filmmakers and win prizes. Tickets $26. A standout at this year’s Black Harvest Film Festival is Louis Massiah and Monica Henriquez’s documentary, “Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing.”Black Harvest Film Festival Black Harvest Film FestivalWhere: Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St.When: Nov. 6-15The fest returns for a 32nd year with two standout, full-length documentaries. Louis Massiah and Monica Henriquez’s “Toni Cade Bambara School of Organizing” spotlights the career of the filmmaker, writer and activist, who was an influential figure in contemporary Black literature. Also featured is “Abanitu: A family documentary” by Brooke C. Obie, who is known for her TV/film newsletter, “Black Girl Watching.” Obie’s film takes a multifaceted look at her family’s stewardship of their ancestral land in North Carolina. Multiple selections by Chicago filmmakers are included in the fest’s “From the Block” showcase. Among them is Monet-Chanel Khanyahl’s “Sistas in the Pit,” Denzel Adolphus Howard’s “120 Seconds” and Kevin Shaw’s “I Dreamt of Cowboys, Cottonfields and Clouds: Bernard Williams” — a profile of a Chicago artist. Ticket prices to be announced. Your guide to fall culture in Chicago The next big thing is happening on Chicago’s small stages. Here are 10 plays and musicals not to miss this theater season.Evanston’s $32 million new Northlight Theatre wasn’t built for big crowds. It’s built for new plays.“Mary Cassatt: After Impressionism” is the Art Institute’s first deep-dive into Cassatt in more than 25 years and explores some of her historical Chicago ties. ...read more read less