Independent Film Alliance Chicago

09/22/2025

Coming up this Friday!

September 26th, Business of Filmmaking: One Day to Make a Movie, Without a Budget

Filmmakers Missy Hernandez and Miguel Silveira will join IFA Chicago to host a screening of their no budget, one-day feature, “The Last Election and Other Love Stories”.

The Last Election and Other Love Stories is a documentary fiction hybrid that was shot in one day in Times Square, NYC, during the 2020 presidential election. Stay after the film for an in-depth discussion on how it was made.

See you there!

Good Guy With a Gun ... In this rural noir thriller, a teenage boy and his mother arrive in a small town where their fractured relationship is widened by his deepening journey into gun culture.

07/29/2025

A SOLD OUT show tonight for Jake VanKersen's premiere of "I Agree With You" at The Davis Theater. The IFA Fiscal Sponsorship project is an indie comedy about relationships and what it takes to make them work. Check out the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VMW7HnUjb4

You can support the project here: https://givebutter.com/fortified

Sometimes the only way to get honest is to get weird. The official I Agree With You trailer is here! Join us for our premiere JULY 29th, 7:00pm at The Davis ...

07/17/2025

kicks off today and runs July 17–25 at the iconic Music Box Theatre! We are incredibly proud of the former IFA Fiscal Sponsorship project, Cinema Femme, and how much it has grown over the years, from magazine, to festival, to full fledged non-profit. Congratulations Rebecca and team!

The in-person and online festival shines a spotlight on emerging female, trans, and non-binary filmmakers, while celebrating the impact of mentorship in the industry. Experience over 20 powerful short films from around the globe, engaging Q&As with acclaimed filmmakers, and inspiring industry panels you won’t want to miss.


In-Person Festival Tickets:
https://cinemafemme.eventive.org/welcome

Virtual Festival Tickets: July 22-29, 2025
https://watch.eventive.org/cinemafemme

07/10/2025

Come out to IFA Chicago on July 17th for a dynamic and informative discussion on the working relationship between director and musician when making a film.

Co-hosted with The Society of Composers & Lyricists, the event will feature filmmakers and film composers sharing knowledge on smart practices, aligning creative visions, and fostering collaboration throughout production. This is an ideal opportunity to learn about key points and must haves for an engaging, cohesive partnership. Musicians and filmmakers of all levels and interests are encouraged to attend.

This is an in-person event at IFA Chicago! Tickets are $15 for the public, and FREE for IFA and SCL members. More information here: https://ifachicago.org/events-/scljuly17

07/08/2025

Meet our 2025 JJ Ingram Creative Inclusion Intern, Lena Davis.

Lena is a curious young person motivated to create change. Starting in her community with constant volunteering, she spreads awareness of South Side neighborhood issues in other spaces. She plans to deepen her knowledge of cultural and racial divides and wants to bridge the gap between different communities. Lena is looking to major in international relations and broadcast journalism. She wants to learn about how Black Americans are affected by changes in the world, and strives to spread news and truths that are transparent. Her favorite catchphrase right now is “Push Peace.”

Lena is working with IFA Chicago this summer to help further our mission and learn about the film and TV industry in Chicago.

07/07/2025

Come out on Wednesday (7/9) evening to Comfort Station Logan Square for a series of award winning shorts produced by local filmmaker, professor, and IFA Chicago Creative Cabinet Member, John Otterbacher.

Ranging from under 3 minutes to almost 30 minutes, these short films will take you on trips around the neighborhood, up to Wisconsin, across the country to LA and even through the Southwest and in to Mexico. 6 different directors with very different perspectives and stories to tell but all with humanity and humor that all can appreciate. Professor O and local directors and filmmakers will be in attendance for post screening Q&A.

“Silt” directed by Emilie Upczak

“The Driver” by Jon Gollner

“Handle With Care” by Michael Glover Smith

“Barny and Herb” by Tommy O’Rourke

“Harsh Gruder” by J Paul Presault

“My Last Martini” by Rob Christopher

Professor O's Producing Festival Best of Shorts! Best of Professor O’s Producing Festival - A series of award winning shorts all produced by local filmmaker and professor, John Otterbacher. Ranging from under 3 minutes to almost 30 minutes, these short films will take you on trips around the neigh...

07/03/2025

Academy Award-winning director Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, The Outsiders) is inviting IFA Chicago to join him live for a one-of-a-kind cinematic event at The Chicago Theatre on July 25th. https://www.ticketmaster.com/an-evening-with-francis-ford-coppola-chicago-illinois-07-25-2025/event/070062CDD39D3936

This event includes a screening of Francis’ monumental 2024 film Megalopolis, followed by an in-depth Live Q and A with the legendary director. He will also be leading an interactive audience discussion entitled “How to Change Our Future” This special event offers fans a rare opportunity to experience the film – not currently available on any streaming platform – exactly as Francis intended.

“This is the way MEGALOPOLIS was meant to be seen, in a large venue, with a crowd and followed by intense interactive discussions about the future.” – Francis Ford Coppola

06/30/2025

There's a special screening of "The Last Election and Other Love Stories" at the Music Box Theatre this coming Tuesday, July 1st, at 7 PM. IFA Member Missy Hernandez is the writer along with Miguel Silveira who also directed. Both will be in attendance to discuss current events and their approach to making a feature film with just one day of principal photography.

As finalists in a podcast competition worth 20 thousand dollars, Khadim Diop and his creative partner, Xisko Monroe, create an audio ethnography about the 2020 presidential election. Working exclusively in Times Square from sunrise on November 3, 2020, to sunrise on November 4, 2020, they ask all in...

06/09/2025

The rescheduled screening of Jonathan Silver's "The Premiere" at Chicago Filmmakers followed by an "In Focus With..." conversation after the film is set for Friday, June 20th. Come join us for a partnered program and member screening!

Chicago Filmmakers ( map ) | Friday June 20 , 2025 | 7:00PM On the night of his first movie premiere, Jacob Sanders is hounded by mounting issues and paranoid delusions appearing on the screen. Disaster looms at every turn - his family argues, audience members complain, the popco

06/04/2025

Our recent At the Table program not only had an amazing script and performers as usual, but this time we also had our incredibly talented and generous partners Noisefloor LTD. on site capturing audience feedback and a conversation with the creatives for a forthcoming podcast. Stay tuned!

05/30/2025

Our next At the Table program in partnership with SAG-AFTRA Chicago is coming up on Monday (6/2), featuring a live table read of "Invasion of the Housewives." The captivating script by Zach Lorkiewicz and produced by Grace Hahn delves into themes of trust, hysteria, and the human psyche, and will be performed live by SAG-AFTRA performers. This event is exclusive to IFA Members and SAG-AFTRA invitees. If you're not yet a member, consider joining to access this and other unique opportunities. https://ifachicago.org/events-/housewives

At the Table is an initiative that pairs completed scripts with professional actors for a table read and curated session. This is especially valuable for projects in the process of finding investors and exploring casting possibilities.

Join us for our series, At The Table , in partnership with SAG-AFTRA Chicago, for a table read of the script: Invasion of the Housewives

05/27/2025

Join us with Mxxd Media for our 3rd SCREEN TIME showcase featuring Chicago-made shorts this Thursday (5/29) at the Davis Theater. IFA Member and Screen Time alum George Ellzey Jr. will be leading the Keynote discussion before the screening of 9 selected shorts. Stick around after for a filmmaker Q/A and networking. https://ifachicago.org/events-/screen-timemay29