# Chicago Film Fest returns with 113 films and major stars

> The 62nd Chicago International Film Festival opens October 14 with acclaimed films, celebrity appearances, and a focus on diverse voices.
- Title: Chicago Film Fest returns with 113 films and major stars
- Summary: The 62nd Chicago International Film Festival opens October 14 with acclaimed films, celebrity appearances, and a focus on diverse voices. The festival is…
- Keywords: chicago international film festival, film festival, carrie coon, marlon wayans, pedro pascal, chicago, october 2026, cinema, arts and culture, film programming, diversity in film, black perspectives
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2026/09/17/chicago-international-film-festival-2026-lineup-carrie-coon-marlon-wayans
- Published: 2026-09-17T10:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: chicago international film festival, film festival, carrie coon, marlon wayans, pedro pascal, chicago, october 2026, cinema, arts and culture, film programming, diversity in film, black perspectives
## 62nd festival opens in October
The Chicago International Film Festival returns October 14 with 113 feature films and 57 shorts from over 60 countries. About 45,000 cinephiles are expected to attend.
## Opening and closing films announced
Jordan Firstman's acclaimed A24 debut 'Club Kid' opens the festival on October 14. Tony Gilroy's 'Behemoth!' starring Pedro Pascal and Olivia Wilde closes it on October 25.
## Carrie Coon receives artistic honor
Actress Carrie Coon will receive the Artistic Achievement Award at the screening of her new film 'The Liberation.'
## Marlon Wayans gets career award
Comedian and actor Marlon Wayans will receive a Career Achievement Award and discuss his work at the festival.
## Other major stars attending
Director Tim Blake Nelson, actor and Illinois native Bob Odenkirk, and actress Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor will appear. Ellis-Taylor receives the Tour de Force Award at the world premiere of 'Liz Here Now.'
## Young audiences drive growth
People under 35 now account for more than 40% of festival attendees, the largest demographic. This shift is due to younger programmers and the Letterboxd movie-tracking craze.

> It's very different to watch a comedy at home alone than with an audience of everybody who's laughing.
## Community viewing matters most
Audiences are seeking shared experiences. Festival director Mimi Plauché says films that make you feel differently about the world resonate most when watched together.

> We want to emphasize that we have films that not only make you see the world differently, but also make you feel differently about the world.
## Oscar contenders and documentaries
The lineup includes Oscar contenders like 'Wild Horse Nine' and timely documentaries including the unsanctioned 'Musk' about Elon Musk.
## Chicago stories featured
Local films include 'No Hands: The Wild Ride of the Schwinn Bicycle Company,' a profile of Chef Curtis Duffy, and 'Mouse' by Chicago-based directors Kelly O'Sullivan and Alex Thompson.
## Disability and queer programming
The festival features disability-inclusive films and celebrates queer filmmakers. Director Ira Sachs will accept the Q Hugo Achievement Award at the screening of 'The Man I Love.'
## Black Perspectives marks 30 years
The program celebrates its 30th anniversary with director Cheryl Dunye receiving a Career Achievement Award. Ava DuVernay's 'Fourteen' and 'Once Upon a Time in Harlem' are featured.
## Black filmmakers still face barriers
Festival director Mimi Plauché notes that Black filmmakers face industry challenges and racial bias, making independent filmmaking increasingly difficult.

> It's a combination both of industry trends and how hard it is to make an independent film right now. And I do think there's a racial component, too.
## Standout films from major directors
Simon Stone's 'Elsinore' stars Andrew Scott. Jesse Eisenberg directs 'The Debut' with Julianne Moore. Mike Leigh's 'Tender Loving Care' is his final film.
## Physical Media Fair debuts
Attendees can visit the new Physical Media Fair between screenings to swap movies, win prizes, and hear from filmmakers and special guests.
## Ticket sales begin this week
Festival passes go on sale to the general public on September 24. Individual screening tickets cost 26 dollars and go on sale September 25.
## Key takeaway

The festival is growing younger and more diverse, with under-35 audiences now making up over 40% of attendees, driven by community viewing experiences and inclusive programming.