Chicago Filmmaking Resources

Still a work in progress with a lot of great stuff missing, but the goal is to create a comprehensive list of resources for indie filmmakers in Chicago. Something missing? Let us know.

 

Film Orgs

• IFP/Chicago
• Chicago Filmmakers
• Women in Film Chicago
• CIFF Industry Days
• Kartemquin Films

Incubators & Spaces

• Stage 18
• 2112

Investors

• Chicago Media Angels

State and Local Government

• Chicago Film Office
• Illinois Film Office
• Illinois Film Tax Credit

SAG-AFTRA

• SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local
• A Guide to Dealing with SAG-AFTRA for Short Films

Casting Directors

• Compass Casting
• Marisa Ross Casting
• O'Connor Casting
• Paskal Rudnicke Casting
• Simon Casting

Festivals

• Chicago Comedy Film Festival (submit)
• Chicago Critics Film Festival
• Chicago Underground Film Festival
• CIMMfest (submit)
• Chicago International Film Festival
• Chicagoland Shorts
• Chicago Latino Film Festival (submit)
• Chicago International Children's Film Festival (submit)
• Midwest Independent Film Festival
• Windy City Film Festival (submit)
• Chicago Horror Film Festival (submit)
• Fashion Film Festival Chicago (submit)
• Reeling Film Festival
• ReelAbilities Film Festival
• Collected Voices Film Fest
• Black Harvest Film Festival
• The Chicago Onscreen Local Film Showcase
• Asian Pop-up Cinema
• Social Change Film Fest
• Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema
• Mostra Brazilian Film Series
• Chi-Town Multicultural Film Festival
• Chicago REEL Shorts Film Fest
• Adventure Film Festival
• Chicago Irish Film Festival
• One Earth Film Festival
• JCC Chicago Jewish Film Festival
• Chicago Feminist Film Festival
• Peace on Earth Film Festival
• Injustice For All Film Festival
• Onion City Film Festival
• CineYouth Film Festival

Film Schools

• Columbia College
• DePaul
• Northwestern University
• Second City's Harold Ramis Film School
• Tribeca Flashpoint

Podcasts

• CinemaJaw
• Filmspotting

Arthouses and Indie-friendly Theatres

• The Music Box
• Facets
• Gene Siskel Film Center
• Landmark Century Centre Cinema

Screening Spaces

• Comfort Station

Equipment Rental Houses

• Eleven04 Productions (indie-focused)
• Camera Ambassador
• Magnanimous Rentals
• Daufenbach Camera
• ShareGrid Chicago

Post-production Houses

May or may not have discounted rates for indie projects...

• Experimental Sound Studio
• Periscope Post & Audio
• Company3

Legal Help

• Lawyers for the Creative Arts
• Leavens, Strand & Glover
• The Lens Legal Group

Places to Find Actors

• Actors Access
• CastingNetworks
• Chicago SAG Franchised Agents
• Casting in Chicago Facebook Group
• Annoyance Theater (will post auditions to their newsletter)
• See above for casting directors.

Resources for Actors

• Chicago Acting in Film Meetup

Classes (non-film-schools)

• Chicago Filmmakers
• Second City TV, Film, & Digital Production (see above for Harold Ramis Film School)

Film Libraries and Rental Places

• Facets Multimedia
• Alliance Française Médiathèque (French titles, may require membership)

Publications

• Coming soon...

Articles

• The Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker 2017
• Newcity Film 50 2016
• Newcity Film 50 2015

Critics

• Chicago Film Critics Association

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