Over five decades of leadership in experimental and radical cinema.
Festival Name: Onion City Experimental Film and Video Festival
Organizer: Chicago Filmmakers (a not-for-profit media arts organization)
Location: Chicago, USA
Festival Dates: April 8-11, 2027
About the Festival: Onion City is one of the premier international festivals exclusively devoted to experimental film and video. The festival was founded in the 1980s by the Experimental Film Coalition and has been managed by Chicago Filmmakers since 2001. The mission of the festival is to provide local and regional audiences with an opportunity to view a wide range of contemporary experimental works, focusing on artistic excellence while also valuing diversity in style, form, and nationality.
Awards:The festival is juried, and awards are presented to selected works.
Accepted Genres:Experimental film and video.
Film Duration:No length restrictions.
Year of Production:Produced between 2023 and 2027.
Language & Subtitles:Non-English language works must have English subtitles (.srt or .vtt files are accepted).
Submission Deadline:October 22, 2026
Additional Information:
- Notification Date: March 11, 2027 (approximate).
- Exhibition Copy Receipt Deadline: March 12, 2027.
- Submission Format: Initial submission via password-protected streaming link.
- Exhibition Formats: DCP, digital file (.mp4 or .mov), 16mm film.
- By submitting, the entrant authorizes public screening and agrees to provide an exhibition copy. Works cannot be withdrawn after submission.
- Priority is given to Chicago premieres.
- Physical shipping costs to the festival are the entrant’s responsibility; return shipping is covered by the festival.
- For international shipments, it is mandatory to label packages with: “TEMPORARY IMPORTATION – FOR FILM FESTIVAL EXHIBITION ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL VALUE.”
