Oak Park, IL Film Festival

05/28/2026

For the third consecutive year, we're partnering with the amazing Madison Street Theater to bring you the independent film portion of OPILFF. 🎬 ⭐

A space built to create, teach, collaborate, and perform. It's the perfect stage for independent cinema.

Join us September 19 & 20. 🎥✨

05/27/2026

Community call-to-action🎬 Want to be part of the magic? ✨

We're looking for volunteers for the Oak Park IL Film Festival!

The fest is September 16, 19 & 20 but there are plenty of other opportunities to get involved outside of the fest too.

Help us bring incredible cinema to our community and be part of something special.

Link to sign up >> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmJUI1X93RCqmQ1FdSjW_gugYdKu0-NxJ3dpJ6BKnzczsC4w/viewform

05/24/2026

As we head into our third annual Oak Park Film Festival this September, we're thrilled to welcome Katelyn Capri Zenie to the team as our new Project Manager. The festival has grown into a destination multi-day event, pairing a curated slate of independent and Hollywood films that have connections to Oak Park, IL. A format that celebrates both our village's cinematic heritage and the working filmmakers, artists, and storytellers shaping its future. Katelyn joins us at an exciting moment in that growth.

A producer, production designer, and creative project manager based right here in Oak Park, Katelyn brings nearly a decade of experience across film, live events, and marketing. Most recently as Production Coordinator at Chicago's RA Imaging, where she has led large-scale film premieres, coordinated documentary productions featuring A-list talent, and produced a DCASE-grant-winning short film series.

What we love most is her genuine investment in Oak Park's creative community and her vision for our third edition. A thoughtfully programmed weekend that's a great experience for filmmakers, a welcoming gathering for our community, and a meaningful stage for the storytellers in our own backyard. Please join us in welcoming her.

05/21/2026

🎬 Is throwback Thursday still a thing? Throwback to the magic of 2024. 🎞️

Packed theaters, brilliant filmmakers, unforgettable Q&As, and a community that showed up for indie film in the best way possible. Swipe through for a few of our favorite moments from last year's Oak Park IL Film Festival.

The best part? We get to do it all again this September. 🍿

Submission are now open on FilmFreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/OakParkILFilmFestival

05/17/2026

Click this link to sign up as a volunteer for Day In Our Village: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B49A9AB2EA2F49-64069330-dayinour

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BNten1Aky/

🎬 Calling all film lovers, festival fans, and friendly faces!

Click this link to sign up as a volunteer for Day In Our Village: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B49A9AB2EA2F49-64069330-dayinour

The Oak Park IL Film Festival is heading to A Day in Our Village on Sunday, June 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Scoville Park, and we need YOUR help to make our booth shine.
A Day in Our Village is one of Oak Park's most beloved community events, bringing together over 100 local organizations, live entertainment, food, and family fun. It's the perfect chance to introduce neighbors to our festival, talk up our incredible lineup of filmmakers, and spread the word about what's coming this September.
We're looking for volunteers to: Help set up and break down our booth, chat with curious community members, hand out info, and bring good energy to the day.
Shifts are flexible, no film experience required, just enthusiasm and a love for Oak Park. Whether you can spare an hour or stay the whole afternoon, we'd be thrilled to have you on the team.

📍 Scoville Park (Lake Street & Oak Park Avenue) 📅 Sunday, June 7, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.Interested?

Click this link to sign up as a volunteer for Day In Our Village: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B49A9AB2EA2F49-64069330-dayinour

Let's show the village what the Oak Park IL Film Festival is all about. 🎥🎟️

Click this link to sign up as a volunteer for Day In Our Village: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B49A9AB2EA2F49-64069330-dayinour

🎬 Calling all film lovers, festival fans, and friendly faces!

The Oak Park IL Film Festival is heading to A Day in Our Village on Sunday, June 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Scoville Park, and we need YOUR help to make our booth shine.

A Day in Our Village is one of Oak Park's most beloved community events, bringing together over 100 local organizations, live entertainment, food, and family fun. It's the perfect chance to introduce neighbors to our festival, talk up our incredible lineup of filmmakers, and spread the word about what's coming this September.

We're looking for volunteers to: Help set up and break down our booth, chat with curious community members, hand out info, and bring good energy to the day.
Shifts are flexible, no film experience required, just enthusiasm and a love for Oak Park. Whether you can spare an hour or stay the whole afternoon, we'd be thrilled to have you on the team.

📍 Scoville Park (Lake Street & Oak Park Avenue) 📅 Sunday, June 7, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Interested?

Click this link to sign up as a volunteer: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmJUI1X93RCqmQ1FdSjW_gugYdKu0-NxJ3dpJ6BKnzczsC4w/viewform

Let's show the village what the Oak Park IL Film Festival is all about. 🎥🎟️

05/16/2026

🎬 Meet one of our new board members this season: KimC Miller!

We are beyond excited to welcome KimC to the Oak Park IL Film Festival family. A lifelong film lover with a soft spot for comedies, documentaries, and indie storytelling, KimC brings a deep appreciation for the craft and a sharp eye for what makes a story sing.

Her love of storytelling was shaped in part by her improv training at Second City, where she learned firsthand the magic of building characters, finding the unexpected, and trusting the scene. That same instinct is exactly what she's bringing to our board.

Beyond film, KimC is a true pillar of the community. She owns a Clinical Massage Therapy studio right here in the area, serves on the 19th Century Charitable Association Board, and is endlessly invested in everything that makes Oak Park such a special place to live and create.

KimC, we are so lucky to have you. Here's to a festival season full of great films, big laughs, and unforgettable moments. 🎥✨

Welcome to the team!

05/14/2026

Click this link to sign up as a volunteer for Day In Our Village: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B49A9AB2EA2F49-64069330-dayinour

🎬 Calling all film lovers, festival fans, and friendly faces!

The Oak Park IL Film Festival is heading to A Day in Our Village on Sunday, June 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Scoville Park, and we need YOUR help to make our booth shine.

A Day in Our Village is one of Oak Park's most beloved community events, bringing together over 100 local organizations, live entertainment, food, and family fun. It's the perfect chance to introduce neighbors to our festival, talk up our incredible lineup of filmmakers, and spread the word about what's coming this September.

We're looking for volunteers to: Help set up and break down our booth, chat with curious community members, hand out info, and bring good energy to the day.
Shifts are flexible, no film experience required, just enthusiasm and a love for Oak Park. Whether you can spare an hour or stay the whole afternoon, we'd be thrilled to have you on the team.

📍 Scoville Park (Lake Street & Oak Park Avenue) 📅 Sunday, June 7, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Interested?

Click this link to sign up as a volunteer: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmJUI1X93RCqmQ1FdSjW_gugYdKu0-NxJ3dpJ6BKnzczsC4w/viewform

Let's show the village what the Oak Park IL Film Festival is all about. 🎥🎟️

05/13/2026

🎬 Which Hollywood classic should The Oak Park IL Film Festival screen for Opening Night at Lake Theater on September 16, 2026? You decide.

Cast your vote on our poll at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BS577RJ

Each of these films has an Oak Park connection. Which one do you want to see on the big screen?

We're taking over Lake Theater on September 16, 2026 for one unforgettable night at the Oak Park IL Film Festival, and we want YOUR voice in the mix when we choose the feature.

🎥 My Girl (1991) — The coming of age tearjerker that taught a generation what a mood ring meant.

🎥 The Magnificent Seven (1960) — Seven gunslingers, one village, and one of the greatest film scores ever written.

🎥 Return to Me (2000) — A Chicago set love story so charming it deserves a second life on the big screen.

🎥 The Karate Kid (1984) — Wax on. Wax off. Crane kick. Need we say more?

🎥 Rocky (1976) — The underdog story that started them all. Cue the trumpets.

Please note: this poll isn't a binding vote, but it's a real factor our board will weigh when making the final call. Your picks matter, so make them count.

Cast your vote on our poll at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BS577RJ

Rally your friends, debate your favorites, and tell us which one belongs on the big screen.

What's it gonna be? 🍿

05/11/2026

Please join us in welcoming Caleb, one of our new additions to the OPILFF board this season!

Caleb Conner lives and works in Oak Park as the commutations manager at Hephzibah Children's Association.

He studied at the Los Angeles Film Studies Center and is an amateur filmmaker/enthusiast.

As a fervent storyteller across many mediums, Caleb has an affinity for both film curation and international cinema.

When not working or watching movies, Caleb is producing theater with friends, mushroom hunting, and playing a variety of tabletop games!

Caleb is a fan of international and animated films.

Thanks for being with us Caleb!

01/01/2026

3...2...1.... 🎉🎊🥂 Happy New Years! Wishing everyone a happy new year and we will see you next year!