Oak Park, IL Film Festival

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Oak Park, IL Film Festival

OPILFF is an celebration of cinema, bringing together filmmakers and the community to showcase films with a Oak Park connection.

07/16/2026

Unfortunately, Thursday Night Out has been canceled tonight due to air quality!

Have a great night and stay safe out there.

07/15/2026

FAQ: Is there a maximum film length? 🎬

Short films: 40 minutes or under ✅
Features: Under 2 hours ✅ (closer to 90 min = better chances! 🙌)

Submission deadline is July 31 — don't wait!
https://filmfreeway.com/OakParkILFilmFestival

07/12/2026

📸 Calling all photographers!

We're looking for a talented photographer to capture the magic of OPILFF's opening night and indie film weekend — September 16, 19 & 20 in Oak Park IL

In exchange, you'll receive FREE admission plus a guest for all three nights, a credit in our festival program, and the opportunity to advertise your services to our audience! 🎬✨

Interested? Email [email protected] or DM us here!

07/09/2026

The wait is over. 🎬✨

We are THRILLED to announce that our opening night Hollywood film at Lake Theater on September 16 will be the beloved Enough Said — directed by the incomparable Nicole Holofcener! 🙌

Watch the official trailer for Enough Said: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R09EnVNGnio

And that's not all. We'll be virtually joined by a very special guest: actress Tavi Gevinson, Oak Park's very own, for an exclusive interview you won't want to miss. 🌟

07/07/2026

Save these dates, Oak Park. 📅

🎉 July 16 — Thursday Night Out
🎬 July 22 — Film Festival Favorites at Nineteenth Century Charitable Association
🎞️ July 31 — OPILFF Indie Film Submission Deadline
https://filmfreeway.com/OakParkILFilmFestival

A little something for everyone this July ✨

Come out and celebrate past and present Oak Park IL made indie films!

If you're a filmmaker yourself- don't forget to get that submission in before the deadline! Link in bio. 👆

07/06/2026

Proud to call Oak Park home.

OPILFF hit the streets at the Oak Park 4th of July parade — celebrating this incredible community and the stories that unite us. 🇺🇸❤️

Happy Independence Day! 🎬🎞️🎉

07/03/2026

🇺🇸 Wishing everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July weekend! For those of you who are local, we hope to see you at tomorrow's parade in Oak Park!

06/24/2026

🎬 Two of your most asked questions, answered! 👇

Q: Do submissions need to be recent?

A: Nope! Unlike many other film festivals, we welcome films regardless of when they were made. If it meets our category requirements, we want to see it, whether it's fresh out of the edit bay or has been sitting on your hard drive for years.

Q: Does being in another film festival or posted online disqualify my film?

A: Not at all. Other festival runs? Online premieres? Doesn't matter to us. We're just excited to have your film on our screen.

The bottom line: if you've made something you're proud of that has an Oak Park connection, we want to see it. No expiration dates, no exclusivity hoops, no gatekeeping. Just great films and the filmmakers behind them. 🎥 🍿

We have a brand new list of FAQ's under the About tab on our website! Check them out at www.opilff.org/faq

Submit your film before the earlybird deadline on 6/30!
filmfreeway.com/OakParkILFilmFestival

06/23/2026

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Tavi Gevinson will be joining the Oak Park IL Film Festival for a special video interview ahead of the Hollywood feature she stars in, screening at Lake Theatre on September 16, 2026.

Raised right here in Oak Park, Tavi has been a creative force since she was a kid. She launched the cult favorite fashion blog Style Rookie at just 11 years old, founded the iconic Rookie Magazine at 15, and quickly became one of the most distinctive voices of her generation.

From there, she expanded her reach into acting, taking on celebrated roles on Broadway (Kenneth Lonergan's This Is Our Youth, The Crucible opposite Saoirse Ronan and Ben Whishaw), in television (Scream Queens, Gossip Girl), and in film, where she's continued to bring her singular sensitivity and intelligence to every role.

She's a writer, an editor, an actress, and proof that Oak Park raises some seriously remarkable artists.

🤔 Now for the fun part: Can you guess which Hollywood film she's in that's coming to Lake Theatre? Drop your best guess in the comments. 🎥🍿

The official film announcement is coming very soon, so stay tuned. You won't want to miss this one.

06/21/2026

Timothy S. was walking down a sidewalk of downtown Oak Park in September 2024 when he saw a sign that spun him 360 degrees in place.

A film festival – the 1st Oak Park Illinois Film Festival – right in his neighborhood! He had to know more, and because of that chance encounter he attended every screening of that inaugural event.

Following the 1st OPILFF, Timothy joined the OPILFF board and currently serves as the secretary.

He’s so excited to share the coming event with the local film-loving community and gives a hearty recommendation to following the signs we see on the street.

A lifelong lover of cinema, theater, and history (and 9-year resident and lover of Oak Park). Timothy is always looking for chances to bring those passions together.

By day, he studies dental biomaterials at the University of Illinois Chicago.

Address

1010 Madison St
Oak Park, IL
60302

Website

http://opilff.org/, https://filmfreeway.com/OakParkILFilmFestival

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