Festival runs October 11–13, 2026, featuring 20 short films, special guests, filmmaker panels, Breaking Down Walls mentorship program, and the Chicago premiere of Emily Robinson’s “Ugly Cry,” starring Robinson, Aaron Dominguez and Chicago native Robin Tunney

CHICAGO, IL — Cinema Femme, the nonprofit global peer community dedicated to advancing sustainable careers for women and gender-expansive filmmakers, today announces the complete program for its eighth annual Cinema Femme Short Film Festival, taking place October 11–13, 2026, at Chicago’s historic Music Box Theatre.

The three-day festival will celebrate new work by women and non-binary filmmakers, featuring 20 short films, filmmaker Q&As, festival panels, awards and special guests. The festival will culminate with the Chicago premiere of “Ugly Cry,” the feature-length directorial debut of filmmaker, actor and writer Emily Robinson, a SXSW Official Selection starring Robinson, Aaron Dominguez (“Only Murders in the Building”) and Chicago native Robin Tunney (“By Design,” “Horse Girl,” “The Craft,” “Empire Records”).

Robinson, Dominguez and Tunney are scheduled to attend the Closing Night screening for a post-film Q&A moderated by film critic and Cinema Her Way author Marya E. Gates. Before the screening, Robinson (“Eighth Grade,” “Transparent”) will receive the festival’s Tribute Award, which recognizes an individual whose work has made a significant contribution to the film community. Past recipients include Jennifer Reeder, Dawn Porter, Kris Rey, Isabel Sandoval, Liz Cardenas and the late Catherine Coulson (“Twin Peaks”).

Breaking Down Walls Mentorship Program

Cinema Femme will once again present Breaking Down Walls, its mentorship initiative connecting emerging filmmakers with established industry professionals for career development and project-specific guidance.

The 2026 mentors are Oscar-nominated producer Tara Sheffer (“A Lien”), award-winning filmmakers Megan Seely (“Puddysticks”) and Gabriela Ortega (“Marga en el DF”), and award-winning producer Angie Gaffney (“Desire Lines,” “Adult Children”).

Mentees will be announced in the lead-up to the festival. Selected from this year’s participating filmmakers, mentees will receive in-person collaboration and project-specific guidance from their mentors over three months in early 2027.

2026 Festival Program

The festival program was curated by film critic Cortlyn Kelly; film programmer, athlete and musician Aja Essex; filmmaker and actor Allison Torem; and video editor and film critic Emily Jacobson.

“Year after year, Cinema Femme Short Film Festival continues to showcase and platform the excellence of women and non-binary filmmakers,” said Kelly. “To be a part of the 2026 programming team was simultaneously an honor and an opportunity to witness stellar creativity and storytelling. In contributing to this year’s curation, it’s evident that no matter the state of the landscape, these voices will never be silenced. Cinema Femme creates and maintains space for these films to be shared and seen.”

Sunday, October 11, 2026

Opening Night Reception

Music Box Lounge

Festival passholders will join Cinema Femme organizers, programmers and special guests for an evening reception kicking off the 2026 festival.

Monday, October 12, 2026

Festival Panels

5–6:30 p.m.

Panel programming will be announced.

Shorts Program One

7 p.m.

Followed by a Q&A with festival programmer Allison Torem.

• “A Stitch of Vintage,” dir. Carolin Pech
• “The River We Dare to Look At,” dir. Amber Yanguo Hou
• “The Actress & The Photographer,” dir. Casey Hartnett
• “So, Boom,” dir. Abby Pierce
• “Black Shawl,” dir. Kamila Boichenko
• “Everyone Has Issues,” dir. Christie Lynn Smith
• “reTIRED,” dir. mari jaye blanchard
• “Brewer,” dir. Erika Valenciana

Shorts Program Two

9 p.m.

Followed by a Q&A with festival programmer Emily Jacobson.

• “My Mother’s Ashes,” dir. Ximena Chiunti
• “Love in Process,” dir. Rey Tang
• “It Happened: The Judy Tenuta Story,” dir. Taylor Blackwell
• “Finding Our Voices,” dir. Brittany Hart and Maggie Hartmans
• “The Girlies,” dir. Natalie Couture
• “River of Us,” dir. Yunrui Li
• “Sorry, No Refunds,” dir. Marissa Dimitrion and Aaron Dworetzky

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Festival Awards

4 p.m.

Awards presented during the festival include:

• Halyna Hutchins Producer Award — In honor of Halyna Hutchins, who died tragically as a result of a mismanaged set, this award recognizes a producer of one of the selected short films, nominated by the filmmakers of each project.
• Critics Choice Award — Selected by the festival’s local critics jury, this award honors their favorite film of the festival. The winning film will also receive a featured review in Cinema Femme magazine.
• Chaz Ebert Phenomenal Person in Film Award — Presented to a filmmaker whose work demonstrates exceptional community impact and empathy. The recipient will receive a Zoom conversation with Chaz Ebert and a featured interview in Cinema Femme magazine.
• Color/Sound Award, presented by Noisefloor & Journeyworks
• Performance Award, presented by SAG-AFTRA
• Audience Award, selected by festival attendees

“Ugly Cry” — Chicago Premiere

6:45 p.m.

Preceded by the Tribute Award presentation to filmmaker Emily Robinson.

Followed by a Q&A with writer/director/actor Emily Robinson and co-stars Aaron Dominguez and Robin Tunney, moderated by critic and author Marya E. Gates.

About the film: An actor’s “ugly cry” costs them their dream role, sending them spiraling down a dark, dangerous path toward perfection.

Shorts Program Three

9 p.m.

Followed by a Q&A with festival programmer Aja Essex.

• “Stretch,” dir. Emma Duvall and Skyler Verity
• “Learning to Eat Cake,” dir. Juliette Strangio
• “Peppermint Pixie Dream Girl,” dir. Kylie Mungenast
• “Maps from Within,” dir. Cristina Aguilera
• “Lesbian Ditch Day,” dir. Olivia Cade

Tickets & Festival Passes

Passes for the 2026 Cinema Femme Short Film Festival are now available, ranging from $75 to $200. Festival passes include full access to all festival screenings and panels, along with additional perks.

Individual tickets are $20 and will go on sale in mid-September.

Learn more, view the full schedule and purchase festival passes at cinemafemme.com/film-festival/.

A still from “Ugly Cry,” Emily Robinson’s feature-length film debut, which screens Tuesday, October 13, at 6:45 p.m.

Festival Supporters

The Cinema Femme Short Film Festival is made possible with support from partners including the Roger and Chaz Ebert Foundation, Hotel Zachary, the Music Box Theatre, Kinowerks, Dablon Winery, Marz Brewery, Marina’s Bistro Supper Club, The DCP Works, and Bright Iris Film Co.

About Cinema Femme

Cinema Femme is dedicated to championing women and gender-expansive filmmakers through its mentorship initiative, vibrant community and flagship annual film festival at Chicago’s historic Music Box Theatre. Cinema Femme empowers the next generation of creatives by bridging the gap between emerging talent and industry professionals, utilizing its online and print publications to provide the validation and resources essential for building sustainable careers in film.

Cinema Femme is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Festival Teaser Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nbukigZKXA?si=K4sUUpZxW4YYXq2Z

Festival Website: https://cinemafemme.com/film-festival/

Official Instagram: @cinemafemme_community