Gene Siskel Film Center

NOVEMBER 7, 8:00 P.M. &amp; NOVEMBER 12, 8:15 P.M.&nbsp;| Set in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, IF I GO WILL THEY MISS ME? follows a young Black father and his imaginative son as they navigate grief, housing precarity, and the enduring bonds of community. Weaving magical realism into the rhythms of everyday life, Walter Thompson-Hernández crafts a deeply compassionate portrait of love, resilience, and possibility.
<h5>Saturday, November 7, 8:00 p.m. | Presented as the 2026 Black Harvest Visionary Award presentation, the film celebrates Thompson-Hernández’s singular artistic voice and his contributions to contemporary Black cinema.</h5>2026, dir. Walter Thompson-Hernández | USA, 85 min. | In English | Format: DigitalGeneral Admission - $15.50&nbsp;
Group Rate - $11.50 (Groups can save $4 off per ticket - minimum of&nbsp;15 guests&nbsp;required)
Celebrating its 32nd year in 2026, the Black Harvest Film Festival is Chicago’s annual showcase for Black film across the diaspora. Born from an urgent need to celebrate the Black experience, the Black Harvest Film Festival unites filmmakers and audiences to showcase the power of Black cinema. This annual festival highlights emerging and established talents and historical narratives, enriching the landscape of Black culture. The festival curates both short and feature length films, proudly presenting influential auteurs and emerging filmmakers of color side by side.
The film festival will be held at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center November 6–15, 2026.
Festival passes and individual tickets are available for purchase.
Audiences additionally can choose from two Festival pass options:
Opening Night plus five screenings: $80 general public / $55 members
Six regular screenings: $60 general public / $36 members

Local Event: Black Harvest Film Festival: IF I GO WILL THEY MISS ME?—VISIONARY AWARD PRESENTATION

Cook County

Chicago

Illinois

Black Harvest Film Festival: IF I GO WILL THEY...

NOVEMBER 7, 8:00 P.M. & NOVEMBER 12, 8:15 P.M. | Set in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, IF I GO WILL THEY MISS ME?...

Black Harvest Film Festival: IF I GO WILL THEY MISS ME?—VISIONARY AWARD PRESENTATION

November 8 | BLACK PANTHER &amp; THE SIGHT UNSEEN brings together historic archival documentation and the work of acclaimed Chicago-based filmmaker Shawn Antoine II. Pairing Third World Newsreel’s landmark 1968 documentary BLACK PANTHER A.K.A. OFF THE PIG (NEWSREEL #19) with Antoine’s hybrid documentary THE SIGHT UNSEEN, the program bridges the history of Black political organizing with deeply personal explorations of faith, memory, family, and the archive. Together, these films illuminate the enduring relationship between collective struggle and intimate remembrance across generations.
<h4>1968, 2026, dir. San Francisco Newsreel, Shawn Antoine II </h4><h4>USA, 71 min. In English | Format: Digital </h4>
General Admission - $15.50&nbsp;
Group Rate - $11.50 (Groups can save $4 off per ticket - minimum of&nbsp;15 guests&nbsp;required)
Celebrating its 32nd year in 2026, the Black Harvest Film Festival is Chicago’s annual showcase for Black film across the diaspora. Born from an urgent need to celebrate the Black experience, the Black Harvest Film Festival unites filmmakers and audiences to showcase the power of Black cinema. This annual festival highlights emerging and established talents and historical narratives, enriching the landscape of Black culture. The festival curates both short and feature length films, proudly presenting influential auteurs and emerging filmmakers of color side by side.
The film festival will be held at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center November 6–15, 2026.
Festival passes and individual tickets are available for purchase.
Audiences additionally can choose from two Festival pass options:
Opening Night plus five screenings: $80 general public / $55 members
Six regular screenings: $60 general public / $36 members

Local Event: Black Harvest Film Festival: BLACK PANTHER & THE SIGHT UNSEEN

Black Harvest Film Festival: BLACK PANTHER &...

November 8 | BLACK PANTHER & THE SIGHT UNSEEN brings together historic archival documentation and the work of acclaimed...

Black Harvest Film Festival: BLACK PANTHER & THE SIGHT UNSEEN

NOVEMBER 8, 2:30 P.M. &amp; NOVEMBER 10, 8:30 P.M.&nbsp;| LISTEN TO ME follows three extraordinary Black women working on the frontline of the maternal health movement as they navigate institutional racism, the complexities of childbirth, and the urgent fight for reproductive justice in the United States. Moving beyond grim statistical overviews, the film grounds itself in deeply personal stories of heartbreak, survival, healing, and fierce advocacy. By centering the authentic voices, wisdom, and lived experiences of Black women, the documentary challenges audiences to rethink systemic prevention and reclaim their sovereign power within the birth process.2026, dirs. Stephanie Etienne, Kanika Harris | USA, 77 min. | In English | Format: DigitalGeneral Admission - $15.50&nbsp;
Group Rate - $11.50 (Groups can save $4 off per ticket - minimum of&nbsp;15 guests&nbsp;required)
Celebrating its 32nd year in 2026, the Black Harvest Film Festival is Chicago’s annual showcase for Black film across the diaspora. Born from an urgent need to celebrate the Black experience, the Black Harvest Film Festival unites filmmakers and audiences to showcase the power of Black cinema. This annual festival highlights emerging and established talents and historical narratives, enriching the landscape of Black culture. The festival curates both short and feature length films, proudly presenting influential auteurs and emerging filmmakers of color side by side.
The film festival will be held at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center November 6–15, 2026.
Festival passes and individual tickets are available for purchase.
Audiences additionally can choose from two Festival pass options:
Opening Night plus five screenings: $80 general public / $55 members
Six regular screenings: $60 general public / $36 members

Local Event: Black Harvest Film Festival: LISTEN TO ME

Black Harvest Film Festival: LISTEN TO ME

NOVEMBER 8, 2:30 P.M. & NOVEMBER 10, 8:30 P.M. | LISTEN TO ME follows three extraordinary Black women working on the frontline...

November 8 &amp; 12 | DREAMS IN NIGHTMARES follows three estranged childhood friends who embark on an impromptu road trip across America, transforming a journey through familiar landscapes into an intimate reckoning with grief, desire, friendship, and the ghosts of their shared past.2024, dir. Shatara Michelle Ford | USA, 128 min. | In English | Format: Digital General Admission - $15.50&nbsp;
Group Rate - $11.50 (Groups can save $4 off per ticket - minimum of&nbsp;15 guests&nbsp;required)
Celebrating its 32nd year in 2026, the Black Harvest Film Festival is Chicago’s annual showcase for Black film across the diaspora. Born from an urgent need to celebrate the Black experience, the Black Harvest Film Festival unites filmmakers and audiences to showcase the power of Black cinema. This annual festival highlights emerging and established talents and historical narratives, enriching the landscape of Black culture. The festival curates both short and feature length films, proudly presenting influential auteurs and emerging filmmakers of color side by side.
The film festival will be held at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center November 6–15, 2026.
Festival passes and individual tickets are available for purchase.
Audiences additionally can choose from two Festival pass options:
Opening Night plus five screenings: $80 general public / $55 members
Six regular screenings: $60 general public / $36 members

Local Event: Black Harvest Film Festival: DREAMS IN NIGHTMARES

Black Harvest Film Festival: DREAMS IN NIGHTMARES

November 8 & 12 | DREAMS IN NIGHTMARES follows three estranged childhood friends who embark on an impromptu road trip across...

November 9 | Master documentarian William Greaves presents extraordinary archival footage from a legendary 1972 gathering at Duke Ellington’s Harlem townhouse. Convened by Greaves and Ellington, the gathering brings together towering cultural figures and architects of Black artistic life for an intimate exchange of memory, laughter, and reflection. Completed decades after it was first filmed, ONCE UPON A TIME IN HARLEM preserves an irreplaceable moment in Black cultural history.
<h5>Dialogue: post-screening Q&amp;A with director David Greaves and producer Liani Greaves.</h5>2026, dirs. William Greaves, David Greaves | USA, 100 min. | In English | Format: DigitalGeneral Admission - $15.50&nbsp;
Group Rate - $11.50 (Groups can save $4 off per ticket - minimum of&nbsp;15 guests&nbsp;required)
Celebrating its 32nd year in 2026, the Black Harvest Film Festival is Chicago’s annual showcase for Black film across the diaspora. Born from an urgent need to celebrate the Black experience, the Black Harvest Film Festival unites filmmakers and audiences to showcase the power of Black cinema. This annual festival highlights emerging and established talents and historical narratives, enriching the landscape of Black culture. The festival curates both short and feature length films, proudly presenting influential auteurs and emerging filmmakers of color side by side.
The film festival will be held at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center November 6–15, 2026.
Festival passes and individual tickets are available for purchase.
Audiences additionally can choose from two Festival pass options:
Opening Night plus five screenings: $80 general public / $55 members
Six regular screenings: $60 general public / $36 members

Local Event: Black Harvest Film Festival: ONCE UPON A TIME IN HARLEM

Black Harvest Film Festival: ONCE UPON A TIME...

November 9 | Master documentarian William Greaves presents extraordinary archival footage from a legendary 1972 gathering at...

Black Harvest Film Festival: ONCE UPON A TIME IN HARLEM

NOVEMBER 12, 8:30 P.M. &amp; NOVEMBER 14, 8:00 P.M. | Through the intimate reflections of friends, former students, close collaborators, and fellow revolutionary artists, TCB – THE TONI CADE BAMBARA SCHOOL OF ORGANIZING traces the extraordinary life, intellectual rigor, and cultural legacy of writer, filmmaker, educator, and visionary cultural worker Toni Cade Bambara. Structured as a dynamic series of pedagogical lessons, the film explores Bambara’s core conviction that culture is an indispensable tool for political education, community organizing, and collective liberation. By examining her foundational texts, uncompromised artistic standards, and tireless mentorship, the documentary illuminates her enduring influence on generations of artists and activists dedicated to radical social transformation.
<h5>THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 8:30 P.M. &amp; SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 8:00 P.M. | Dialogue: Co-director Louis Massiah will be in attendance for post-screening Q&amp;A’s</h5>2026, dirs. Louis Massiah, Monica Henriquez | Canada, France, Senegal, UK, USA, 105 min. | In English | Format: DigitalGeneral Admission - $15.50&nbsp;
Group Rate - $11.50 (Groups can save $4 off per ticket - minimum of&nbsp;15 guests&nbsp;required)
Celebrating its 32nd year in 2026, the Black Harvest Film Festival is Chicago’s annual showcase for Black film across the diaspora. Born from an urgent need to celebrate the Black experience, the Black Harvest Film Festival unites filmmakers and audiences to showcase the power of Black cinema. This annual festival highlights emerging and established talents and historical narratives, enriching the landscape of Black culture. The festival curates both short and feature length films, proudly presenting influential auteurs and emerging filmmakers of color side by side.
The film festival will be held at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center November 6–15, 2026.
Festival passes and individual tickets are available for purchase.
Audiences additionally can choose from two Festival pass options:
Opening Night plus five screenings: $80 general public / $55 members
Six regular screenings: $60 general public / $36 members

Local Event: Black Harvest Film Festival: TCB – THE TONI CADE BAMBARA SCHOOL OF ORGANIZING

Black Harvest Film Festival: TCB – THE TONI...

NOVEMBER 12, 8:30 P.M. & NOVEMBER 14, 8:00 P.M. | Through the intimate reflections of friends, former students, close...

Black Harvest Film Festival: TCB – THE TONI CADE BAMBARA SCHOOL OF ORGANIZING

NOVEMBER 13, 5:30 P.M. &amp; NOVEMBER 15, 11:00 A.M. | SHORTS FROM THE BLOCK celebrates Chicago as both place and practice, a city continually shaped by its artists, organizers, institutions, and neighborhoods. Spanning documentary, narrative, and experimental forms, these films document acts of remembrance, creativity, resistance, healing, and everyday life while revealing the many ways Black Chicagoans preserve history and imagine new futures. Together, these works offer a portrait of the city authored from within, affirming Black Chicago as a living cultural ecosystem sustained by generations of artists, filmmakers, and community builders.
<h5>Friday, November 13, 5:30 p.m. | Followed by The Big Picture Party in the Siskel Film Center Cafe, hosted by the Black Harvest Community Council.</h5>2025–2026, USA, 86 min. | In English and Sudanese Arabic with English subtitles | Format: DigitalGeneral Admission - $15.50&nbsp;
Group Rate - $11.50 (Groups can save $4 off per ticket - minimum of&nbsp;15 guests&nbsp;required)
Celebrating its 32nd year in 2026, the Black Harvest Film Festival is Chicago’s annual showcase for Black film across the diaspora. Born from an urgent need to celebrate the Black experience, the Black Harvest Film Festival unites filmmakers and audiences to showcase the power of Black cinema. This annual festival highlights emerging and established talents and historical narratives, enriching the landscape of Black culture. The festival curates both short and feature length films, proudly presenting influential auteurs and emerging filmmakers of color side by side.
The film festival will be held at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center November 6–15, 2026.
Festival passes and individual tickets are available for purchase.
Audiences additionally can choose from two Festival pass options:
Opening Night plus five screenings: $80 general public / $55 members
Six regular screenings: $60 general public / $36 members

Local Event: Black Harvest Film Festival: FROM THE BLOCK

Black Harvest Film Festival: FROM THE BLOCK

NOVEMBER 13, 5:30 P.M. & NOVEMBER 15, 11:00 A.M. | SHORTS FROM THE BLOCK celebrates Chicago as both place and practice, a city...

November 13 | TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS considers love not as romance alone, but as a sustained practice of care. Across families, friendships, neighborhoods, and diasporic communities, these films illuminate the quiet acts of devotion that bind people to one another. Through caregiving, cultural preservation, sacrifice, humor, grief, and remembrance, they reveal tenderness as a quiet but enduring form of resilience. Spanning intimate narratives and richly observed portraits from across the Black diaspora, the program asks how love is carried, inherited, and continually renewed across generations. Together, these works affirm that care is not merely an emotion, but a practice of survival, stewardship, and collective flourishing.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h5>Preceded by The Big Picture Party in the Siskel Film Center Cafe, hosted by the Black Harvest Community Council.</h5>2025–2026, USA, Brazil, UK, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, 116 min. In English and various languages with English subtitles | Format: DigitalGeneral Admission - $15.50&nbsp;
Group Rate - $11.50 (Groups can save $4 off per ticket - minimum of&nbsp;15 guests&nbsp;required)
Celebrating its 32nd year in 2026, the Black Harvest Film Festival is Chicago’s annual showcase for Black film across the diaspora. Born from an urgent need to celebrate the Black experience, the Black Harvest Film Festival unites filmmakers and audiences to showcase the power of Black cinema. This annual festival highlights emerging and established talents and historical narratives, enriching the landscape of Black culture. The festival curates both short and feature length films, proudly presenting influential auteurs and emerging filmmakers of color side by side.
The film festival will be held at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center November 6–15, 2026.
Festival passes and individual tickets are available for purchase.
Audiences additionally can choose from two Festival pass options:
Opening Night plus five screenings: $80 general public / $55 members
Six regular screenings: $60 general public / $36 members

Local Event: Black Harvest Film Festival: TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS

Black Harvest Film Festival: TRY A LITTLE...

November 13 | TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS considers love not as romance alone, but as a sustained practice of care. Across...

Black Harvest Film Festival: TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS

November 14 | Can Blackness truly escape the historical violence of its origins? Seeking an answer, three Black men embark on a transformative, restorative pilgrimage tracing the transatlantic slave route in reverse. Their journey spans from Los Angeles to Salvador da Bahia in Brazil before culminating in Accra, Ghana. Through shared reflection and lived experience, they confront inherited trauma, redefine global Blackness, and imagine new pathways toward liberation beyond the enduring structures of white supremacy.2026, dir. Sienna McLean-LoGreco | USA, 100 min. | In English and Portuguese with English subtitles | Format: DigitalGeneral Admission - $15.50&nbsp;
Group Rate - $11.50 (Groups can save $4 off per ticket - minimum of&nbsp;15 guests&nbsp;required)
Celebrating its 32nd year in 2026, the Black Harvest Film Festival is Chicago’s annual showcase for Black film across the diaspora. Born from an urgent need to celebrate the Black experience, the Black Harvest Film Festival unites filmmakers and audiences to showcase the power of Black cinema. This annual festival highlights emerging and established talents and historical narratives, enriching the landscape of Black culture. The festival curates both short and feature length films, proudly presenting influential auteurs and emerging filmmakers of color side by side.
The film festival will be held at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center November 6–15, 2026.
Festival passes and individual tickets are available for purchase.
Audiences additionally can choose from two Festival pass options:
Opening Night plus five screenings: $80 general public / $55 members
Six regular screenings: $60 general public / $36 members

Local Event: Black Harvest Film Festival: THREE BLACK MEN

Black Harvest Film Festival: THREE BLACK MEN

November 14 | Can Blackness truly escape the historical violence of its origins? Seeking an answer, three Black men embark on a...

November 14 | A landmark work of ethnographic and cultural preservation, VOICES OF THE GODS foregrounds the Akan and Yoruba religious traditions as they are actively practiced and sustained within the United States. Director Al Santana explores their rich cosmologies, examining how sacred drumming, ecstatic dance, and herbal medicine function within contemporary ceremonies and rituals. Moving beyond academic observation, the film reveals the enduring influence of West African spiritual traditions on Black culture, artistic expression, and everyday life in America.1985, dir. Al Santana | USA, 60 min. | In English | Format: DigitalGeneral Admission - $15.50&nbsp;
Group Rate - $11.50 (Groups can save $4 off per ticket - minimum of&nbsp;15 guests&nbsp;required)
Celebrating its 32nd year in 2026, the Black Harvest Film Festival is Chicago’s annual showcase for Black film across the diaspora. Born from an urgent need to celebrate the Black experience, the Black Harvest Film Festival unites filmmakers and audiences to showcase the power of Black cinema. This annual festival highlights emerging and established talents and historical narratives, enriching the landscape of Black culture. The festival curates both short and feature length films, proudly presenting influential auteurs and emerging filmmakers of color side by side.
The film festival will be held at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center November 6–15, 2026.
Festival passes and individual tickets are available for purchase.
Audiences additionally can choose from two Festival pass options:
Opening Night plus five screenings: $80 general public / $55 members
Six regular screenings: $60 general public / $36 members

Local Event: Black Harvest Film Festival: VOICES OF THE GODS

Black Harvest Film Festival: VOICES OF THE GODS

November 14 | A landmark work of ethnographic and cultural preservation, VOICES OF THE GODS foregrounds the Akan and Yoruba...

November 14 | MEMORY &amp; STYLE: SOJOURN &amp; CANDY PAINT brings together two formally inventive works that explore identity, memory, and the ways Black life is archived through personal and collective expression. Allen-Golder Carpenter’s SOJOURN follows a protagonist who awakens without memory and embarks on a journey across worlds to recover the fragments of their identity. Paired with Nia Imani and Adeshola Makinde’s CANDY PAINT, an exuberant archival collage celebrating Black style, adornment, and creative expression, the program considers memory as something continually reconstructed through culture, community, and self-definition. Together, these films reveal the power of image-making to preserve history, honor lineage, and imagine new futures.2026, dirs. Allen-Golder Carpenter, Nia Imani, Adeshola Makinde, USA, 92 min. In English | Format: DigitalGeneral Admission - $15.50&nbsp;
Group Rate - $11.50 (Groups can save $4 off per ticket - minimum of&nbsp;15 guests&nbsp;required)
Celebrating its 32nd year in 2026, the Black Harvest Film Festival is Chicago’s annual showcase for Black film across the diaspora. Born from an urgent need to celebrate the Black experience, the Black Harvest Film Festival unites filmmakers and audiences to showcase the power of Black cinema. This annual festival highlights emerging and established talents and historical narratives, enriching the landscape of Black culture. The festival curates both short and feature length films, proudly presenting influential auteurs and emerging filmmakers of color side by side.
The film festival will be held at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center November 6–15, 2026.
Festival passes and individual tickets are available for purchase.
Audiences additionally can choose from two Festival pass options:
Opening Night plus five screenings: $80 general public / $55 members
Six regular screenings: $60 general public / $36 members

Local Event: Black Harvest Film Festival: MEMORY & STYLE: SOJOURN & CANDY PAINT

Black Harvest Film Festival: MEMORY & STYLE:...

November 14 | MEMORY & STYLE: SOJOURN & CANDY PAINT brings together two formally inventive works that explore identity, memory,...

Black Harvest Film Festival: MEMORY & STYLE: SOJOURN & CANDY PAINT

November 15 | Presented in partnership with Jupiter Magazine, this special presentation celebrates the pioneering cinematic work of Burkinabè filmmaker Fanta Régina Nacro. The program features an illustrated lecture by Afi Venessa Appiah, an NYU Cinema Studies scholar and creator of Emblematic Elusions, a publication series exploring eroticism in African cinemas. Drawing on landmark works from across Nacro’s filmography, audiences will discover how her films stage desire, gender, and laughter with a freedom that continues to shape African cinemas.2026, dir. Fanta Régina Nacro | Burkina Faso, France, 104 min. | French with English subtitles | DigitalGeneral Admission - $15.50&nbsp;
Group Rate - $11.50 (Groups can save $4 off per ticket - minimum of&nbsp;15 guests&nbsp;required)
Celebrating its 32nd year in 2026, the Black Harvest Film Festival is Chicago’s annual showcase for Black film across the diaspora. Born from an urgent need to celebrate the Black experience, the Black Harvest Film Festival unites filmmakers and audiences to showcase the power of Black cinema. This annual festival highlights emerging and established talents and historical narratives, enriching the landscape of Black culture. The festival curates both short and feature length films, proudly presenting influential auteurs and emerging filmmakers of color side by side.
The film festival will be held at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center November 6–15, 2026.
Festival passes and individual tickets are available for purchase.
Audiences additionally can choose from two Festival pass options:
Opening Night plus five screenings: $80 general public / $55 members
Six regular screenings: $60 general public / $36 members

Local Event: Black Harvest Film Festival: JUPITER MAGAZINE PRESENTS FILMS BY FANTA RÉGINA NACRO, A STUDY BY AFI

Black Harvest Film Festival: JUPITER MAGAZINE...

November 15 | Presented in partnership with Jupiter Magazine, this special presentation celebrates the pioneering cinematic...

Black Harvest Film Festival: JUPITER MAGAZINE PRESENTS FILMS BY FANTA RÉGINA NACRO, A STUDY BY AFI

November 15 | Adapted from Solomon Northup’s landmark 1853 autobiography Twelve Years a Slave, Gordon Parks’ powerful historical drama follows Northup, a free Black musician from Saratoga, New York, who is deceived, kidnapped, and sold into chattel slavery in 1841. Stripped of his freedom, family, and identity, Northup endures twelve years of unimaginable brutality while refusing to surrender his dignity, artistry, or hope. One of Parks’ most ambitious cinematic achievements, SOLOMON NORTHUP’S ODYSSEY stands as a vital work of Black film history and a profound meditation on survival, resistance, and the enduring pursuit of freedom. Film preservation organization IndieCollect scanned the original camera negative and did extensive color correction in consultation with DP Hiro Narita. Black Harvest is honored to present the film as the festival’s Closing Night presentation.
New 4K Restoration by IndieCollect Ticket includes one free beer, wine, or non-alcoholic beverage.1984, dir. Gordon Parks | USA, 118 min. | In EnglishGeneral Admission - $15.50&nbsp;
Group Rate - $11.50 (Groups can save $4 off per ticket - minimum of&nbsp;15 guests&nbsp;required)
Celebrating its 32nd year in 2026, the Black Harvest Film Festival is Chicago’s annual showcase for Black film across the diaspora. Born from an urgent need to celebrate the Black experience, the Black Harvest Film Festival unites filmmakers and audiences to showcase the power of Black cinema. This annual festival highlights emerging and established talents and historical narratives, enriching the landscape of Black culture. The festival curates both short and feature length films, proudly presenting influential auteurs and emerging filmmakers of color side by side.
The film festival will be held at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center November 6–15, 2026.
Festival passes and individual tickets are available for purchase.
Audiences additionally can choose from two Festival pass options:
Opening Night plus five screenings: $80 general public / $55 members
Six regular screenings: $60 general public / $36 members

Local Event: Black Harvest Closing Night: Solomon Northup's Odyssey

Black Harvest Closing Night: Solomon Northup's...

November 15 | Adapted from Solomon Northup’s landmark 1853 autobiography Twelve Years a Slave, Gordon Parks’ powerful...

Black Harvest Closing Night: Solomon Northup's Odyssey

Leah O

Chicago Metropolitan Area

Lincoln Park

Bucktown-Wicker Park

Lakeview

North Center-Roscoe Village

Hyde Park

West Side

Lorraine Swanson

South Side

Lincoln Square

Oak Park-River Forest

Forest Park

Donald E. Stephens Convention Center

50th Anniversary of Star Wars Kicks Off: Immersive Star Wars experience, with appearances from 
501st Legion Vader's Fist, Chicago Jedi, Saber Guild Olega Temple &amp; more!
Saturday, November 7th – Sunday, November 8th
WHO/WHAT:	
<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://www.chitag.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Chicago Toy &amp; Game Fair (CHITAG</a>), North America’s largest public toy &amp; game fair, will feature immersive events, activities for all ages, and a Star Wars theme with fan-favorite characters walking around the show! </li>
<li><a href="https://peopleofplay.com/2025-holiday-gift-guide" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">People of Play’s Wishlist Weekend™</a> is happening at CHITAG, a perfect time for consumers to create their own holiday wishlists &amp; start their holiday shopping on-site.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Celebrate the 21st annual Young Inventor Challenge® (YIC) International Championship as kids ages 6 to 18 pitch their original inventions to toy &amp; game companies, industry leaders, &amp; media and winners are announced on stage at CHITAG.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://www.toyawards.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Toy of The Year Awards</a> (TOTY) finalists—representing the top toys and games of 2026—will be revealed live!</li>
</ul>
Consumer highlights &amp; GREAT MEDIA VISUALS include:
🎁Take part in Interactive booths with the hottest holiday toys &amp; games from Toys"R"Us, Wigglitz, Fat Brain Toys, Plus-Plus, Crazy Aaron's, Pickagram, Razor USA LLC, The Op Games &amp; more!
🎁 Experience our first-ever live BINGO event with prizes of all sizes!
🎁GIVEAWAY: The first 150 families to arrive each day will receive a Gummy Grab game from Vango!
WHERE: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N River Rd, Rosemont, Illinois 60018
WHEN:	Saturday, November 7th (10 AM – 6 PM)
		– [10 AM] Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with Star Wars characters Darth Vader, Chewbacca, &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Stormtroopers, and others!
– [11:30 AM] Toy of the Year Award Press Conference &amp; Finalist Reveal 
– [1 PM] BINGO Event&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
– [2 PM] Young Inventor Challenge Award Ceremony 
Sunday, November 8th (10 AM – 5 PM)
– [12 PM] BINGO Event 
Notable Sponsors: Amazon, Hasbro, Mattel, Disney, Duracell, University Games &amp; more!
Consumer tickets are available at <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-chicago-toy-game-fair-tickets-tickets-1994234476001" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Eventbrite</a>, including a $3 off coupon: $15 (adults); $10 (children)
Super Power Sensory Hour (families with children with special needs): Sat/Sun 9 AM -10 AM by invite only.
Media Contacts: Carve Communications for People of Play
Amy Friedland &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Madelyn Jones
<a href="mailto:amy@carvecomms.com">amy@carvecomms.com</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <a href="mailto:madelyn@carvecomms.com">madelyn@carvecomms.com</a>

Local Event: The Chicago Toy & Game Fair

The Chicago Toy & Game Fair

50th Anniversary of Star Wars Kicks Off: Immersive Star Wars experience, with appearances from 
501st Legion Vader's Fist,...

Children's in-person groups from Superminds Academy take place at the Athenaeum Center for Thought &amp; Culture.

Local Event: Children's In-Person Groups: Superminds Academy

Children's In-Person Groups: Superminds Academy

Children's in-person groups from Superminds Academy take place at the Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture.

Pick-Staiger Concert Hall

Northshore Concert Band opens its 2026/27 season with Memory &amp; Motion, a powerful concert exploring remembrance, renewal, spiritual conviction, and the enduring human drive toward freedom. Led by conductor Mallory Thompson, the concert brings together works by Juan Pablo Contreras, Eric Ewazen, Margaret Bonds, and Paul Hindemith in a program that looks to the past while moving decisively toward what comes next.

Memory &amp; Motion features three NCB premieres: Juan Pablo Contreras’ La Silla and Margaret Bonds’ Spiritual Suite make their ensemble debut, marking the first time the Northshore Concert Band has performed these specific pieces or any music by their composers. Eric Ewazen’s A Hymn for the Lost and the Living will also be receiving its first-ever NCB performance.



The concert opens with Juan Pablo Contreras’ thrilling La Silla. Drawing on his Mexican heritage, this high-energy work is propelled by nimble fanfares and broad lyricism with an irrepressible rhythmic drive. Its powerful sense of forward motion perfectly sets the stage for a program in which music becomes both a vessel for memory and a source of renewal.

Born in Chicago, Margaret Bonds (1913–1972) was a trailblazing American composer, pianist, arranger, and teacher who broke major racial barriers in classical music. Her Spiritual Suite, drawing on three spirituals, places spiritual conviction at the heart of the program. The work moves from desolation toward hope, crossing the boundary between the living and the dead and driving through troubled waters toward deliverance. 

Twenty-five years after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Eric Ewazen’s A Hymn for the Lost and the Living offers a deeply personal reflection on tragedy and remembrance. Drawing on Ewazen’s firsthand memories, the work serves as both an elegy for those who died and a tribute to the strangers brought together in grief.

The program culminates with Paul Hindemith’s monumental Symphony in B-flat, celebrating its 75th anniversary. A cornerstone of the wind-band repertoire, the symphony closes the concert with taut counterpoint, chittering woodwinds, thunderous brass and percussion, and a calamitous final cadence.

Throughout the season, the Northshore Concert Band invites audiences to experience music not just as a historical reflection, but as a living force that transforms our understanding of loss, community, conviction, and possibility. Memory &amp; Motion marks the beginning of that extraordinary journey.

PROGRAM
Juan Pablo Contreras** — La Silla* 
Eric Ewazen — A Hymn for the Lost and the Living* 
Margaret Bonds** — Spiritual Suite* 
Paul Hindemith — Symphony in B-flat

*These works will receive their first NCB performance **These composers will be performed by NCB for the first time


Tickets are priced at $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, and $10 for students/children. All seats are general admission. Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more. Please visit northshoreband.org to purchase tickets online through Eventbrite.

Local Event: Memory & Motion

Evanston

Memory & Motion

Northshore Concert Band opens its 2026/27 season with Memory & Motion, a powerful concert exploring remembrance, renewal,...

Online

Afraid of change? Who isn't? Learn how to reverse your fear by identifying personal targets for&nbsp;change and growth at this one-hour webinar.Join <a href="https://scps.depaul.edu/academics/continuing-education?utm_source=patch&amp;utm_medium=event_desc&amp;utm_campaign=L4L&amp;utm_content=Nov_webinar" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DePaul SCPS</a> for this free event to learn how to become an active participant in the changes shaping your life experience. This webinar is for working professionals interested in using action-step planning to manage change, anyone resistant to change, and those who want tips and strategies to cope with change.Reserve your spot today! <a href="https://grad.depaul.edu/register/?id=0c63bd21-09a0-43c0-844c-be2269b4afca&amp;utm_source=patch&amp;utm_medium=event_desc&amp;utm_campaign=L4L&amp;utm_content=Nov_webinar" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Registration</a>&nbsp;is required to attend.

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Merchant Cash Advance Debt Relief Chicago IL —...

Merchant Cash Advance Attorney Chicago IL — MCA Lawsuit & Frozen Bank Account Help...

Merchant Cash Advance Debt Relief Chicago IL — MCA Lawsuit & Frozen Bank Account Help

Diversey Is Showing Off! Discover Two Weeks of Neighborhood Deals, Dining &amp; More
Discover Diversey is happening November 1&ndash;15, and our neighborhood businesses have understood the assignment!
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Discover Diversey: Two Weeks of Neighborhood...

Diversey Is Showing Off! Discover Two Weeks of Neighborhood Deals, Dining & More...

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