The Village of Oak Park | 123 Madison St.  Oak Park, IL 60302 | village@oak-park.us

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Oak Park, Illinois Film Festival Now Accepting Submissions

May 16, 2024The Oak Park, Illinois Film Festival, set for Sept. 12 and 14, is now accepting submissions through July 31 for the 2024 event.

This exciting event on the Village’s calendar begins on Thurs., Sept. 12 with a celebration of Oak Park’s connection to Hollywood. The evening at The Lake Theatre (1022 Lake St.) features a red carpet and gala event to go along with a screening of a new edition of “The Abyss.” The film co-starts Oak Park River Forest High School alumna Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio alongside Ed Harris. “The Abyss” was written and directed by Academy Award winner James Cameron.

On Sat., Sept. 14, the festival will showcase local talent with a full slate of special screenings and a panel discussion at the Madison Street Theater (1010 Madison St.). Beginning at 10 a.m., there will be screenings including shorts, animations, documentaries, student films and more. The festival is open to movies of a variety of genres and lengths, each with a local connection, including cast or crew members from Oak Park or a setting or shooting location within the Village. Awards will be distributed across multiple categories, as well.

The entry deadline for the Oak Park, Illinois Film Festival is Wed., July 31. There is a discount offered for early bird entries submitted by Sun., June 30. All entries must be submitted through the festival’s Film Freeway page.

For more information about the Oak Park, Illinois Film Festival, including awards, rules and deadlines, please visit https://www.opilff.org/. The 2024 Oak Park, Illinois Film Festival is organized and produced by a committee of volunteers. If interested in supporting the work, please email team@opilff.org.

About Oak Park

The Village of Oak Park, located just nine miles west of downtown Chicago, offers a distinctive urban/suburban lifestyle in a thriving, multi-cultural community. Well-known for progressive values, tree-lined streets and bustling business districts, Oak Park serves as an ideal place to live, work and play. As a longstanding community of choice, the Village benefits from convenient access to local and regional transit, high-quality public schools, and arts and cultural attractions, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio and his acclaimed Unity Temple, which was recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.