2025 Chicago Film Symposium

The Chicago Film Symposium is an intimate one-day celebration of films by Black and brown Chicago-based filmmakers. Dedicated to bold, independent voices too often left out of the conversation, the symposium is where art, community, and dialogue come alive.

Co-founded by Danielle A. Scruggs (Black Women Directors) and Troy Martin & Chinyere “Chi” Achebe (Black Film Club Collective), the event unites filmmakers, audiences, and industry professionals for screenings, panels, and meaningful connections.

This year, we’re taking over the Green Line Performing Arts Center in Washington Park with the theme “Poetic Just-Us.” It’s a heartfelt tribute to our heritage, a reflection on our present, and a celebration of the infinite possibilities of our future. As Nikki Giovanni reminds us: “The world is not a problem to be solved; it is a place to be experienced.”

Don’t miss your chance to experience powerful films, engage in inspiring conversations, and join a growing community that’s reimagining cinema together.

Host or Publisher Black Film Club Collective