Chicago International Film Festival Unveils Competition Slate with Top Asian Directors
The Chicago International Film Festival has announced its international competition lineup for its 62nd edition, featuring new works by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Hirokazu Kore-eda, and Lee Chang-dong. The 13-film section includes titles from Radu Jude, Clio Barnard, and others, with many North American premieres. The festival runs from Oct. 14-25 and will host an International Contenders Panel.
The 62nd edition's international competition features 13 films, with four selections already submitted as national Oscar entries for best international feature. Beyond the headline Asian directors, the slate spans Germany, Japan, Spain, the Central African Republic, Brazil, Nigeria, and Turkey, with 25 North American or U.S. premieres across all competitive sections. The festival's International Contenders Panel, moderated by THR's Seth Abramovitch on Oct. 17, will convene filmmakers behind these Oscar submissions.
The festival's track record includes recent Chicago winners that earned Academy Award nominations, such as Drive My Car, Close, and The Seed of the Sacred Fig. Jordan Firstman's Club Kid opens the festival, with Kelly O'Sullivan and Alex Thompson's Mouse as the centerpiece. The complete lineup arrives Sept. 17, with tickets available Sept. 28.
This festival slate could significantly boost the international profiles of several filmmakers, particularly the Asian directors whose work may gain awards-season momentum through the Oscar submission pipeline. The festival's history of showcasing films that later earn Academy recognition suggests these selections may influence critical discourse and distribution opportunities. Audiences in Chicago gain early access to culturally diverse cinema, potentially expanding their exposure to global storytelling. The International Contenders Panel may also shape how industry professionals assess this year's international film landscape.