Festival dossier
Chicago, United States · Est. 1983 · High structural score (80–100) for legitimacy and industry clout — not limited to Oscar-qualifying festivals
Strong legitimacy signals
Tier A score for legitimacy and industry clout. Still confirm deadlines, fees, and categories on the festival site before paying.
The Chicago International Children's Film Festival (CICFF) is the largest and oldest annual festival of films for children ages 2–18 in the world, screening over 250 animated and live-action films from 40+ countries [1][4]. It is notable for being the first competitive children's film festival in the United States and the first Academy Award-qualifying children's film festival globally, with winners in Live-Action Short and Animated Short categories eligible for Oscar submission [3][4]. Founded in 1983 by Facets Multi-Media, the festival empowers youth by including children in its jurying process and offers hands-on filmmaking workshops alongside screenings [1][4].
Last updated Aug 23, 2026
No red flags found
Founded
1983
Venue
1517 W. Fullerton Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60614 United States
Screenings
Physical screenings confirmed
Award Categories
1
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