All Genders, Lifestyles, and Identities Film Festival
Austin, United States
79
Tier BScreenings
Festival dossier
Onion City Experimental Film Festival
Chicago, United States · Est. 1989 · High structural score (80–100) for legitimacy and industry clout — not limited to Oscar-qualifying festivals
Tier ATrusted
Chicago, United States
96
Legitimacy ScoreShould I submit?
Strong legitimacy signals
Tier A score for legitimacy and industry clout. Still confirm deadlines, fees, and categories on the festival site before paying.
- 37 years of verifiable history
- Physical screenings at Chicago Filmmakers Firehouse Cinema
- 3 verified pro signals
Overview
The Onion City Experimental Film Festival is a Chicago-based festival devoted exclusively to experimental film, video, and expanded cinema. Founded in the 1980s and now presented by Chicago Filmmakers, it is notable as one of the premier international festivals for avant-garde work and for showcasing a wide range of contemporary experimental films from around the world.
Last updated Aug 27, 2026
Legitimacy Analysis
Positive Indicators (+46 pts)
- 37 years of verifiable history
- Physical screenings at Chicago Filmmakers Firehouse Cinema
- 3 verified pro signals
- Verified trusted status
- Legitimacy signals outweigh concerns (4 vs 0)
Red Flags (-0 pts)
No red flags found
Trust Signals
Positive Signals
- FilmFreeway Gold festival
- Documented history with archived programs
- Named venues with external verification
Festival Details
Founded
1989
Venue
Chicago Filmmakers Firehouse Cinema
Screenings
Physical screenings confirmed
FilmFreeway communityGold festival
Avg. rating
3.9/ 5
Reviews
17
Synced 4 days ago
Rating synced from FilmFreeway; individual review text not pulled yet for this festival.
View on FilmFreewayFilmFreeway reviews are filmmaker opinions, not our score. Cross-check red flags before paying fees.
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At a glance
How scoring works
Scores are calculated from structural indicators: accreditations, physical screenings, award category count, submission frequency, and acceptance rate. Higher scores reflect more verifiable legitimacy signals.
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