Experience a curated selection of films from emerging filmmakers and storytellers pushing the boundaries of cinema. While the OTO Film Festival primarily highlights short-form storytelling to create space for more filmmakers to share their work and connect with audiences, we also welcome feature films that showcase bold perspectives and impactful storytelling. Our screenings celebrate the creativity, innovation, and diverse voices shaping the future of film.

Connect with Black filmmakers, industry professionals, and rising creatives through engaging conversations centered around storytelling, filmmaking, and the future of cinema. Each year, the OTO Film Festival brings together established voices in the industry and emerging filmmakers within Chicago’s creative community for panels, discussions, and opportunities to exchange knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. These conversations create space for learning, collaboration, and meaningful connections between the next generation of storytellers and the filmmakers shaping the industry today.

Each year, the OTO Film Festival brings a new theme, unique experiences, and curated activations designed to celebrate Black creativity and community. Attendees and filmmakers have the opportunity to connect with Black-owned businesses, explore filmmaking resources, engage with industry professionals, and build meaningful relationships across the creative community. With exciting guests, collaborators, and immersive experiences each year, the festival creates a space where storytelling, connection, and culture come together.

The OTO Film Festival celebrates stories that showcase the full range of Black creativity and experiences. We believe Black filmmakers deserve the opportunity to tell stories in every genre, format, and artistic style, from drama and comedy to experimental, documentary, animation, horror, and beyond. Representation is not limited to one type of story; it is about creating space for Black artists to explore, innovate, and exist across the entire landscape of cinema.