The Cinema Femme Short Film Festival has been unfolding at the Music Box Theatre this week, starting yesterday, October 11, 2026. It continues tonight with the true start of its short film programming and closes tomorrow night, October 13, with the Chicago premiere of Emily Robinson’s “Ugly Cry,” followed by a Q&A with writer/director Emily Robinson, stars Aaron Dominguez & Robin Tunny, and moderated by our very own Marya E. Gates. Robinson will also receive a Tribute Award that evening, an award that has gone to people like Dawn Porter, Isabel Sandoval, and Jennifer Reeder at past events.
This year’s program was put together by Emily Jacobson, Allison Torem, Aja Essex, and our very own Cortlyn Kelly, who said, “Year after year, Cinema Femme Short Film Festival continues to showcase and platform the excellence of women and non-binary filmmakers. To be a part of the 2026 programming team was simultaneously an honor and an opportunity to witness stellar creativity and storytelling. In contributing to this year’s curation, it’s evident that no matter the state of the landscape, these voices will never be silenced. Cinema Femme creates and maintains space for these films to be shared and seen.”
There are two programs of shorts tonight (at 7pm and 9pm), followed by an awards ceremony tomorrow night, including the presentation of the Chaz Ebert Phenomenal Person in Film Award. The Tribute Award and subsequent screening of “Ugly Cry” begins at 6:45pm, followed by a third program of shorts at 9pm.
Go here for more information and to get tickets.
