The Oak Park Illinois Film Festival enjoyed its inaugural year in 2024. Created as a celebration of cinema connected to the titular affluent western suburb of Chicago, the OPILFF brought together audiences and filmmakers at a gala opening at the Classic Cinemas Lake Theatre and a full-day program of over 15 films. The distinctive and valuable festival returns for its second year in 2025 with another excellent kick-off event and a two-day schedule of feature-length and short film selections, all with content, cast, crew, or setting ties to Oak Park, Illinois.
The second Oak Park Illinois Film Festival kicks off Thursday evening, September 11th, with a gala event screening of Moonstruck at the Classic Cinemas Lake Theatre location. The Academy Award-winning 1987 film, famous for the romantic pairing of Cher and Nicolas Cage, also includes the late John Mahoney. The British-born actor and longtime Frasier co-star, who passed away in 2018, settled in Oak Park for many years. This opening night event will honor Mahoney with opening remarks and a post-film discussion after Moonstruck‘s 7:30pm showtime. Tickets for that opening event are still available.
The truest experience of the Oak Park Illinois Film Festival is with its gathered collection of locally-connected film entries screening on September 13th and 14th. This year, the programming has added a second day at the Madison Street Theater, expanding the event’s honor and reach. Equal to 2024, the OPILFF welcomes an eclectic selection of films from a variety of genres, including features, documentaries, shorts, and more. In addition to screenings and refreshments, the festival also hosts short seminars with industry professionals who share their insights, experiences, and networking opportunities with attendees and closes with a culminating awards ceremony and evening reception.
The feature-length inclusions of the second Oak Park Illinois Film Festival include two narratives and three documentaries. On the fictional side, the OPILFF hosts the relationship drama Park Life from director Tyler Haney and the heist comedy Holiday Hold-Up. The three featured nonfiction films are Don’t Turn Your Back on Friday Night and Shiners: Voices from Owsley County, both with music themes, and the educationally-centered The Pantone Guy. A total of 27 films were selected for inclusion in seven blocks at this year’s festival. Full weekend passes and block tickets are available on the OPILFF website.
For a complete three-day program and block schedule, please visit the OPILFF website.
As a cinephile and a Midwesterner, it is terrific to see a forthright and mindful community bring together the best of their artistic talent for celebration. The Oak Park Illinois Film Festival is a buried treasure of movie inspiration waiting to be discovered. For those in the Chicagoland area, give this fine event some love and attention.
