Cinema Femme Short Film Festival Announces 2026 Edition

Festival opens submissions, names new director Taryn Stickrath-Hutt

Apr. 10, 2026 at 7:54am

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A striking abstract composition of jagged geometric shapes and bold silhouettes in high-contrast colors, conceptually representing the spirit of a film festival focused on supporting underrepresented filmmakers.The Cinema Femme Short Film Festival continues its mission of elevating diverse voices in the industry through its annual celebration of women and gender-expansive filmmakers.Chicago Today

The Cinema Femme Short Film Festival is set to return for its eighth edition this fall, with organizers announcing that submissions for the 2026 festival open on April 10. The festival will once again host in-person screenings October 11 through 13 at the Music Box Theatre, followed by a virtual presentation running October 14 through 18. Alongside the festival dates, Cinema Femme also announced a leadership transition, with Taryn Stickrath-Hutt taking over as the new festival director.

Why it matters

The Cinema Femme Short Film Festival is an important platform for supporting women and gender-expansive filmmakers, providing both an exhibition opportunity and a mentorship program to help develop emerging talent in the industry. The festival's continued growth and evolution under new leadership signals its ongoing commitment to this mission.

The details

The 2026 Cinema Femme Short Film Festival will take place October 11-18, with in-person screenings at the Music Box Theatre from October 11-13 and a virtual presentation from October 14-18 on the Eventive platform. The festival's 'Breaking Down Walls' mentorship program will also return, pairing four selected filmmakers with established industry professionals for one-on-one guidance. Previous mentors have included Tchaiko Omawale, David Bruckner, Lisa France and Valerie Weiss.

  • Submissions for the 2026 Cinema Femme Short Film Festival open on April 10, 2026.
  • The in-person screenings will take place October 11-13, 2026 at the Music Box Theatre.
  • The virtual presentation will run October 14-18, 2026 on the Eventive platform.

The players

Taryn Stickrath-Hutt

The new festival director for the 2026 Cinema Femme Short Film Festival. Stickrath-Hutt is a filmmaker and writer whose animated short The Finger Wife screened at the festival in 2025. She has also worked with Walt Disney Imagineering, contributing to the development of the award-winning Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway attraction.

Emily Broderick

The previous festival director who guided the organization through its inaugural year as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Broderick is stepping away from the director role to focus on launching a new event production business.

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What they’re saying

“Now in its eighth year, the festival continues its focus on supporting women and gender-expansive filmmakers through both its exhibition platform and mentorship efforts.”

— Barbara Roche, Author

What’s next

The 2026 mentor lineup for the 'Breaking Down Walls' mentorship program is expected to be announced in the coming months.

The takeaway

The Cinema Femme Short Film Festival remains a vital platform for elevating the voices and stories of underrepresented filmmakers. Under new leadership, the festival is poised to build on its past successes and continue providing crucial support and opportunities for women and gender-expansive artists in the industry.