2026 Chicago Critics Film Fest Reveals Audience Award Winners

The Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA), the Chicago-area print, online and broadcast critics group that celebrates the art of film and film criticism, today announces the Rotten Tomatoes Audience Award winners following the 13th Chicago Critics Film Festival. Audiences selected Walter Thompson-Hernandez’ IF I GO WILL THEY MISS ME as winner of the Rotten Tomatoes Audience Award for narrative feature.

Thompson-Hernandez said, “I’m so honored to win the audience award at this year’s Chicago Critics Film Festival.” He continued, “To be recognized amongst so many other incredible films is something I accept with an incredible amount of humility. Thank you for supporting my movie and thank you for supporting independent cinema.”

Additionally, WHEN A WITNESS RECANTS, directed by Dawn Porter, who was in attendance for the film’s screening at the festival, was named winner of the Documentary Audience Award. GLORY/US earned audience appreciation in the short film category.

“I am beyond thrilled about the audience’s reaction to the film,” said Porter. “Your enthusiastic response truly helps Alfred Chestnut, Andrew Stewart and Ransom Watkins rebuild their lives and their faith in humanity. Thank you all so very much.”

The thirteenth edition boasted several sell-out screenings and welcomed a number of special guests in addition to Porter, including Olivia Wilde (THE INVITE); Judy Greer, Edd Benda and Stephen Helstad (CHILI FINGER); Joe Swanberg and Cory Michael Smith (THE SUN NEVER SETS) and more.

An album of select images from this year’s festival is available here; all photos credit Kate Scott Photography.

The Chicago Critics Film Festival annually features a selection of acclaimed films chosen by members of the Chicago Film Critics Association, a combination of recent festival favorites and as-yet-undistributed works from a variety of filmmakers, from established Oscar winners to talented newcomers. It is the only current example of a major film critics group that hosts its own festival. 

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