FAN EXPO Chicago Presents First-Ever Fan Film Fest

Chicago’s longest-running comic and pop culture convention, FAN EXPO Chicago will host its first ever Fan Film Fest at this year’s show, running August 14 – 16, 2026 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. The films, made and submitted by fans, embrace the spirit of FAN EXPO’s celebration of all things fandom and imagination.

Short films selected by the FAN EXPO Fan Film Fest programming team will be featured in ten categories including Original Comedy, Original Drama, Original Adventure, Original Action, Original Horror, Fandom Parody, Mockumentary, Animation, Music Video, and Other Original Fiction, with awards presented for Best Fan Film and Audience Choice. 

Short films (3-5 minutes) can be submitted before August 1, 2026. For full guidelines and to submit a film, visit https://fanexpohq.com/fanexpochicago/fan-film-fest/. The top 5 short films selected will be shown on Saturday at Fan Expo Chicago where the winners will be chosen, live.

FAN EXPO Chicago runs August 14 – 16, 2026 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Show hours are Friday 4 – 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tickets start at $41 during the advanced pricing window through July 30, 2026, and go to regular price from July 31 through the end of the show; 3-day passes and VIP packages also available at https://fanexpohq.com/fanexpochicago/buy-tickets/. More information and updates can be found at fanexpochicago.com. 

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