XL Fest Puts Chicago’s Creative Culture Center Stage with The Tate Brothers, Karyn Parsons, Anthony Anderson and More

In its 4th year, XL Fest, founded by Troy Pyor of Creative Cypher, the local entertainment ecosystem that produces the film festival, continues to emerge as Chicago’s premier film festival. The three-day festival will be headlined by major entertainment stars, including Festival Partners Larenz, LaRon and Lahmard Tate of Tate Brothers Ent., in conversation with Anthony Anderson (Black-ish), along with special guests Karyn Parsons (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), LaRoyce Hawkins (Chicago PD) in conversation with EBONY on his screening of 93 ‘Til, Emory Jones (Co-Founder of Paper Planes, Puma Collaborator), Chicago Historian Sherman “Dilla” Thomas, Resa Luster (CMO of Luster Products), J-Ivy (3x Grammy® Award Winning Poet), Eric Williams (President and CEO of The Silver Room) and Cythia Kaye McWilliams (Average Joe). 

XL Fest will showcase a dynamic slate of films, with a strong focus on emerging filmmakers from across the Chicagoland area. “This year, we’re bringing together incredible films, talent and experiences to make this our biggest XL Fest yet,” said Troy Pryor. The festival returns with screenings, programs and activations throughout Chicago, including Harper Court, Harper Theater, the Chicago Cultural Center and the David Rubenstein Forum at the University of Chicago. This year also marks a significant milestone for XL Fest with programming at the Obama Presidential Center, an exciting addition and an honor for the festival.

The XL Fest experience begins today, Tuesday, August 18, with two days of pre-festival programming, including a screening of Sinners in Millennium Park and a tribute to Buddy Guy celebrating his 90th birthday, presented in partnership with the Chicago Film Office and DCASE as part of Millennium Park Summer Film Series, Presented by Wells Fargo, along with live podcast events. XL Fest is strengthening its commitment to creating tangible, long-term pathways for independent filmmakers beyond the festival circuit. Over the past two years, AMC+ has selected films directly from XL Fest for streaming, demonstrating the festival’s growing role as a bridge between emerging creators and distribution opportunities.

This year’s slate reflects XL Fest’s continued evolution from a traditional film showcase into a growing marketplace for discovery, industry access, and distribution. By intentionally connecting exhibition with opportunities that extend beyond the festival, XL Fest is building an ecosystem where independent filmmakers can not only be seen but potentially take the next step toward reaching wider audiences.

“XL Fest is about creating more than a moment of visibility for filmmakers; we’re building pathways that can move creators from development to exhibition, industry relationships, and ultimately greater opportunities for distribution,” said Cindy Beasley, President of Creative Cypher. “As we continue to grow, our goal is to make Chicago a place where creators can build, connect, and advance their work without feeling like they have to leave the city to access meaningful opportunities.”

Today, XL Fest has grown into one of Chicago’s emerging signature cultural festivals with national reach, supporting tourism, workforce development, and the city’s broader creative economy while positioning Chicago as a hub for storytelling, innovation, and creator collaboration. Creative Cypher’s structure intentionally creates continuity across the creative pipeline: the Lab develops projects and talent, XL Fest showcases completed work, and the growing distribution ecosystem opens additional opportunities for exposure and growth.

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