Beyond Fest, the largest genre film festival in the United States, has announced its first-ever expansion beyond Los Angeles. Teaming up with Chicago’s historic Music Box Theatre, Beyond Fest Chicago will take place April 2–5, 2026, bringing four days of genre cinema to one of the country’s most dedicated film communities.
Submissions are now open through FilmFreeway, inviting filmmakers worldwide — particularly those from Chicago, the Midwest, and the Great Lakes region — to submit their most daring and original work. The event will feature high-energy premieres, repertory screenings, special guests, and late-night discoveries that have become synonymous with Beyond Fest’s brand of film celebration.
“Since inception, Beyond Fest has existed in service of film fans and filmmakers that are obsessively passionate about film,” said founder Christian Parkes. “This passion isn’t something that resides exclusively in Los Angeles; for decades, Music Box Theatre has fostered and entertained some of the best audiences in the world. It’s going to be electric, having our worlds collide.”
Music Box Theatre owner Brody Sheldon added, “The Music Box has always been a home for bold, visionary cinema. Partnering with Beyond Fest means bringing that energy to a new generation of filmmakers and fans — the ones who make this city’s film scene the loudest, smartest, and most passionate in the country.”
Since its founding in 2013, Beyond Fest has grown into the most attended genre film festival in the U.S., screening 95 features and attracting over 30,000 attendees in its most recent edition. Known for its fearless programming and appearances by renowned filmmakers such as James Cameron, Guillermo del Toro, Julia Ducournau, and Bong Joon Ho, Beyond Fest continues to evolve as a platform for global and local storytelling alike.
The full lineup, special guests, and events for Beyond Fest Chicago will be announced in 2026. Filmmakers can now submit their work at FilmFreeway.com/BeyondFestChicago. For more information, visit beyondfest.com and musicboxtheatre.com.
