FESTIVALS

XL Film Fest announces full line up

By Reel Chicago
July 11, 2024

This year’s XL Film Fest is headlined by Larenz Tate, Larron Tate, and Lahmard Tate and will take place August 15-18, 2024, at various venues across the city.

The XL Film Fest and Summit brings together industry professionals, providing an immersive experience for audiences to dive into. From thought-provoking panels to film showcases, celebrate the power of storytelling through the captivating art form of cinema.

“The XL Fest is becoming the preeminent Storytelling festival in Chicago” said Troy Pryor, Founder of Creative Cypher and the XL Film Fest. “We are looking to be the model for future festivals not just in Chicago but across the entire film industry.”

The festival’s full schedule has been released online at the festival’s website, XLFest.org, where tickets are also available for purchase.

Here’s the line up:

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15

12:00 PM
Directing Actors Workshop
Charles Andrew Gardner
Presented by Crew Call Collective

Perfecting Your Pitch Workshop
Presented by Seed & Spark

4:00 PM
Reel Black Happy Hour
Sophy Hotel – Presented by Uncle Nearest

6:00 PM
Grown Folks Stories
Hosted by Binkey at the Promontory, presented by Silver Room.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16

9:00 AM
yoga and meditation
Hyatt Place Hyde Park

There’s then an array of activities, shows, and film screenings on Friday with partners including Black Art Gallery, IPG, Shure Harper Theater and BMO. A series of panels including celebrity judges Lamorne Morris, Diallo Riddle, and Brenda Gilbert, and Moderated by Melissa DuPrey. The remainder of the panels include topics on artificial intelligence in the film industry, excelling in particular film genres and owning the Black narrative in film.

6:00 PM
The Blurred Lines panel
Presented by Rolling Out
Guest speakers Vic Mensa, Mary Datcher, Alvin Jones, and Terry Jervis, and Moderated by Eddy Lamarre.

7:00 PM
Outdoor Triple Screening
Presented by Chicago White Sox + Food provided by Virtue
Hip hop, House Music, and streetwear rock the stage.
Screenings of Twenty Five, Fitted in Black, and Lead Never Follow.
Hosted by Dave Jeff
(Meal Included in All Access Pass)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17

A number of film screenings and panels including Dreamkeepers & Dreamers, Featuring Black girls Film Camp, True Star Media, Obama Foundation, Common Ground Foundation, Social Works – Presented by Destiny Outreach. The panel will be Moderated by Danita Patterson

2:00 PM
Panel titled Black Voices in Gaming, featuring Jewel Ifeguni, Kevin Carr, Soloman Smith, and Nik Stewart, and moderated by Young Wayne.

5:00 PM
A Conversation with The Chi
Panel featuring celebrity guests from the hit television series The Chi, will feature Jacob Latimore, Jason Weaver, Yolonda Ross, Rolando Boyce, and Birgundi Baker. The panel will be moderated by Leon Rogers.

6:00 PM
The Family Biz
The Tate Brothers hit the stage for their panel, The Family Biz, featuring Larenz Tate, Larron Tate, Lahmard Tate, and moderated by Portia King.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18

1:00 PM
Art Gallery Opening
Connect Gallery
hosted by ILA

9:00 PM
The Lisa Beasley Experience
The Laugh Factory
(Included in All Access Pass)

The Pitch Competition returns featuring four film teams, competing for the opportunity to enter the XL Lab. Winners receive monetary grant, access to equipment, studio space, a year of mentorship from showrunners, industry execs, marketing support, and streamlined pathway toward various festivals. There will also be a film showcase of the 2023 lab winners. Sponsors by Shure.