The Chicago Underground Film Festival (CUFF)

 
 

ABOUT

Full Spectrum Features is presenting the 28th Chicago Underground Film Festival (CUFF). By presenting CUFF, Full Spectrum helps further embody the festival’s inclusive spirit while infusing our standards of diversity and equity. 

The Chicago Underground Film Festival (CUFF)  is an annual event showcasing independent, experimental and documentary films from around the world. Founded by Jay Bliznick and Bryan Wendorf, the festival was created to make space for the kind of films they wanted to see: works that were ignored by the established film festival circuit of the time. In addition, the festival was to make younger creatives outside of elite networks feel welcome in the festival space. 

Through this partnership, FSF will implement new community-engaged programs, provide development opportunities, and support CUFF in building a more sustainable business model. Full Spectrum’s involvement in CUFF is a further step towards dissolving barriers that prevent filmmakers from breaking into the film industry.


Impacts

 

  1. Collaborating with CUFF to produce community-engaged programs that uplift traditionally marginalized groups

  2. Hosting a curatorial fellow to work under the mentorship of Bryan Wendorf, CUFF’s artistic director

  3. Providing staffing support to help produce the festival events and facilitate post-screening Q&A’s

  4. Aiding CUFF in gaining financial stability and support to ensure that festival staff and artists are paid fair wages

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

 

  • Currently employed by an organization(s) that is dedicated to independent film exhibition

  • A demonstrated capacity for leadership from a colleague

  • Commitment to completing the program and openness towards other cohort members

EQUITABLE PROCESSES, EQUITABLE OUTCOMES

 

The designers of the Lab are committed to centering racial and social equity. While many leadership programs might offer a "diversity and inclusion" session, FFLL is unique in that the entirety of the Lab's curriculum is developed through a lens of equity.

Simply put, our goal of empowering future film festival leaders requires us to demonstrate equitable processes and equitable outcomes in leadership.

 
 

About CUFF & FSF

THE CHICAGO UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL (CUFF) is a is an annual event showcasing independent, experimental and documentary films from around the world.

FULL SPECTRUM FEATURES is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization committed to driving equity in the independent film industry by producing, exhibiting, and supporting the work of women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ filmmakers.

Questions? Please reach out to jill@fullspectrumfeatures.com