(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The 16th annual Chicago CineYouth festival is back and bigger than ever after a year off.
Kicking off Thursday, the streaming festival features 102 short films from 25 counties from people aged 22 and younger. Some works date back to 2019, while others are from the pandemic present, says festival director Ryan Saunders.
This year’s offering demonstrates how more young people are interested in pursuing careers in filmmaking, including documentaries.
“The current generation is extremely socially conscious. They’ve been able to utilize film in a way to share their stories and share their concerns about the larger world,” Saunders said.
Opening night features “The Cinemas of Chicago,” a selection of 14 short films made by Chicago-based filmmakers. The festival runs through May 13.
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