8:00 AM
Fancy a latte? Hit up North Village Coffee Co. on the first and second floor for a complimentary full service coffee bar to jump start your day. Open through 11AM.
Badge Pick-Up & Help Desk
8:00AM - 5:00AM | Agile Registration Hub, VenueSIX10
Pick up your badge, your bag, and hit the lounge to meet independent film exhibition colleagues NEW and old!
Art House Tales presented by Eventive
9:00AM - 10:00 AM | Feinberg Theater, 2nd Floor | VenueSIX10
We’ve all got a story to tell. Start the day with stories from across the country from cinema contemporaries.
Making Membership Mutually Beneficial (Fundraising, Marketing)
10:15 AM - 11:45 AM | Feinberg Theater, 2nd Floor | VenueSIX10
This workshop is focused around compiling membership benefits that are exciting and feel "worth it" to audiences, without breaking the bank or putting too much work on staff. Workshop leaders will share some successes, and then participants will work on developing ideas that can work at their organization. We will cover the complexities of ticket discounts/free tickets, ideas for community-building events, how to market membership programs, and other creative perks.
Daytime Done Right: Programming for Older Audiences (Education, Programming)
10:15 AM - 11:45 AM | Room 423 | VenueSIX10
Programming for older adults can be an effective and rewarding way for theaters to fill daytime slots, expand their audience and create space for communal learning experiences. But what should you consider before adding new initiatives for older adult audiences or expanding existing ones at your venue? In this session, programmers and educators will share tips and best practices to keep in mind before you jump into action. In collaboration with our guest speakers, attendees will review and discuss a list of key considerations, including best practices for accessibility, facilitation and event formats, as well as audience communication, promotion and marketing approaches. The goal is for attendees to take away the learnings from this session and apply them to daytime programming at their own organization, where possible!
Lifting All Boats: Paths of Interfestival Collaboration (Dev, Programming)
10:15 AM - 11:30 AM | Room 421 | VenueSIX10
A panel focused on how regional film festival coalitions can improve audience development and advocate for increased festival funding that supports everyone instead of a few. Using the Colorado Film & TV Festival Coalition and the Chicago Alliance of Film Festivals as case studies, attendees will have opportunities to learn ways to start regional festival alliances of their own and the benefits of doing so. The panel will include a presentation of Colorado’s new Tax Incentive for Film Festivals (the first of its kind in the nation) from the Colorado Film Commissioner, Lauren Sloan.
Surpassing Spreadsheets (Operations, Accessibility)
10:15 AM - 11:30 AM | Room 314 | VenueSIX10
“I thought you took care of that?” “When did we add a Q&A?” “Did we already get the marketing materials for that film?” These sorts of problems are the result of a lack of communication. In our collaborative industry, it’s important to have tools that enable working together. Come learn from members of small, medium, and large teams how they use database software to streamline operations and increase cross-department communication. Then, share out what has worked for your organization!
Distributor Presentations (Programming, Marketing)
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Feinberg Theater, 2nd Floor | VenueSIX10
Curious what’s on the future slate of various distributors in the independent film world? Hear from them directly on what you can expect coming soon!
Today’s Line-Up: mTuckman | NTLive | Seventh Art | Janus | Variance | Focus/Universal
Lunch
11:00AM - 1:00 PM | Crown Hall, 9th Floor | VenueSIX10
Grab a bite and take a break or convene with colleagues.
Get inspired while you eat by: The Story Your Space Tells: Exploring the Visual and Design Details That Shape the Art House Experience
Our organizations offer more than just movies. They are spaces where people come together, share experiences, and build community. But this doesn’t just happen, we must design spaces that facilitate these experiences. See inspiring details from art houses across the globe.
Small Gauge, Big Ideas: Programming and Projecting 16mm Film (Programming, Operations)
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM | Room 711 | VenueSIX10
Art houses have learned that there's a sizable audience for 35mm and 70mm presentations, but what about 16mm? Equally beloved by avant-garde filmmakers and social studies teachers, 16mm is the native exhibition format for countless outstanding works of animation, documentary, educational, amateur, and experimental cinema, many of which are not available any other way. Whether you're from a microcinema or a museum, a commercial house or a non-profit, 16mm is within reach and offers a great opportunity to connect your organization with local artists, archivists, and collectors. Members of Chicago Film Society will offer practical lessons about programming and projecting 16mm film, including sourcing prints, assuring the best possible presentation, and making the projector apparatus tangible to audiences.
For a Consciousness-Raising Cinema: The Ecology of Enrichment (Programming, Marketing)
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Room 423 | VenueSIX10
How do art house cinemas and film festivals move beyond the cold, transactional nature of commercial entertainment to create an enriching environment conducive to community building, education, and audience engagement? In this panel, we bring together marketing, programming, and operations to explore how to answer this question. Focusing on a holistic model of “enrichment,” rather top-down “education” models, the panel will discuss the difference between the two models, ways to enhance current programs and new initiatives, ideas to use audience feedback and participation to shape, and why creating enriching cinematic experiences is necessary to sustainability.
A Well Planned Future (Development, Leadership)
12:00PM -1:15 PM | Room 721 | VenueSIX10
Strategic planning isn't just good governance—it's the work that makes everything else possible. This session examines how thoughtful strategic planning creates organizational clarity, aligns stakeholders around shared priorities, and builds the foundation for long-term sustainability. Most critically, a well-crafted strategic plan becomes your most powerful tool for attracting major philanthropic investment, whether you're building an endowment, launching new programs, or undertaking capital projects. Through case studies, you'll see how the discipline of strategic planning translates into organizational clarity around vision, how plans are operationalized so they can be fully activated, and how strategic planning becomes the foundation for fundraising initiatives that can move donors to invest at transformational levels.
What’s in the Box?! A Problem-Solving Playground (Operations, Accessibility)
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM | Room 707 | VenueSIX10
What happens when real-world cinema challenges collide with a box of unexpected objects? In this interactive workshop, small groups will open a surprise kit containing a unique scenario drawn from art house life — operations, audience dynamics, concessions, staffing, and more — along with a mix of seemingly unrelated items. Using only what’s inside the box and their collective creativity, each group will develop a fast, workable response to their challenge. Playful in format but grounded in practice, this session invites imaginative thinking that can translate into fresh, real-world ideas.
More Than Audiences: Accessibility for Artists (Operations)
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM | Room 421| VenueSIX10
Accessibility conversations often focus on audiences – but what about the filmmakers, and speakers participating in your events? Creating truly inclusive spaces means considering accessibility at every stage of the artist experience. Join filmmakers and industry professionals for a conversation about accessibility in artist services and event planning. Panelists will share practical considerations, best practices, and lived experiences related to communication, accommodations, scheduling, venue navigation, presentation formats, hospitality, and creating environments where artists can fully participate and thrive.
Big Campaign Branding (Operations)
1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | Room 314| VenueSIX10
This panel will think about campaign branding with both development and marketing professionals, exploring how to conceive of and execute really big campaigns from top to bottom: messaging, cohesive branding, channels of communication, end goals, and more.
Think Fast, Lead Smart: Real-Time Management Solutions (Leadership, Operations)
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM | Room 711| VenueSIX10
This session will focus on management and leadership at all levels so you can be confident in your abilities. Speakers from the worlds of both film exhibition and HR will answer your questions and address issues you’ve faced, giving advice on how to handle situations that may arise at your organization. We’ll explore immediate responses and follow-up actions, dealing with culture issues and systemic problems, how to handle complicated questions, following labor laws, and more. You’ll come away equipped with the tools to be a better leader and foster an open, productive, and, especially, fun workplace.
Meet the Distributors
2:00PM - 5:00 PM | Gallery 10, 10th Floor | VenueSIX10
Browse the upcoming slates from over 40 independent film distributors and share some facetime with the people you email with all year long! From rep cinema to festival favorites, your future program starts here.
Word-of-Mouth & Guerrilla Marketing in the Hyper-Digital Age (Marketing)
2:45 PM - 4:00 PM | Room 423| VenueSIX10
The Internet is officially dead. Or maybe better put, a zombie, where an overwhelming number of bots, AI generated content, and other automated netizens now outnumber human content creation and activity online. The shifting environment of the most important telecommunications and marketing tech opens up new-old opportunities for independent and arthouse cinemas to reach audiences in a much more authentic, community-based way through word-of-mouth and on-the-ground guerrilla marketing tactics. This panel of marketing professionals, programmers, and artists will discuss the current state of the web and how to engage audiences in a meaningful way offline.
When the Internet Comes for You: Navigating Programming Backlash in a Hyper-Online World (Leadership, Programming, Operations)
3:15 PM - 4:45 PM | Room 421| VenueSIX10
In a hyper-connected world, a single programming decision can spark backlash far beyond your local audience. This panel examines how cinemas and festivals can prepare for and navigate social media storms, national and international amplification, and the lasting local impact that can follow. Panelists will discuss best practices for preparation, decision-making under pressure, public and internal messaging, stakeholder communication, staff safety and well-being, comment moderation, and what they learned about holding firm, clarifying, or course-correcting when controversy goes viral.
Finding Funding (Dev)
3:15 PM - 4:45 PM | Room 721| VenueSIX10
Securing the right sponsors can amplify your organization’s impact, but knowing where to start (and how to do it well) is key. This panel brings together experienced professionals to share practical strategies for finding, approaching, and securing sponsors for your programs and initiatives. Explore how to craft compelling sponsorship proposals, design benefit packages that resonate with partners, internally manage sponsorships with a small team, and stay informed on current trends in corporate sponsorship. We’ll tackle the nuanced challenges of sponsorships—like maintaining your organization’s identity, avoiding audience alienation, and ensuring partnerships align with your core values. Whether you're new to sponsorships or looking to refine your approach, you’ll walk away with actionable insights to build sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships.
Accessibility Flash Sessions (Ops)
3:15 PM - 4:15 PM | Room 314 | VenueSIX10
You’ve started your accessibility journey - now it’s time to make it a permanent part of your operations. This session features three 20-minute "flash presentations" designed to give you frameworks for long-term sustainability. Learn how to bridge the gap between intent and execution through three critical lenses: streamlining your workflow with access providers, transforming Alt-Text into a creative asset, and formalizing companion ticket policies. Leave with a toolkit of practical strategies you can "steal" and implement at your organization immediately.
Welcomed In: A Hospitality Conversation (Ops)
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM | Room 711 | VenueSIX10
Hospitality matters — but what does it actually look like in practice? Inspired in part by Unreasonable Hospitality and rooted in lived art house experience, this workshop explores how hospitality moves from philosophy to daily action. We’ll start with a brief framing of the big ideas, then turn to the moments we all recognize — a guest who’s confused, disappointed, or simply not having the experience they expected, and a staff member doing their best to respond in real time. These moments can be small and easy to move past, but they often shape how someone remembers your theater. Whether you’re in that interaction or supporting a team that is, the question becomes: what do we do with that moment? Through simple, thoughtfully structured activities and real examples, we’ll look at what helps, what gets in the way, and how to approach these interactions with more clarity and confidence. Hospitality isn’t an extra layer on top of the work — it is the work, and this session offers practical ways to carry it into daily practice.
Film Family Feud (Field Wide)
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Room 707 | VenueSIX10
Warm up for Trivia later tonight and channel that competitive (but collegial) spirit! Join us as we consolidate learnings from the conference and see if you can guess what the “survey says”!
Trailer Wars 2026
6:30PM - 8:00 PM (Doors at 6 PM) | Joe’s on Weed | 940 W Weed St
A fan-favorite event, Trailer Wars returns with a battle-of-the-bands style competition pitting exhibitors from the cinema and festival worlds head-to-head showing off their best in-house trailers. Chosen by the audience, you’ll determine who can survive to the bitter end to be crowned champion. Presented by Spotlight Cinema Networks.
Trivia Night 2026
8:30 PM - 10:00 PM | Joe’s on Weed | 940 W Weed St
Film trivia pits teams together in a friendly competition to test their knowledge. Whether you’re an Ebert-esque cinephile or someone just looking for a good time with friends, we promise you’ll leave with newfound expertise or memories to last a good long while, or better yet, both! Presented by StubHub.