The Chicago International REEL Shorts Festival is an annual short film competition and screening put on by Project Chicago. The festival was founded by Scott Rudolph and Nels Dahlquist. Held annually, this three-day event plays host to more than 150 films (all under 35 minutes) from many countries throughout the world.
Davis Theatre in Chicago during the festival. In 2017 the venue changed to Chicago Filmmakers ' Firehouse Cinema located at 1326 W Hollywood Ave in the city of Chicago.
Some venues in years past include Columbia College's beautiful penthouse theater.[1]
In 2004 and 2005 the 3-Penny Cinema , in Chicago 's Lincoln Park district, was the main venue. In 2006 REEL Shorts moved to the historic Davis Theatre in Lincoln Square. In 2007, 2009. 2009 Columbia College came on as a presenting sponsor and the festival is to be held at Columbia's Film Row Theatre.
The 18th edition of the Chicago International REEL Shorts Festival was originally scheduled for November 2021 but was postponed due to Covid-19. The festival returned to Chicago Filmmakers ' Firehouse Cinema for in-person screenings from March 18-19, 2022.
Festival dates: Streamed online November 14 - December 5
Winners
Best of the Fest: 6 Months in 2063
Best Arts Short: Dear COVID-19
Best Comedy Short: She Had It Coming
Best Documentary Short: NINE
Best Sci-Fi, Action, Horror Short: 6 Months in 2063
Best Growing Up, Growing Older Short: Miracle of Science
Best Drama Short Film: Glimmer
Honorable Mention & Judges Selections:
Superhero Me Carny Trash Nameless Forest The Bottle
The 2019 Chicago International REEL Shorts Festival was help at Chicago Filmmakers ' Firehouse Cinema located at 1326 W Hollywood Ave in the city of Chicago.
WINNERS
BEST SHORT FILM -
Minor Accident of War - Jakob Satzaria
Pageant Mom, Down
Dickie & Bea
Ballhawks
Just Give Me a Minute to Change
The Sweatshirt
Programmers Awards
Best Foreign
Rock On, Dude!
Best Drama
Broken
Best Animation
King of the House
Best Comedy
Dickie & Bea
Best Musical Short
The Odyssey of Cleve Eaton
Best Documentary
Uncaged: A Stand-In Story
Best Horror
Keep Looking
Best Action
Vicarious
Best Sci-Fi
Dissidence (2084)
Festival dates: November 9-10
Winners
Best Short Film: Sac de Merde
Best Animation: Ian
Best Drama: Tin Can
Best Documentary: Scenes From A Visit
Best Music Video: It's The Dystopian Future!
Best Comedy: William Flugle's Travel Adventures with William Flugle
Best Web Series: Geek Lounge
Spotlight Award: Heather Has Four Moms
Programmers Choice: Leia's Army
Best SciFi: The Replacement
Audience Choice Awards:
Businessmen Tin Can Dear Dark Lord Leia's Army Midnight
Festival dates: November 10-11
Winners
Best Short Film: Confession
Best Drama: Counting
Best Comedy: ctrl-alt-delete
Best Animation: La Postina
Best Foreign Language: Slush Ice
Best Documentary: Calvin's Story
Best Webisodic/New Media: Open Mic
Best Experimental: Delicatessen
Best Young Filmmaker: Recess
Best Horror: Ding Dong
Audience Choice Awards:
To Those With Good Intent Rockabye Sputnik Tinder is the Night Tracker
Festival dates: December 2-3
Winners
Best Short Film: Easy Life
Best Drama: Muhammad Ali - The Olive Branch
Best Comedy: That's Love
Best Animation: Riptide Rhapsody
Best Quirky Film: The Uptowners
Best Documentary: Superfan
Best TV Pilot/Webisode: Curfeud Episode 1
Audience Choice Awards:
Superfan Three of a Kind Secrets We Keep Carfield Sojourn Hard Knock Robots Boy
Festival dates: December 11-12
Winners
Best Short Film: Who is Riley Oakes
Best Drama: The Decision
Best Comedy: Moving On
Best Documentary: The Simple Gift of the Walnut Grove
Best Animation: An Ode to Love
Best Director: We Interrupt This Broadcast
Best Horror/Suspense: Awakenings
Best Science Fiction: Welcome to Forever
Audience Choice Awards:
The ART POLICE El Capo de Capos F the Moon Bark Mitzvah Out of Touch The Champion Family Meal In the Dark
Festival dates: October 9–12
Winners
Best Short Film: The King of URL'S
Best Drama: The Cut/ Le Coupe
Best Comedy: Lez Be Honest
Best Documentary: Cloth Paper Dreams
Best Animation: Desmondo Ray
Best Actor: The Discount of Ed Telfair - Jeff Bailey
Best Actress: Lez Be Honest - Christine Rodriguez
Best Supporting Actor: The King of URL'S - Adam Poss
Best Supporting Actress: I Can See You - Brenda Strong
Best Director: Vigilante - Benedict Sanderson
Best Cinematography: Cloth Paper Dreams - Travis Tank
Best Editing: Une balade a la mer - Damien Stein
Audience Choice Awards:
Journeyman Deflated, Twinkies & Donuts, magiCATastrophe The Amazing Mr. Ash Lucy Vigilante Beyond the Mat Post Reality The Heebie-Jeebies Love You Still The King of URL'S 2004
Festival dates: September 17–19
Winners
Best Short Film: Directing Rye
Best Cinematography: Just Like You Imagined
Best Animation: The Lester Show
Best Comedy: Unemployed
Best SciFi Short: Untitled 003: Embryo
Best Documentary: The Harvest
Best Music Video: Drunken Liar
Creepiest Short: Victim
Audience Choice Awards:
Two To Tango Robot Boy Untitled 003: Embryo Rocketscience Reservations Very Proud House The Fridge Unemployed Victim Fly Away Notes from the Space Time Continuum Fishing For Trauster
Honorable mention:
Edmund Consideration SPIN Sunday Morning Stripper The Next Gay By Dawn Euro American 2005
Festival dates: September 30 - October 2
Winners
Best Short Film of 2005: SKYLAB
Best Sci-Fi: Alliance
Best Horror: Short Shadow Man
Best Documentary: Kings of Christmas
Best Comedy: Dating Tips for Seniors
Best Youth Film: My First Kiss
Best Animation: Emilia
Best Music Video: High Speed Scene
Best Action Film: Lucky (Australian)
Best Foreign (tie): Hamoudi & Emil / Le Carnet Rouge
Best Experimental (tie): Allison / Jane Lloyd
Audience Choice Awards:
Totem Pole Skylab Alliance I Spy With My Little Eye Pumpkin of Nyefar Wishtaker You're Breaking Up Flatbush Gopher Broke Mr. Dramatic Lucky (Australian Action Film)Roadkill Breaking into Bollywood Poet of Canis I Killed Zoe Day Good Vibrations
Honorable mention:
TOXIN Duct Tape + Cover MJD SHOES 13 Waffles Wishtaker Detroit: Not for Wimps 2006
Festival dates: September 29 - October 1
Winners
Best of Fest: La La Land
Best Animation: Dry Sky
Best Horror Film: Recently Deceased
Best Documentary Short: Rising Above the Wave
Best Music Video: Melody Nife
Best Youth Short: Winter Attack
Audience Choice Awards:
Get Me Brenda Vaccaro Keg of the Dead La La Land An American Revolution Nowakowsky Like Father Like Edison The World's Most Dangerous Polka Band Imbroglio Snoozer The Life and Death of a Pumpkin Searching for Mr. Stupendo Great American Youth
Honorable mention:
2007
Festival dates: September 21–23
Winners
Best of Fest: The Trainee
Best Comedy: The Planning Lady
Best Music Video: 1992
Best Scifi: D-I-M, Deus in Machina
Best Chicago Film: The European Kid
Best Documentary: Ghost Town: 24 Hours in Terlingua
Best Animation: I Met the Walrus
Audience Choice Awards:
The Meter The Planning Lady Land of the Free Two Days Notice Dog Jack The Trainee W.O.R.M. - Worldwide Organic Replicating Molecule Call of Nature Unraveling Release The Von
Honorable mention:
Mommy! Mommy! There's a Monster on the Stairs! 2008
Festival dates: September 11–14
Winners
Best of the Fest: Science Fair
Best Comedy: Home Cooked Meal
Best Music Video: The Life Here
Best Chicago Film: Greg's Leg
Best Documentary: Baby Face
Best Animation: The Flower
Best Youth Film: Super Kitten and the Power Pets
Audience Choice Awards:
Small Comforts Looking Up Dresses Near Miss Living with Landmines Find My Way The Un-Gone Miracle Investigators Mallow Last Dance Directors Cut PUSH A Man's Image
Honorable mentions:
Y Not Terminus Piñatas Revenge Verboten 2009
Festival dates: September 10–14
Winners
Best of the Fest: Sky People
Best Break-Up Film: L.O.V.E.
Best Romantic Comedy: True Love
Best Youth Entry: Sparks in the Night
Best Artistic Movie: Stringing in the Streets
Best Romantic Movie: A Time of Flowers
Best Revenge Movie: Alessandra
Best Music Video: City of Noise
Best Horror Movie: Tinglewood
Most Disturbing Movie: Grandma's House
Best Foreign Film: Stella
Best Political Drama: October Surprise
Best Comedy: A Small Silent Film About Death
Best Demented Movie: Fish & Chip
Most Profane Statement: James K. Polk was @#?!ing Awesome
Honorable Mention:
Melt Down
Max & Helena
More Than You Can Chew
CAMFBH
Ex-Bully
WoW! What A Great Question!
My First Experimental Film
The Only One
The Disconnection of Cyrus Bent
People's Choice Awards: Under The Table In Barcelona, At Last, Okemah! 
