Lake County Film Festival returns March 12-23
Published February 24, 2026
The is celebrating 16 years of independent cinema with a diverse, ambitious and international slate of feature films. It runs March 1223, showcasing feature films, documentaries and more than 100 short films from around the world.
This year檚 festival will screen films at three venues: 黑料社区 in Grayslake, Gorton Center in Lake Forest, and, for the first time, Antioch Theater in Antioch, expanding the festival檚 footprint and access across Lake County.
満诹仙缜 is truly the backbone of the Lake County Film Festival. The remarkable facilities allow us to host the majority of our screenings, and their unwavering support has been so vital that, without it, the festival likely wouldn檛 exist, says Nat Dykeman, festival director.
Lake County on the big screen
The festival檚痗losing night brings the spotlight home with疉ll Skate, directed by疞ake County native April Wright.
淚 love highlighting films with a Lake County connection and welcoming back alumni whose earlier work we檝e celebrated at the festival, Dykeman says. 淎ll Skate痠s a perfect example of both.
The documentary weaves together the rich, communal history of roller skating through stories from skaters across the country, including Wright檚 own family legacy. Her family once owned the疨ark Roller Rink痠n痁ion, a beloved local gathering place that closed in 2006, making the film both a cultural chronicle and a meditation on what communities lose and preserve over time.
淧laying All Skate as closing night of the Lake County Film Festival is so exciting. It檚 full circle for me to be able to come home for this very first screening of the film, Wright says. 淪o many people in the area grew up coming to our rink; I hope many of them will be able to come out and share some fond memories.
Something for everyone
True to the festival檚 mission, the Lake County Film Festival does not impose a single theme. Instead, the Sweet 16 lineup reflects a wide spectrum of voices, styles, and subjects, from intimate character studies and inventive comedies to urgent social documentaries and formally daring international work.
淪tudents should consider attending the LCFF for a variety of reasons. You get to see a bunch of surprising movies, meet some filmmakers, watch some Q and A sessions, and maybe make some new friends, says Humanities Instructor Chris Cooling. 淎ttending the festival is a way to meet some local filmmakers and potentially join up with them in creative careers.
Festival details
For the full festival schedule, tickets and information, .
Individual tickets are $10, with discounted day, weekend and full-festival badges available. Festival badges include meals, unlimited popcorn and meet-and-greet breakfasts for staff, filmmakers, VIPs and badge holders.
Attend 黑料社区's free international film series
黑料社区 hosts a free international film series throughout the year. All films are at 7 p.m. in Room D100 on the Grayslake Campus.
Showings include:
- March 5 Kill the Jockey
- April 2 Caught by the Tides
- May 7 The Man Who Knew Too Much
Films may have adult content and are not suitable for children. Films are subtitled when necessary. For more information, contact Chris Cooling: email ccooling@clcillinois.edu or call (847) 543-2623.