If moviegoing habits have diminished in recent years thanks to streaming, with an extra wallop due to COVID-19, that hasn’t adversely affected the Chicago International Film Festival.

According to the festival’s artistic director, Mimi Plauché, “Our audience attendance exceeds pre-pandemic levels. And a big change for us is that our audience is quite a bit younger than it was. I’ve been with the festival for 19 years, and last year I think 42% of our audience was under 35, which is a big flip from where we were when I started.”

With a lineup that spans the gamut — from documentaries to work from filmmakers outside the U.S. to higher profile movies that are possible Oscar contenders — the festival takes place Oct. 15-26 with AMC Newcity 14 serving as the event’s hub, with other screenings

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