XL Fest Returns to Chicago Next Week With Four Days of Programming Spotlighting BIPOC Creators in Film, Television and Immersive Media at the Obama Presidential Center
CHICAGO, IL — XL Fest is heading back to Chicago next week for a four-day run built around film, television and immersive media. The event is scheduled for Aug. 20-23 and is meant to celebrate the power of cinema while centering BIPOC creators.
This year’s edition is also widening its reach. Organizers say programming will take place at the Obama Presidential Center, adding a new stop to the festival’s footprint in the city.
What XL Fest is putting in focus
The festival is organized by Creative Cypher and XL Fest founder Troy Pryor. Creative Cypher president Cindy Beasley also spoke about the event during a Saturday morning appearance on ABC7.
While the source does not list specific films or panels, it does make clear that the festival is designed to highlight work across multiple formats. That includes creators working in film, television and immersive media.
Why the expansion matters
Moving part of the programming to the Obama Presidential Center gives this year’s festival a bigger public profile and a fresh setting. It also signals that XL Fest is continuing to grow beyond a single venue or format.
For Chicago audiences, the return means another chance to see a showcase that puts BIPOC storytellers at the center of the conversation. The event’s multi-day structure suggests a mix of screenings and related programming across the August dates.
What happens next
XL Fest is set to take place Aug. 20-23. More details about the schedule and specific programming were not included in the source material.
For now, the key takeaway is simple: the festival is back in Chicago, and this year it is pairing its cinema focus with an expanded presence at one of the city’s newest cultural landmarks.
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