MUBI Fest 2025 Returns to Chicago with Cult Classics, Q&As, and a Killer Closing Party

After a successful inaugural year, MUBI Fest is returning to Chicago for its second edition. It’s already shaping up to be one of the most thoughtfully curated film events of the season. The two-day festival, presented by global streaming platform and distributor MUBI, will run April 26–27, with screenings at the Music Box Theatre and a closing day celebration at The Salt Shed.

This year’s theme, “Lost in Translation,” explores cultural disconnection, fractured communication, and what it means to try (and fail) to be understood. The programming leans into that ambiguity with a mix of iconic films, new discoveries, and underrated gems, paired with conversations that challenge and celebrate the art of cinematic storytelling.

The weekend kicks off at the Music Box Theatre with Elaine May’s Ishtar (1987), a once-derided box office bomb that’s found new life as a cult favorite. Following the screening, there will be a post-film conversation led by MUBI Notebook Deputy Editor Chloe Lizotte and local film critic & writer Kat Sachs.

Other highlights include:

- Paul Thomas Anderson’s Inherent Vice (2014), screening in glorious 70mm

- Brian De Palma’s Blow Out (1981), a political thriller steeped in paranoia and sound design

- A 4K restoration of Tarsem Singh’s The Fall (2006), a visual stunner rarely seen on the big screen

- Amalia Ulman’s Magic Farm, a sneak peek of the rising director’s newest work

- A sneak peek screening of Alex Ross Perry’s Pavements, a mockumentary-style dive into indie band Pavement, followed by a Q&A with the director and The MUBI Podcast’s Rico Gagliano

- And a special 50th anniversary screening of Michael Schultz’s Cooley High (1975), a Chicago-set coming-of-age classic

On Sunday, the action moves to The Salt Shed for a more interactive, party-style close to the fest. The MUBI Market will feature local food vendors, a pop-up record shop by Reckless Records, community games, and more — all designed to give festival goers a chance to engage with Chicago’s cultural scene beyond the theater.

The night ends on a high note with a live performance by darkwave duo Boy Harsher, which is a pitch-perfect pick for a fest that straddles art-house edge and underground cool.

Whether you're a hardcore cinephile or just looking to vibe with the crowd over visually rich cinema, there’s room for both at MUBI Fest.

MUBI Fest Chicago 2025 runs April 26–27 at the Music Box Theatre and The Salt Shed. 🎟️ Full lineup and tickets at mubifest.com/chicago.