Chicago’s Doc10 Film Festival showcases 10 must-see documentaries

Chicago’s Doc10 Film Festival returns this year with another tightly curated celebration of documentary storytelling, reaffirming its place as one of the city’s most distinctive film events. Now in its 11th year, the festival will run from April 24 through May 3, with screenings primarily held at the Davis Theater in Lincoln Square and select programming at the Gene Siskel Film Center.

Presented by Chicago Media Project, Doc10 stands out for its intentionally focused format: just 10 documentaries are selected each year from major international festivals including Sundance, Tribeca, Hot Docs, DOC NYC, and others. These films are widely regarded as some of the strongest nonfiction works of the year, and many have gone on to receive major accolades and Academy Award attention.

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Often described as Chicago’s only all-documentary film festival, Doc10 is designed as both a cinematic showcase and a community experience. Each screening is paired with special events and post-film conversations that bring filmmakers, subjects and audiences together for deeper discussion around the stories being told.

The lineup will include documentaries such as Closure, which follows a father’s search for his missing son in Warsaw, and The Baddest Speechwriter of All, about Clarence B. Jones and his work with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., while the festival will open with a highly anticipated documentary on tennis legend and equality advocate Billie Jean King, reflecting Doc10’s focus on powerful, character-driven storytelling that connects intimate human experiences with larger social and historical themes.

The festival’s scale is intentionally intimate, but its impact is far-reaching. Over the years, Doc10 has premiered dozens of films that later earned Oscar nominations or widespread critical recognition, reinforcing its reputation as a launchpad for powerful nonfiction cinema. 

Beyond the screenings, Doc10 also reflects Chicago’s broader cultural investment in documentary storytelling. Its programming highlights urgent social issues, compelling personal narratives, and global perspectives, while giving audiences early access to films that often do not reach theaters elsewhere until much later. 

With tickets priced affordably and most screenings open to the public, the festival continues to draw both dedicated cinephiles and curious newcomers looking to engage with thought-provoking storytelling in a communal setting.

For tickets and more info, click here.

Sources:

https://www.wbez.org/event/doc10-film-festival-2026/

https://www.choosechicago.com/event/series/doc10-film-festival/

https://www.doc10.org/press