2018
Ethan Hawke
2017
Kevin Spacey (rescinded 2017)
2016
Scarlett Johansson
Ms. Johansson was interviewed on stage by film critic Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times and presented with the Renaissance Award.
2015
Mark Ruffalo
Mr. Ruffalo was interviewed on stage by film critic Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune and presented with the Renaissance Award.
2014
Morgan Freeman
Mr. Freeman was interviewed on stage by director and producer Jon Turteltaub and presented with the Renaissance Award.
2013
Gwyneth Paltrow
Ms. Paltrow was interviewed on stage by actress Amanda de Cadenet and presented with the Renaissance Award.
2012
Reese Witherspoon
Ms. Witherspoon was interviewed on stage by director Alexander Payne and presented with the Renaissance Award.
2011
Jamie Foxx
Mr. Foxx was interviewed on stage by actor Robert Downey, Jr. and presented with the Renaissance Award.
2010
Robert Downey, Jr.
Mr. Downey was interviewed on stage by director, producer, writer, and actor Todd Phillips and presented with the Renaissance Award.
2009
George Lucas
Mr. Lucas was interviewed on stage by actor, director, and writer Jon Favreau and presented with the Visionary Award for Innovation in Filmmaking.
2008
Alan Arkin
Mr. Arkin was interviewed on stage by theater critic Richard Christiansen of the Chicago Tribune and presented with the Renaissance Award.
2007
William H. Macy & Felicity Huffman
Mr. Macy and Ms. Huffman were interviewed on stage by actor John Mahoney and presented with the Renaissance Award.
2006
Bob Balaban
Mr. Balaban was interviewed on stage by film critic Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times. Actor Jeff Goldblum presented Mr. Balaban with the Renaissance Award
2005
Michael Mann
Mr. Mann was interviewed on stage by film critic Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times and presented with the Visionary Award for Innovation in Filmmaking.
2004
John Woo
Mr. Woo was interviewed on stage by Gene Siskel Film Center director of programming Barbara Scharres and presented with the Visionary Award for Innovation in Filmmaking.
2003
Roger Ebert
Mr. Ebert was interviewed on stage by director, actor, and writer Harold Ramis and director, producer, and writer Andrew Davis and was presented with an honorary doctorate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
2002
Nicole Kidman
Ms. Kidman was interviewed on stage by film critic Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times and presented with the Renaissance Award.