Siskel Film Center
For more than 50 years, the Gene Siskel Film Center has welcomed cinephiles and curious newcomers alike to experience a curated collection of the world’s most compelling films.
We host over 1,600 movie screenings, 200 filmmaker appearances, and multiple film festivals every year, and each screening is selected for its unique voice, artistry, and power to transport viewers into new realms of experience. From groundbreaking independent films to acclaimed classics, we bring you the best cinema from around the globe, right in the heart of Chicago. Our dedication to exceptional programming means you can trust each movie to challenge, inspire, and entertain, fostering a vibrant community for all who share a passion for cinematic discovery.
The Gene Siskel Film Center is a nonprofit public program of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Gene Siskel
Gene Siskel possessed a laser-like ability to discern quality in everything. He always looked for the finest; expected it and appreciated it. That is what drew him to the Film Center at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. There, Gene found a superior showcase for the world's greatest films. He championed the Film Center from its very inception, as did his distinguished fellow film critic, Roger Ebert. When asked by a journalist to list his three favorite things about Chicago, Gene named Michael Jordan, Mayor Daley, and the Film Center. As a strong supporter of the Film Center's mission Gene Siskel wrote hundreds of articles applauding the Film Center's distinctive programming, lending the power of his position as one of the world's most respected film critics to urge public funding and audience support.
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
For 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers, and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program ranked number two by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago museum, on-campus galleries, and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world—as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.
