Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair (Animated)

June 12–17, 2026

This June the Gene Siskel FIlm Center is thrilled to participate in Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair in partnership with the American Cinematheque. This weeklong festival spotlights some of the greatest films from around the world that explore the darkest sides of humanity, as well as some of the bleakest points in human history. A harrowing yet powerful lineup defined by stark imagery, unimaginable tragedy, existential fear, nihilism, and shocking brutality, this series features leading filmmakers who wholly embrace a cinema of despair in pursuit of raw empathy and unsettling truths.

Given animation’s limitless potential to inscribe the darkest of worlds, the Siskel’s iteration of Bleak Week focuses on animated films. Join us for this very special showcase of six movies from around the globe featuring a broad range of animation techniques for a communal (and hopefully cathartic) movie-watching experience like no other. 

And in the spirit of communal bleakness, Bleak Week screenings will take place both at the Gene Siskel Film Center and with our friends at the Music Box Theatre. Check out their unique slate of sadness at musicboxtheatre.com for showtimes.