FACETS is a pioneering film nonprofit established in 1975 by Milos Stehlik. Our mission is to connect people to independent ideas through transformative film experiences.

We accomplish this mission by creating platforms for thought-provoking films, important conversations, and community-driven education.

You can learn more about FACETS’ and our mission on our About page.

Since opening our doors in 1975, FACETS has provided an alternative to mainstream film outlets. FACETS discovers exciting, artistically significant films and connects audiences to them through a variety of accessible programming. Throughout the decades FACETS has presented international, independent, and repertory films to viewers. Our goal is to be inclusive and open audiences to film’s immense possibilities.

FACETS is located at 1517 W Fullerton Ave in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. Find more information about visiting FACETS here.

Becoming a Member is the best way to support FACETS. Members are the driving force behind our vibrant film community and get exclusive access to films, events, and discounts. For more information on becoming a member, visit our FACETS Membership page here.

You can also support FACETS’ pioneering film programs with a tax-deductible donation or by joining our team of dedicated volunteers and interns. Click here for more information.

FACETS founded the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF) in 1984 and has presented it annually ever since.

Learn more about the current CICFF on our Festival page.

The FACETS Virtual Cinema was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic so our loyal Members and cinephiles everywhere could continue to watch newly-released independent and international films safely through an online platform.

Purchasing a virtual ticket for a film lets users stream movies conveniently from the safety of their homes. 50% of proceeds go towards supporting FACETS during the closure, so we can continue providing these services to our community.

For current streaming options and more information, visit our Cinema page.

To use FACETS Virtual Cinema, select a film you would like to watch from our current offerings here.

Once you have chosen a film, click “Watch Now” and you will be redirected to the film’s rental page to complete your purchase. Enter any information requested to purchase and begin watching your film anytime within the available streaming period.

The streaming period of Virtual Cinema films may differ based on the platform hosting it. But the standard is usually a three (3) day watch window once a ticket is purchased and a 24 hr watch window once the stream has started.

Unfortunately, we cannot provide discounts to all virtual screenings for FACETS Members. If a virtual screening has a membership discount attached to it, FACETS Members will receive exclusive discount codes via email on applicable Virtual Cinema screenings.

Vimeo and Eventive host streams for many of our virtual film offerings. You will be redirected when purchasing a FACETS Virtual Cinema film to complete your purchase and begin streaming.

Films can be streamed to TV via the relevant interface on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecast.

If you’re having problems with the third-party streaming website, we recommend you reach out their customer support team directly to answer your question. If you’ve done this and are still facing an issue, feel free to reach out to us at help@facets.org.

Film is best experienced together as a community, but in 2021, that can mean many different things. Thank you for your patience as we continue to navigate the pandemic and provide safe and responsible opportunities to learn this summer.

• With our virtual Film Camp options, campers can safely engage with their classmates and instructors over Zoom and remotely create films beyond their wildest dreams
• For those who learn better with hands on instruction in a film environment, our hybrid Film Camps provide the option to learn in-person at FACETS and work with their vaccinated instructor while the course is taught virtually
• Additionally, in-person camps taught at FACETS, provide exclusive, in person experiences as part of instruction.

Keeping our campers safe and healthy is a top priority:

• Virtual + Hybrid Classes: Campers are able to learn in a safe, distance environment with live, interactive instruction via Zoom. Hybrid camps are offered to students who wish to learn in person at FACETS with the instructor and other campers
• Cleanliness: For all camps that meet in person, we will ensure that campers and staff wash their hands regularly, have access to hand sanitizer, and that all surfaces are cleaned thoroughly.
• Masks + Distancing: All campers and staff are required to wear masks during in-person meetings. We will also maintain physical distancing through limited enrollments.
• Health Checks: Everyone who enters the building will have their temperature taken and will be required to answer a short health questionnaire.

Our hybrid and in-person Film Camps take place at FACETS, located in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighbor hood at 1517 W Fullerton Ave. For more information, check out our Contact + Visit page.

For both virtual and hybrid Film Camps, we use Zoom to facilitate live, interactive instruction from our expert media educators.

Unfortunately, food is not provided during in-person camps. However, campers are more than welcome to bring their own food for camps.

CICFF Group Screenings are a fun and engaging way to introduce students to diverse international perspectives and media literacy skills.

• ‘Best of’ Year-Round Group Screenings available to book January to June. CICFF40 available to book November to December.
• Grade-appropriate content for Elementary to High School
• Flexible options! Book an IN-PERSON field trip or VIRTUAL classroom screening
• Education resources: curriculum guide, discussion questions, PD opportunities align with CCSS standards
• FACETS-led group discussion included with all in-person screenings.
• Choose from theme-based short film programs and features addressing diversity and identity, international perspectives, BIPOC and immigrant experiences, LGBTQ+, STEM, social emotional learning, and more!

Attending a Year-Round School & Group Screenings provides an enriching cultural experience for kids, teens, and young adults ages 2-25. Programs are developed and curated by the team at FACETS’ Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF) and are a perfect way to engage students with stories that are culturally authentic, timely, or of universal appeal, and with content that speaks to people of different backgrounds, cultures, and orientations.

With Media Education, Year-Round School & Group Screenings become even more inspiring by facilitating discussion and providing insight to motivate active responses that positively impact how young people view themselves and the world.

IN-PERSON screenings and events take place at FACETS (1517 W. Fullerton Ave, Chicago) and at local partner venues.

VIRTUAL screenings and events are available in the Chicagoland area including NE Illinois, NW Indiana and SE Wisconsin. In addition, CICFF virtual screenings are available nationwide, throughout the United States.

For 40 years the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF) has helped set a standard of excellence in filmmaking for children, youth, and young adult audiences. The CICFF celebrates films from around the world that break new ground in their approach to storytelling, offer unique or seldom-heard points of view, respect and empower the youth experience, and demonstrate artistic and technical mastery. Recognizing film and television works that raise the bar for what film for young people can achieve, the CICFF positively impacts the quality of film production for the next generation.

An advocate for young people, the CICFF selects films that are child and youth-driven, that prioritize the rights of the child, and protect their health and well-being. Stories presented should reflect humanism and be culturally authentic, timely, innovative, and/or of universal appeal. The content of the films should speak positively to people of different backgrounds, cultures, and orientations.

We strongly believe that CICFF audiences should be engaged, entertained, and enlightened. Films presented should foster critical thinking, insight, and discussion into new concepts, perspectives, and ideas. Offering an unparalleled opportunity to reach the widest possible audience, the CICFF stimulates discussion by connecting the community with these extraordinary films and filmmakers at in-person and virtual screenings, filmmaker Q&A’s, and workshops.

Year-Round School & Group Screening films are presented in their original languages with English subtitles unless indicated otherwise. Programs for 8 years-old and younger (2nd grade and younger) may contain subtitled films. Early readers and English language learners may need assistance. In-person screenings for ages 2-5 & 6-8, subtitles will be read aloud by FACETS’ staff.

Group screenings include a film program of your choice, access to our Common Core and Fine Arts Standards-aligned FACETS Group Screening Curriculum, offering a range of classroom activities and assessment options, and a Discussion Question Guide with questions for select films in every program.

Media Education is available to purchase as an add on for virtual and at-school screenings and is included free-of-charge for all in-person screenings. Discussions are live, in-person or virtually synchronous led by a FACETS Media Educator. Discussions are 15-30 minutes and explore the artistic elements and themes presented in the films.

In-person group screenings take place at FACETS (1517 W Fullerton Ave., Chicago) for groups up to 125. Larger groups can be booked at one of our partner venues or another venue; additional charges may apply.

Virtual group screenings can be hosted by teachers synchronously, in the classroom or auditorium, or with students watching individually from home. A FACETS Customer Service Representative will be able to help you make a venue choice during the booking process.

• Once a screening program is purchased, you have until June 9 (11:59 PM CST) to unlock the film for viewing
• Once a screening program is unlocked, you have until 11:59, June 9 to begin watching
• Once you begin watching a film, you have 72 hours to complete your viewing and can watch the program an unlimited number of times in the 72-hour period
• For specific information on how to watch Year-Round School & Group programs on your phone, tablet, laptop, or television, view the Eventive Help page
• Note that an Eventive account is required to view virtual screenings

FACETS is using the Eventive virtual screening platform to provide audiences easy access to all Year-Round School & Group Screenings. If you are having playback or technical issues, please visit the Eventive Help page.

There are no returns or cancellations. Additional inquiries can be directed to help@facets.org.

Upon signing up for membership, you will receive a welcome email with a universal discount code. If you are having difficulty finding it, reach out to help@facets.org with your full name, or call 773-281-9075 ext. 1.

Existing FACETS Members can upgrade, downgrade, or suspend their membership for up to 2 months at any time by contacting us at help@facets.org or 773-281-9075 ext. 1.

You can cancel your membership with FACETS at any time. The cancellation will take effect at the end of your current billing cycle, and once all your currently rented films have been returned. If your films are not returned, billing will continue even after a cancellation request is placed.

To cancel your membership, contact us at help@facets.org or 773-281-9075 ext. 1.

To update your credit card and user account information, please email us at help@facets.org or give us a call at 773-281-9075 ext. 1.

To reset or change your password, please email us at help@facets.org or give us a call at 773-281-9075 ext. 1.

The primary reason for taking your details is to protect FACETS from potential customer fraud. Unfortunately, occasionally customers have been known to cancel their membership and not return outstanding titles. We are unable to offer this service to customers unwilling to provide us with valid payment details.

FACETS uses Stripe to process credit cards online. Stripe has been audited by a PCI-certified auditor and is certified to PCI Service Provider Level 1. This is the most stringent level of certification available in the payments industry. To accomplish this, they make use of best-in-class security tools and practices to maintain a high level of security at Stripe.

You can browse films to rent and manage your queue at facetsmovies.com. You have the option to either pick up your films in person during our store hours or have them shipped to you via USPS first class. Rentals by mail will include the first 3 discs available on your rent list and will include return postage. Postage costs for the round trip are $8 per shipment.

If you have lost your video rental envelope or please contact us and we will mail you a replacement. You can email us at help@facets.org or give us a call at 773-281-9075.

If a Blu-Ray, DVD, or VHS you have rented from us is lost or damaged, you will need to report it directly to us. Please contact email us at help@facets.org or give us a call at 773-281-9075 ext. 1.

FACETS reserves the right to charge you the recommended retail price if you are responsible for loss or damage to a disc.

Members can return checked out video rentals to FACETS at 1517 W Fullerton Ave in Chicago during operating hours or by using our video rental drop box after hours. If you rent by mail, you can return video rentals using the prepaid shipping label and by reusing the delivery mailer or providing your own.

VHS rentals have an additional delivery service charge of $7 for 1 tape, $10 for 2 tapes or $12 for 3 tapes, with the fees charged directly to your credit card. They will be mailed and charged separately from any DVD packages you may also be getting.

VHS is mailed via USPS Media Mail and is to be returned by the member via their method of choice. Also, a $250 fine is instituted if an out-of-print tape is destroyed, damaged or lost while in your possession.

Please RSVP to help@facets.org with your full name or call 773-281-9075 ext. 1 to complete your transaction over the phone.

January 1st of each calendar year. There is no rollover of Film Club tickets.

Your 6 free tickets are nontransferable but can be used in any quantity in a single transaction. If you would like to use all six at once to bring in a group, you are more than welcome, alternatively you can use just one multiple times in a calendar year.

Upon signing up for membership, you will receive a welcome email with a universal discount code. If you are having difficulty finding it, reach out to help@facets.org with your full name, or call 773-281-9075 ext. 1.

Of your $250 Membership payment, $100 is tax-deductible. Tax acknowledgement letters go out each January for the prior calendar year.

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After making a tax-deductible donation, you will receive two forms of proof. First, you will receive a donation confirmation email with the transaction information.

You will then receive an official Donation Acknowledgement letter in duplicate by email and post. Keep the Donor Acknowledgement for your records because it provides all the information you’ll need when filing federal taxes.

If you are unable to locate the confirmation or Donation Acknowledgment emails, please check your spam folders. If you cannot locate your Donor Acknowledgment letter, please contact our Development Department and they will issue a new one.

Absolutely! We accept donations of DVDs, Blu-rays, and VHS to be included in the FACETS Catalog. We’re always looking for independent, international, and classic films in good, playable condition to expand our Video Rental options available to FACETS Members.

For tax purposes, DVDs, Blu-rays, and VHS donations will be appraised at standard resale value. After the donation is finalized, a Donor Acknowledgement letter with the total tax-deductible amount will be issued.

If you are interested in donating DVDs, Blu-rays, and VHS, please submit a donation request here.

Corporate support helps keep creativity and independent thinking alive and well. There are many opportunities provided by FACETS for corporate sponsorships, donation matching, and in-kind support.

You can find more information about these options on our Institutional Giving page. If you have further questions, please submit a request here.

FACETS provides sponsorship opportunities with programs like the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival. We will work with your company to find the best fit for your level of sponsorship. Your support sustains our mission to introduce audiences to independent and international cinema.

Visit our Institutional Giving page for more information.