The holiday break is a cue for film buffs to catch up on what they missed this year. We asked Chicago filmmakers and critics for recommendations of films they caught in 2025 that audiences overlooked.

For BHM100, the Music Box Theatre, Facets, and other institutions will host special screenings that feature Black filmmakers and culture.

In celebration of Black History Month, Chicago filmmakers will be showing their short films at Music Box Theater and Facets.

How do films get overlooked? Many are increasingly bypassing theaters. Online platforms offer stand-alone films and episodic series. Only big-budget, star-studded Hollywood products get publicized.