Polish Film Festival in America 2012

Juliette Binoche in Elles

Now in its 24th year, the Polish Film Festival in America returns to Chicago and its surrounding suburbs this week for 16 days of shorts, features and documentaries. Starting Friday and running through November 18, the fest includes a few titles that have already screened locally (Elles, The Woman in the Fifth, CIFF selection Yuma) alongside a much larger slate of lesser-known options. Given that Chicago reputedly has the largest Polish population of any city outside Poland, expect jam-packed auditoriums and sold-out screenings.

Venues include Facets (1517 W Fullerton Ave), the Gallery Theatre (1112 N Milwaukee Ave), the Beverly Arts Center (2407 W 111 St), the Pickwick Theatre (5 S Prospect Ave, Park Ridge), and Muvico Rosemont 18 (9701 Bryn Mawr Ave, Rosemont). Visit the fest website for full schedule and ticketing information.