Black Harvest Film Festival: If I Go Will They Miss Me?—Visionary Award Presentation

About this event

November 7 & 12 | Set in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, IF I GO WILL THEY MISS ME? follows a young Black father and his imaginative son as they navigate grief, housing precarity, and the enduring bonds of community. Weaving magical realism into the rhythms of everyday life, Walter Thompson-Hernández crafts a deeply compassionate portrait of love, resilience, and possibility.

Saturday, November 7, 8:00 p.m. | Presented as the 2026 Black Harvest Visionary Award presentation, the film celebrates Thompson-Hernández’s singular artistic voice and his contributions to contemporary Black cinema.

2026, dir. Walter Thompson-Hernández | USA, 85 min. | In English | Format: Digital

General Admission – $15.50

Group Rate – $11.50 (Groups can save $4 off per ticket – minimum of 15 guests required)

Celebrating its 32nd year in 2026, the Black Harvest Film Festival is Chicago’s annual showcase for Black film across the diaspora. Born from an urgent need to celebrate the Black experience, the Black Harvest Film Festival unites filmmakers and audiences to showcase the power of Black cinema. This annual festival highlights emerging and established talents and historical narratives, enriching the landscape of Black culture. The festival curates both short and feature length films, proudly presenting influential auteurs and emerging filmmakers of color side by side.

The film festival will be held at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center November 6–15, 2026.

Festival passes and individual tickets are available for purchase.

Audiences additionally can choose from two Festival pass options:

Opening Night plus five screenings: $80 general public / $55 members

Six regular screenings: $60 general public / $36 members

From The School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center