Chicago International Film Festival IT Support

Level-1 delivered IT support for the Chicago International Film Festival, ensuring seamless operations across venues citywide.

The Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF), established in 1964, holds the distinction of being North America’s longest-running competitive international film festival. Each October, it attracts global audiences, filmmakers, industry professionals, and media to Chicago, showcasing over 130 feature films and 60 shorts from more than 60+ countries across multiple curated programs ranging from International Competition, New Directors, Docufest, to Black Perspectives and After Dark thrillers. 

CIFF’s screenings span a dynamic array of venues from modern theaters like AMC NEWCITY 14 to cultural landmarks including the Music Box Theatre, Gene Siskel Film Center, Chicago History Museum, Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, and special Community Cinema events in underserved neighborhoods like Englewood and Pilsen. 

Level-1 Global Solutions was trusted to provide both on-site and remote IT support for CIFF, ensuring continuity across venues, box offices, media rooms, and administrative functions. Given the festival’s geographic dispersal, high-performance requirements, and varied venues, our Extended Sourcing Solutions® (ESS®) team provided adaptive, real-time technical support calibrated to the unique pace and pressures of a live international festival. 

What We Delivered 

• ESS®-powered on-site and remote help desk services, delivering day-of-event troubleshooting and staff support across all venues 
• Robust cabling and infrastructure setup to enable live ticketing systems, press connectivity, and reliable networking across historic theaters and pop-up sites 
• Onboarding and device provisioning, including mobile devices and guest workstations for filmmakers, jurors, volunteers, and press 
• IP telephone systems and communications support, enabling seamless coordination between CIFF staff and production teams 
• Peripheral support, device maintenance, and real-time support for projectors, laptops, printers, and live-streaming setups 
• Technical continuity across theater boundaries, assisting with screen switching, accessibility accommodations, and live Q&As 
• Strategic support for opening night, filmmaker receptions, and industry panels, delivering a polished, professional experience for global audiences 

We helped enable storytelling and discovery at scale. From historic theaters to community cultural centers, Level‑1 helped ensure that CIFF’s mission of cinematic excellence, cultural dialogue, and audience inclusion was fully supported by reliable, thoughtful technology.