CHICAGO — XL Film Festival and Summit is doing more than showing films — it’s building a platform for rising talent and industry-shifting stories. Featured this week on ABC7 Chicago, the segment highlighted the power behind the fest’s mission: to connect undiscovered, diverse creatives to the broader media world.
Founded by Troy Pryor, Creative Cypher’s XL FEST is built on the idea of eliminating the need for permission. Through programs like the XL Lab, emerging storytellers gain access to funding, mentorship, and hands-on opportunities to create full-scale films from the ground up.
“The Lab was designed to put grant dollars in the hands of rising storytellers,” Pryor shared with ABC.
The festival has grown into a nationally recognized ecosystem, with this year’s programming bolstered by partners including Chicago’s own Tate Brothers — Larron, Lahmard, and Larenz Tate. The collaboration is drawing attention across the entertainment industry and helping put Chicago at the center of cultural innovation.
“It brings us together,” said Larenz Tate. “And other communities begin to see that and want to be a part of it.”
This year’s XL FEST runs August 14–23 with film showcases, immersive panels, and opportunities to connect creators, industry leaders, and audiences through the language of cinema.
Watch the full ABC7 feature here:
https://abc7chicago.com/videoClip/film-entertainment-movies-festival/16603088/
For festival details and tickets, visit creativecypher.org/xl-fest
