Casino Royale
Opening night at Rivers Casino – Entertainment Center | 3000 S. River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018 | Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Badge Pick-Up – 12PM
Doors for VIP – 6PM
Doors for GA – 7PM
Close – 11PM
The Midwest Film Festival launches its 2026 season, Midwest Royale, with a high-profile Opening Night at The Event Center at Rivers Casino—setting the tone for one of its most elevated seasons to date.
A full-scale celebration of cinema, culture, and community, Midwest Royale builds on more than two decades of championing Midwest storytelling. Opening Night features a red-carpet premiere, curated screenings, filmmaker appearances, and a VIP kickoff reception bringing together artists, industry leaders, and Chicago’s creative community.
As Midwest filmmakers continually gain national recognition, the festival remains a key platform for discovery and visibility - serving as an early spotlight for work that moves on to broader industry attention.
Opening Night is expected to sell out. Limited tickets available.
Event Date: Wednesday, July 22
Time: 7:30PM
Must be 21+ to enter.
Program of the Night
Opening Program Speakers
Joe Miñoso
Chicago Fire
Hannah Hall
The Chi
Barton Fitzpatrick
The Chi
NK Gutiérrez
Host of the Night
From Heartland to Hollywood celebrates artists who have achieved commercial success while remaining deeply rooted in the Midwest. Join Joe Miñoso (Chicago Fire), Hannah Hall (The Chi) and Barton Fitzpatrick (The Chi) for a conversation about building lasting careers, representing Chicago on screen, and proving that world-class talent can thrive without losing sight of where it all began.
Grand Prize Nominations for the BMAs
All of the Above (Trailer)
Dir: Allison Walsh, Lily Qi
ABEL
Dir: Brian Zahm
First Winter
Dir: Schantelle Alonzo
CAKE
Dir: Erick Suarez, Joe Miñoso, Lori Singleton
After Party Celebration
Music By
DJ Lady D
The July 22 Opening Night event at Rivers Casino is open to guests 21 and older. Not valid for any participant of the Illinois Gaming Board Statewide Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program. Must be 21 years of age or older. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537).