In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, I began building a creative community at a time when isolation shaped Chicago life. As streaming took over and public health concerns emptied theaters, I used virtual meetings and creative exchanges to start what became Sweet Void Cinema (SVC), a space for independent filmmakers and niche audiences.
My name is Jack McCoy, Founder of Sweet Void Cinema in Chicago.
SVC has grown into a meaningful part of the city’s indie film scene. Many filmmakers rely on grants, academic support, or donor goodwill just to create small projects. My goal is to provide a place where artists can network, pitch, and produce original work while protecting their creative vision—something that often fades once funding enters the picture. Developing one’s voice early is essential, especially for marginalized artists: Black filmmakers, queer writers, women creators, and working-class storytellers.
After years in Humboldt Park, my team and I are preparing to move into a new space. As the industry shifts, small filmmakers still face the same barriers, but I see this next chapter as an expansion of our mission: more free screenwriting workshops, lectures on global cinema, and new ways for participants to produce and screen their work. Our aim is to complement collegiate programs with accessible, community-driven learning.
Chicago’s film roots run deep, even as opportunities shift toward television. That’s why SVC collaborates with like-minded organizations to create paid opportunities and support intimate, experimental storytelling.
I believe this is an exciting moment to make films. I want to support artists with clear visions and help new filmmakers discover their aesthetics, ethics, and identity. Above all, I hope people watching our work feel it is distinctive, unpretentious, and authentically itself.
My name is Jack McCoy, Founder of Sweet Void Cinema in Chicago.
SVC has grown into a meaningful part of the city’s indie film scene. Many filmmakers rely on grants, academic support, or donor goodwill just to create small projects. My goal is to provide a place where artists can network, pitch, and produce original work while protecting their creative vision—something that often fades once funding enters the picture. Developing one’s voice early is essential, especially for marginalized artists: Black filmmakers, queer writers, women creators, and working-class storytellers.
After years in Humboldt Park, my team and I are preparing to move into a new space. As the industry shifts, small filmmakers still face the same barriers, but I see this next chapter as an expansion of our mission: more free screenwriting workshops, lectures on global cinema, and new ways for participants to produce and screen their work. Our aim is to complement collegiate programs with accessible, community-driven learning.
Chicago’s film roots run deep, even as opportunities shift toward television. That’s why SVC collaborates with like-minded organizations to create paid opportunities and support intimate, experimental storytelling.
I believe this is an exciting moment to make films. I want to support artists with clear visions and help new filmmakers discover their aesthetics, ethics, and identity. Above all, I hope people watching our work feel it is distinctive, unpretentious, and authentically itself.
