Third Coast International Audio Festival

Third Coast International Audio Festival
StatusConference
Genrefestival
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)Chicago, Illinois
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2001 (2001)
Websitewww.thirdcoastfestival.org

The Third Coast International Audio Festival (TCIAF or TCF), based in Chicago, curates audio stories from around the world and showcases them in various mediums. It is informally referred to as the "Sundance of Radio".[1][2]

The festival was affiliated with Chicago Public Radio station WBEZ and features a weekly radio show and podcast, a national broadcast, occasional competitions and challenges, and public listening events. Speakers at TCIAF's annual conference have included Jay Allison, Jad Abumrad, Joe Frank, Ira Glass, Robert Krulwich, the Kitchen Sisters, and Nancy Updike.[3][4]

The term Third Coast refers to the idea that while the U.S. population tends to be concentrated near the east and west coasts, Chicago, lying on the shores of Lake Michigan, is the country's third largest city.

The festival is associated with the Re:sound audio programs.[citation needed]

  1. ^ Feder, Robert (October 17, 2011). "Audio visual: 'Filmless Festival' honors radio docs as art form". Time Out Chicago.
  2. ^ "NEA Spotlight". WBEZ Alliance (Chicago, IL). National Endowment for the Arts. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  3. ^ "Annual Conference". Third Coast International Audio Festival. Archived from the original on December 29, 2008. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
  4. ^ "Third Coast Festival, a 'Sundance of Radio,' Returns for 17th Year". WTTW. September 13, 2018. Archived from the original on December 31, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2022.