Chelsea Film Festival (CFF) is an international film festival and a non-profit organization based in New York which screens independent films from emerging and established directors. The festival offers a wide range of films, including documentaries and feature-lengths, focusing on the theme of “Global Issues”."A Complete Guide to NYC Fall Film Festivals". September 3, 2014, Glenwood.
History Chelsea Film Festival was founded in 2013 by French actresses Ingrid Jean-Baptiste"La fondatrice du Chelsea Film Festival : Ingrid Jean-Baptiste, dans Le Grand Journal de New York - 19/10 2/4". Boursorama. & Sonia Jean-Baptiste."New Film Festival Aims to Bring World Cinema to Chelsea" . DNA Info, By Mathew Katz | July 1, 2013.
An advisory board was set up to oversee the selection of the films and the operation of the festival.
The first edition of the Chelsea Film Festival presented nine feature length-films and eight short films, representing 13 countries and 17 first-time filmmakers, including seven in competition. Eight of the films at the Festival were United States premieres, and one was a world premiere.
In March 2019, Chelsea Film Festival was featured in the Top 10 Best Film Festivals in North America by the American Newspaper USA Today.
Awards
Awards are presented in several categories; the winning films are selected by a jury of film experts as well as the audience. The "Charging Bull" replica for a time was the official trophy, until 2021 when the Chelsea Film Festival presented Acrylic trophies.
Grand Prix Award
Year Film Director Nationality of Director2025Death of My YouthTimo Jacobs2021The ParentVlad Furman2020Keeping the BeesEylem Kaftan2019BilchedJeremy Cumpston Australia 2013 LICKS Jonathan Singer-Vine "Jonathan Singer-Vine’s LICKS Wins Big at the Chelsea Film Festival". East Bay Times, November 1, 2013 Adam Patterson"Berkeley director wins New York film festival’s top prize for Oakland-based feature “Licks”". Contra Costa Times,"YAK Films will show off Oakland-based Turf Feinz at San Francisco Film Society's Cinema by the Bay". By Lou Fancher, Mercury News.
Best Documentary Award
Year Film Director Nationality of Director 2025 Deepfaking Sam Altman (feature) Adam Bhala Lough 2025Found Frequency (short)Jack Hillyer2024Sono Lino (feature)Jacob Patrick2024The Final Copy of Ilon Specht (short)Ben Proudfoot
Audience Award
Year Film Director Nationality of Director 2021 Surviving on LES Tony Amatullo 2020GreyscaleYaniel Paulino
Best Director Award Year Film(s) Director(s) Nationality of Director(s)2021The ParentVlad Furman2020Keeping the BeesEylem Kaftan2019TicketYoh Komaya 2013 LICKS & Les Petits Princes Jonathan Singer-Vine & Vianney Lebasque
Best Screenplay Award
Year Film Screenwriter Nationality of Director2021The ParentAndrey Shishov, Christina Kuzmina, & Vlad Furman 2020Keeping the BeesEylem Kaftan2019BilchedHal Cumpston Australia 2013 Halima's Path Fedja Isovic
Best Actress Award
Year Film Actress Nationality of Director2021The ParentAngelina Strechina2020Keeping the BeesMeryem Uzerli2019Rag DollShannon Murray 2015 Marry Me Sirin Zahed 2013 Halima's Path Alma Prica
Best Actor Award
Year Film Actor Nationality of Director2021The ParentVladislav Bulanov (Vlad Furman) & Mikhail Porechenkov 2020A Case BlueStephen Schnetzer2019Last KoanSchidor Rahaman 2013 LICKS Stanley Doe Hunt
Best Supporting Actor Award
Year Film Actor(s) Nationality of Director2021East of Middle WestJoris Jarsky 2020Keeping the BeesHakan Karsak2019BilchedFrederick Du Rietz Australia 2013 LICKS Devon Libran & Koran Streets
Best Supporting Actress Award Year Film Supporting Actress Nationality of Director2021The ParentMaria Shukshina2020Donna Stronger Than PrettyBrittany Molnar2019Rag DollStephanie Erb 2013 Halima's Path Olga Pakalovic
References
External links
"Official Website"
CFF Featured in the Top 10 Best Film Festivals in North America by USA Today.
Chelsea Film Festival's only female feature director 'celebrates empowerment' in 'Maki'
Laura Smet at the 6th Annual Chelsea Film Festival for THOMAS
The Visit, starring Oscar Nominee June Squibb (Nebraska) & Sean Maher (Firefly) screening at the Chelsea Film Festival