Chain NYC Film Festival

01/14/2026

Congrats to BIG GEORGE! Now streaming on Omeleto!

When an NY actor gains too much weight to pull off his survival gig as a George Clooney impersonator, he must justify to his nine-year-old daughter — and to himself— why he’s still chasing his dream.

It’s an ode to working artists, and a heartfelt father/daughter story about the compromises we all make for our passions and the people we love. If YOU love it, share, watch, and comment!

Here’s the full link to the film on Omeleto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4FZb01Xnrs

01/13/2026

There is nothing quite like celebrating great work.

The 2025 Chain Film Festival Awards are now in transit!

Submissions for the 2026 fest are now open! Submit on FilmFreeway!

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12/13/2025

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Peter Greene. It was an honor to meet someone whose performances truly affected me. He was so kind to everyone at the festival. When we lost our theatre in Long Island City, Peter introduced us to friends to help us find a new permanent home. We kicked around a number of ideas for him to return to the stage with us. I’m sorry it never came to fruition. There’s never enough time. Sending love to his family and friends.
These photos are from our awards ceremony in 2016 where Peter won Best Supporting Actor in Turnabout.”

11/14/2025

NEW YORK RESIDENTS — Join us for a FREE PUBLIC SCREENING of the internationally award-winning Vanishing: A Love Story, Monday, November 17, 7:00pm at the Chain Theater 312 West 36th Street, 4th Floor. Please RSVP as seating is limited visit chaintheatre.org Calendar page

This free screening is provided to New Yorkers to fulfill the terms and conditions as a recipient of the 2023 New York Foundation for the Arts Women’s Fund Grant and as the BEST OF FEST winner at the 2025 NYC Chain International Film Festival.

Vanishing: A Love Story has won dozens of awards world-wide and we are thrilled to provide this encore screening at our theatre.

Sandra Luckow

"This production of HUMPTY DUMPTY is FANTASTIC! The acting is superb, the pace is brisk, the set is perfectly tuned to the 1970’s, and the message seems to be eternal. SEE IT, SEE IT, SEE IT!”

08/26/2025

Huge congratulations to all the filmmakers. Here are a few highlights from the awards ceremony.

Best Web Series
Lost Again

Best Super Short
Spur

Student
Me & You

Experimental
Suspicious Minds

Sci-Fi
Bathed in the Night

Thriller
Face to Face

Animation
Hephestus and Aphrodite

International
Convoluted

Cinematography of a Short
Echo

Ensemble
Coming Out Polyamorous for Thanksgiving

Actor in a Short
Keith David, Don’t Pick Up

Actress in a Short
Delissa Reynolds, Cascades

Writer of a Short
Eliza Gibson, Symptoms

Director of Documentary Short
Ash Yip, Common Ground

Director of Narrative Short
Maren Lavelle, Coming Out Polyamorous for Thanksgiving

Documentary Short


Comedy Short
Gibranistan

Drama Short
Blue Evening

FEATURES
Cinematography of a Feature
Toby Romero, The Ladder

Ensemble in a Feature
Universal

Actor in a Feature
Logan Pepper, Lovebug

Actress in a Feature
Kristin Griffith, The Reckoning

Writer of a Feature
Michael Weaver, The Reckoning

Director of a Documentary Feature
Will Chase, Coming Home:
The Guggenheim Grotto Back in Ireland

Director of a Narrative Feature
Alex Breaux, The Reckoning

SIGNATURE AWARDS
Personal Stories
Land of the Mustaches

Original Ideas
Two Chains

New Work
When a Doveweed Blooms

Helena Weinrauch Humanitarian Award
Lina.
Oleksiy Oliyar & Nykola Nosok, directors

NY Filmmaker
Jennifer Plotzke

Best International Feature
Water Lilies

Best Documentary
Ojakh, on the other side of the silence

Best Narrative Feature
The Reckoning

Audience Choice
Land of the Mustaches

Filmmaker Favorite
Battle of L.A.

Best of Fest
Vanishing: A Love Story

08/25/2025

Final week of Talk Back Photos now available!

Check out our FB Page for the full line-up including our special industry event with Geoffrey Cantor!

This is what it's about. The filmmakers.

08/25/2025

2025 Awards Ceremony Photos!
Congratulations to all our filmmakers!
And the Award Goes to....

Best Web Series
Lost Again

Best Super Short
Spur

Student
Me & You

Experimental
Suspicious Minds

Sci-Fi
Bathed in the Night

Thriller
Face to Face

Animation
Hephestus and Aphrodite

International
Convoluted

Cinematography of a Short
Echo

Ensemble
Coming Out Polyamorous for Thanksgiving

Actor in a Short
Keith David, Don’t Pick Up

Actress in a Short
Delissa Reynolds, Cascades

Writer of a Short
Eliza Gibson, Symptoms

Director of Documentary Short
Ash Yip, Common Ground

Director of Narrative Short
Maren Lavelle, Coming Out Polyamorous for Thanksgiving

Documentary Short


Comedy Short
Gibranistan

Drama Short
Blue Evening

FEATURES
Cinematography of a Feature
Toby Romero, The Ladder

Ensemble in a Feature
Universal

Actor in a Feature
Logan Pepper, Lovebug

Actress in a Feature
Kristin Griffith, The Reckoning

Writer of a Feature
Michael Weaver, The Reckoning

Director of a Documentary Feature
Will Chase, Coming Home:
The Guggenheim Grotto Back in Ireland

Director of a Narrative Feature
Alex Breaux, The Reckoning

SIGNATURE AWARDS
Personal Stories
Land of the Mustaches

Original Ideas
Common Ground

New Work
When a Doveweed Blooms

Helena Weinrauch Humanitarian Award
Lina.
Oleksiy Oliyar & Nykola Nosok, directors

NY Filmmaker
Jennifer Plotzke

Best International Feature
Water Lilies

Best Documentary
Ojakh, on the other side of the silence

Best Narrative Feature
The Reckoning

Audience Choice
Land of the Mustaches

Filmmaker Favorite
Battle of L.A.

Best of Fest
Vanishing: A Love Story

08/25/2025

Industry Panel with Geoffrey Cantor and Documentary Short Film Block Talk Backs, closing weekend photos continued.

08/25/2025

More Family Dynamics short film block, Female Voices and closing weekend talkbacks!

08/25/2025

2025 Talkbacks!