Mental Filmness is a Chicago-based film festival showcasing films about mental health. The festival is dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health by sharing stories and promoting empathy for those who live with a chronic mental health disorder or those who have experienced a mental health issue.

We are especially interested in challenging stereotypes, showing different perspectives, and informing and enlightening the general public about mental health.

We define “mental health” as a broad umbrella that encompasses any issue related to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, or our overall mental fitness.

Mental Filmness is now a live, in-person festival, with selected films guaranteed screenings for an audience hosted in Chicago. The festival will begin on or around World Mental Health Day on October 10th. The conversations surrounding the sensitive material presented in the films is vital to the festival.

Please note that Mental Filmness is a competitive festival. We cannot give a projection of the number of films selected as it depends on a number of factors, including the variety of the genre, diversity, length, tone, or topic covered in the films. Chicago-made films are given special consideration, although highlighting films portraying mental health in different cultures is also a consideration.

Awards & Prizes

Our festival gives out awards based on some of our objectives. There will be a Stigma Breaker award for the film we feel most effectively battles the stigma of mental illness. There will be a Realism Award for the film we feel most realistically depicts its condition. There will be an Empathy Award for the film that we feel best promotes empathy for mental illness. There will be no cash value for these awards--but you can say that you are an award winner and add some nice laurels to your media!

Rules & Terms

All films submitted must have some depiction of mental health within them. All films must depict mental health in a respectful and empathetic way.
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  • Nora Guicheney

    It was truly a pleasure to participate Mental Filmness festival. I am glad that y work was awarded but also I greatly enjoyed watching the other films - all of them so important and impactful.

    November 2025
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Nora! I truly appreciate the important and unique message of your documentary, as well as your support of the virtual festival as a whole. A huge thank you for watching and spreading the word, getting more eyes on the virtual festival, and best of luck in your future endeavors!

  • Alvaro Garcia

    Super experience ! Thanks a lot for the organisation , nice job !

    November 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Alvaro! It was truly a pleasure to screen My Memories, which pack so many deep psychological issues into such an economical short film. Thank you for promoting the festival as well. This film speaks to a lot of people and I hope you find continued success with it.

  • Brittney Brackett

    The 2025 Mental Filmness Festival was thought-provoking and so kind to have screened my documentary film, Grounded: Creating Space for Black Peace. Thankful for your decicsion to help us educate the community about the importance of tuning in to youth mental health and mindfulness. Feel free to support our nonprofit by purchasing our products that aid in mindfulness education at outstandingyouthawards.com/shop.

    November 2025
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Hi Brittney, thank you so much for sharing Grounded with us, It touches upon so many important aspects of mental health in the black community, which is a vital and overlooked topic. I hope it receives more attention and screenings to spread awareness.

  • Catalina Kulczar

    It was an honor to have Daisy show alongside so many other films that talk about mental health. Thank you Sharon!

    November 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Hello Catalina,

    Daisy is a powerful and vulnerable film. Our jury was deeply moved by it, and we were so excited to get the chance to screen it. Thank you for bringing these important issues of generational trauma, suicide, and the impact of cold water swimming on mental health to a larger audience. I truly hope that more people get to see this film outside of our modest-sized platform, and that it keeps generating conversation. Thank you for opening up and making it and best of luck!

  • Jacob Bittens

    Mental Filmness is an incredible film festival with a vital mission! A huge thank you to Sharon Gissy for running the show, and I'm honored to have been part of the 2024 slate!

    November 2024
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Thank you Jacob, and thank you for making such a powerful short that begs to be a provocative opening film, even given its disturbing and haunting nature. Its independent spirit and unique take on depression epitomize what this festival is all about. I truly hope more people get to see this, in its brief runtime it gives a very authentic and realistic depiction of intrusive thoughts that you just don't usually see on screen, but that is very vital to the conversation.