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 hybrid festival, with live screenings hosted in Chicago and virtual screenings hosted by the Eventive platform. Both parts of the festival begin on or around World Mental Health Day on October 10; the virtual festival is typically open for streaming throughout the month of October.

Selection of your film ensures it a place in our virtual festival. We will be able to screen a limited number of films in Chicago and that could be a possibility as well, though not guaranteed.

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.
15 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Heloise Magny

    Nice festival about mental health, I will definitely send other films there in the future ! Thank you !!

    November 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks, Heloise! We loved your film, it's so inspiring and visually striking. I really appreciate that you made a film about such serious topics with such great sensitivity. Thank you for taking the time to do an interview as well---I love your message that art can provide an escape from our demons. I'd love to see your future projects---keep painting! ;)

  • Filipe Gontijo

    Small but important festival. We are proud to have participated and contributed to this discussion. I hope the festival grows even more and reaches more people, because cinema is made to be seen.

    November 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Filipe! I really hope we can grow, too, mainly because of all these unique films from all across the globe that need to be seen. I really appreciated having a sort of fun, colorful genre film (with still a lot of heart) play the festival, as it was something a little different. Variety is the spice of life, as they say. I love being surprised by a few submissions every year.

  • Marty Lang

    I had the great pleasure of screening my feature STAY WITH ME at the Chicago Public Library through Mental Filmness, and it was an incredible experience. Festival director Sharon Gissy was on top of everything, stayed in contact with me leading up to the event, the screening itself went off without a hitch, and the conversation we had with the audience afterwards about mental health was wonderful. I really had a great time at this festival. Sharon's passion for mental health and cinema is plain to see. It was great to be a part of the festival.

    November 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Marty, not only is your film incredibly empathetic, but there is an incredible human (and team) behind it. I love Stay With Me and its realistic and empathetic portrayal of mental health, and I also love that you offered to travel to Chicago to show it to an audience sheerly out of the indie spirit and the desire to connect with an audience. Your ability to connect with the audience, to listen and insightfully answer questions, was indicative of your engagement. And taking the time to leave a kind and thoughtful review about a screening in a library meeting room when you're doing the indie film circuit and winning well-deserved awards is nothing less than a class act. I really hope you keep being you, and I hope to see more projects and continued success from you in the future!

  • Dmitry Badera

    I'm pleased to know that my short film The Locked Door earned the Realism Award at the film festival Mental Filmless. Thanks everyone for voting for my film. And, Sharon, without your help and support I couldn't find the right platform to show The Locked Door. It means a lot to me.

    November 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Dmitry, it was so exciting to have something as culturally intriguing as a Ukranian film about agoraphobia submitted to the festival. Of course, that intrigue alone wouldn't have meant anything if the film itself wasn't so moving and realistic. I believe it resonated with a lot of viewers post-pandemic and I'm so thrilled we could give you a platform with an appreciative audience. I really hope you keep going and find more.

  • Issa Ibrahim

    Mental Filmness and its host Sharon Gissy were the utmost in professionalism and compassion, while still maintaining a grassroots feel that kept everything approachable and relatable. Thank you Sharon and Mental Filmness for being such gracious hosts to my doc MAD LOVE. Shine on!

    November 2021
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Issa!

    It was an honor to have a film of your caliber in the festival. I really enjoyed learning the story of you and Susan. It is romantic and strong and hopeful, and I loved having an opportunity to chat with you two a bit about it.

    I also enjoyed the theme of using art to overcome trauma and mental illness quite a bit, as well as viewing your artwork. Mad Love is a very inspiring documentary in a number of ways, as it shows if you hang in there and keep trying you can express yourself and there will be people who understand you.

    I was moved that you had been following the festival and had submitted. One thing is for certain, I will definitely be keeping an eye on your art in the future!