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.
22 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
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Networking
  • Lisa Bishop

    Thank you for the recognition of important issues. It was fabulous to be selected for this festival. Great communication. Thanks, Lisa and Tom xx

    January 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Lisa! I just saw this. I'm not sure if you're aware, but your film resonated very strongly with our audience. Many people related to its depiction of grief--the way it builds though we try to ignore or disguise it. A few people described it as being whimsical and funny with a "sucker punch" at the end, but it definitely wasn't one that came out of nowhere if you looked back, and one not dissimilar from finally processing grief. It's also always welcome to have an entry that is a little more light and colorful in tone, with some surreal humor. It was an honor to have it, and I wish you the best of luck.

  • Clayton Allis

    Great communication and very well run!

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Clayton! We loved your film and I sincerely hope it continues to do well on the festival circuit.

  • Tanner Hirten

    I loved Mental Filmness! It is a great festival with a great cause. The films chosen have a wide variety of themes and ideas despite a similar concept behind all of them. Also, panels were available for all of the filmmakers even ones that could not attend in person over Zoom. The head of the festival, Sharon Gissy, did an amazing job communicating, making sure everyone involved understood what was happening. I will definitely send more of my work to this festival in the future.

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Hi Tanner, thank you, we appreciate that! Our youth in mental health shorts block and panel was so memorable and inspiring and I hope we have enough gems made my filmmakers like you to continue that tradition. I knew several people who were quite blown away by how perceptive and empathetic your film was, and you were incredibly insightful in your conversation about it. You & Restart were a refreshing addition to the festival. I cannot wait to see what you do next with that talent and please do submit it!

  • Jessica Mathis

    Thanks so much for having triggerstories.com! Lovely festival and enjoyed seeing all the films.

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Hi Jessica! Thank you, we were lucky to have your film as well as a conversation with you about it. This is an incredibly important cultural topic and I felt like you struck just the right balance between the sense of a struggle to overcome trauma and hope and catharsis. It is so important that these women be heard and encourage others. I hope you continue to share these inspiring stories.

  • Tim Kail

    My experience with Mental Filmness was wholly positive. Sharon Gissy puts her heart into this festival and gives a platform to voices that would go unheard otherwise. I'm proud this was the first film festival to ever select my work.

    November 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Hello Tim, thank you, we were really honored to give I Was Not Who I Was a platform and an audience. I kind of pride Mental Filmness on being more of a theme-based festival that can be a champion of the underdog if it is a realistic and empathetic portrayal of mental health. Bigger budget productions and Hollywood often don't get it right the way people who have lived with mental health illnesses or challenges do. I feel your film captured something very raw and authentic that you just wouldn't see in many other places than Mental Filmness, but it was perfect for this festival. I do hope that you continue making movies because I think there is an audience for them out there, and I want to see more!