# Chelsea Film Festival

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”.

## History

Chelsea Film Festival was founded in 2013 by French actresses Ingrid Jean-Baptiste & Sonia Jean-Baptiste.
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 Director |
| 2021 | The Parent | Vlad Furman | Russia |
| 2020 | Keeping the Bees | Eylem Kaftan | Turkey |
| 2019 | Bilched | Jeremy Cumpston | Australia |
| 2013 | LICKS | Jonathan Singer-Vine | United States |

### Audience Award

| Year | Film | Director | Nationality of Director |
| 2021 | Surviving on LES | Tony Amatullo | United States |
| 2020 | Greyscale | Yaniel Paulino | United States Dominican Republic |

### Best Director Award

| Year | Film(s) | Director(s) | Nationality of Director(s) |
| 2021 | The Parent | Vlad Furman | Russia |
| 2020 | Keeping the Bees | Eylem Kaftan | Turkey |
| 2019 | Ticket | Yoh Komaya | Japan |
| 2013 | LICKS & Les Petits Princes | Jonathan Singer-Vine & Vianney Lebasque | United States France |

### Best Screenplay Award

| Year | Film | Screenwriter | Nationality of Director |
| 2021 | The Parent | Andrey Shishov, Christina Kuzmina, & Vlad Furman | Russia |
| 2020 | Keeping the Bees | Eylem Kaftan | Turkey |
| 2019 | Bilched | Hal Cumpston | Australia |
| 2013 | Halima's Path | Fedja Isovic | Bosnia |

### Best Actress Award

| Year | Film | Actress | Nationality of Director |
| 2021 | The Parent | Angelina Strechina | Russia |
| 2020 | Keeping the Bees | Meryem Uzerli | Turkey |
| 2019 | Rag Doll | Shannon Murray | United States |
| 2015 | Marry Me | Sirin Zahed | Belgium |
| 2013 | Halima's Path | Alma Prica | Bosnia |

### Best Actor Award

| Year | Film | Actor | Nationality of Director |
| 2021 | The Parent | Vladislav Bulanov (Vlad Furman) & Mikhail Porechenkov | Russia |
| 2020 | A Case Blue | Stephen Schnetzer | United States |
| 2019 | Last Koan | Schidor Rahaman | Australia |
| 2013 | LICKS | Stanley Doe Hunt | United States |

### Best Supporting Actor Award

| Year | Film | Actor(s) | Nationality of Director |
| 2021 | East of Middle West | Joris Jarsky | United States |
| 2020 | Keeping the Bees | Hakan Karsak | Turkey |
| 2019 | Bilched | Frederick Du Rietz | Australia |
| 2013 | LICKS | Devon Libran & Koran Streets | United States |

### Best Supporting Actress Award

| Year | Film | Supporting Actress | Nationality of Director |
| 2021 | The Parent | Maria Shukshina | Russia |
| 2020 | Donna Stronger Than Pretty | Brittany Molnar | United States |
| 2019 | Rag Doll | Stephanie Erb | United States |
| 2013 | Halima's Path | Olga Pakalovic | Bosnia |