2025 CHAIN NYC FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS AUGUST 7–17 WITH OVER 160 FILMS AND MANY SPECIAL EVENTS
Personal Stories. Original Ideas. New Work.
Voted one of the top 100 film festivals on FilmFreeway!
“The leaders of the Chain are among the great unsung heroes of cultural New York.” - Richard Price, Academy Award-nominated screenwriter
"Chain NYC has been the best experience I've had, thus far, at any festival....Thank you for restoring my faith in film festivals!" - Cidney Hue, Founder of Pano (Women in Film) and the award-winning narrative short, Odessa.
Celebrating Independent Storytelling with Films Featuring Rutanya Alda, Logan Pepper, Molly Bernard, Keith David, Kathryn Erbe, James Naughton, and more
AUGUST 7 -17, 2025
THE CHAIN THEATRE
TICKETS AT CHAINFILMFESTIVAL.COM
New York, NY - July 15, 2025: The Chain Theatre is thrilled to announce the 2025 Chain NYC Film Festival. A cinematic celebration of bold voices and original storytelling, this year’s festival features over 160 films from around the globe—narratives, documentaries, shorts, web series, and animated works—plus panels, filmmaker events, and an awards ceremony. The festival takes place August 7-17, 2025, at Chain Theatre (312 W. 36th Street, 3rd and 4th Floor, New York, NY 10018). The festival schedule can be found here. Tickets are $13 in advance at www.chainfilmfestival.com and $15 at the door.
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Festival Highlights:
Dates: August 7-17, 2025
Location: Chain Theatre, 312 W. 36th Street, 3rd and 4th Floor, New York, NY 10018
Tickets: $13 in advance at www.chainfilmfestival.com and $15 at the door.
All-Access Pass: $75 for unlimited screenings
This year’s films include:
- Land of the Mustaches– FeatureThe filmmaking team is made up of six members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences! Starring and written by Rutanya Alda (The Deer Hunter, Mommie Dearest), edited by David Ray (Scarface, Reds, All That Jazz) with score by Charles Bernstein (Nightmare on Elm Street, Cujo) directed by Leon Joosen (Disney's The Little Mermaid. Scooby-Doo, The Muppet Babies).
- Lovebug – FeatureStarring Logan Pepper (American Housewife)In 1980s Los Angeles, a naive young man is swept into the adult film industry by an eccentric hustler. A dark, coming-of-age romance set against the glittery, gritty porn scene of the era.
- Coming Home: The Guggenheim Grotto Back In Ireland – Music & Dance BlockDirected by Will Chase (Smash, Dopesick, Stranger Things), Produced by Will Chase, Ingrid Michaelson, and Deborah LopezActor/director Will Chase follows the beloved band back to Ireland for their first tour in a decade.
- A Guest in My Country – ShortDirected by John Gray (Ghost Whisperer)An Uber ride unravels into unexpected revelations between an immigrant driver and an upscale couple.
- A Nice Lady – ShortStarring Molly Bernard (Younger, Chicago Med) A tightly wound New Yorker invites a streetwise younger couple to live with her, igniting a seductive and combustible mix.
- Don’t Pick Up – ShortStarring Keith David (American Fiction) and Kathryn Erbe (Law & Order: Criminal Intent)A quiet bookstore encounter spirals into emotional chaos when compulsions resurface.
- Sit With Me While I Die – ShortStarring James Naughton (Two-time Tony Award-winner) and Boyd Gaines (Four-time Tony Award-winner)A priest confronts mortality in a moving meditation on suffering and dignity.
Special Events and Panels Include:
- Filmmaker Meet & Greet on Thursday, August 7 | 6:30–10PMRed carpet photos, Facebook Live interviews, stand-up comedy, and more.
- The Usual Rejects: a DEMOLITION MAN fan event on August 8 & 9 | 7:30 pmA staged parody event with trivia, prizes, audience participation, and drinking games. From the team behind sold-out spoofs of Titanic, TMNT, and Star Wars. Complimentary drink with each ticket. $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
- Panel: How to Market Your Film, on Monday, August 11 | 6:30PM With marketing and publicity expert Katie Rosin (Kampfire Films PR).
- Navigating the Film Festival Circuit, on Saturday, August 16 | 3PM Award-winning filmmakers Adrienne Acevedo Lovette and Brian Russell offer insider advice.
- Industry Panel with Geoffrey Cantor on Sunday, August 17 | 2PMJoin Geoffrey Cantor (Daredevil, The Punisher) for a candid discussion on career longevity and indie film survival.
- Awards Ceremony on Sunday, August 17Celebrate excellence in storytelling across more than 30 categories, including Best Feature, Best Short, Best Web Series, and special honors like Best of Fest and the New York Filmmaker Award.
Now in its 13th year, the Chain NYC Film Festival is a vital showcase for new voices in independent film. With an emphasis on personal stories, original ideas, and cross-media innovation, the festival embraces a wide array of genres—from grindhouse to documentaries supporting our veterans—and includes web series to reflect today’s evolving storytelling formats.
Past guests have included Oscar-winning writers, Emmy-nominated creators, and industry legends like Richard LaGravenese and Richard Price. The 2025 festival continues this legacy of discovery and excellence. Chain Theatre’s commitment to emerging voices has previously brought works by Eric Bogosian, Jesse Eisenberg, and John Patrick Shanley to Off-Broadway audiences.
This program was made possible by the New York Department of Cultural Affairs and NYSCA
Location: Chain NYC Film Festival is located at 312 W. 36th Street, 3rd and 4th floor. Btwn 8th & 9th Ave. By 34th Street Penn Station off of the A, C, E and 1, 2, 3 lines.
Tickets are $13 in advance at www.chainfilmfestival.com and $15 at the door. Running Time: 60-120 minutes depending on the program. Check www.chainfilmfestival.com for full schedules and running time. No late seating.
IG: @chaintheatrenyc FB: @ChainTheatre
@chainfilmfest
CHAIN THEATRE always seeks to reflect and react to the world around us. Culturally. Politically. Socially. Audiences can find investment in the work at the Chain because it's about them, no matter what the topic might be. It’s a place where artists and audiences can expand their perspectives.
The critically acclaimed Chain Theatre (NYT Critic’s pick MACBITCHES) is a premier Off-Broadway producing organization in midtown Manhattan. Chain Theatre produced the World Premiere of GARBAGEMAN by Emmy-nominated Keith Huff (A STEADY RAIN, MAD MEN, HOUSE OF CARDS) and has also collaborated with Tony Award winner David Rabe (HURLYBURLY, IN THE BOOM BOOM ROOM) and Eric Bogosian (HUMPTY DUMPTY). Most recent hit World Premiere productions include: THIS G*D DAMN HOUSE (ScreenCraft Grand Prize Winner), A WILL TO LIVE, and WHAT PASSES FOR COMEDY.
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Listings Information:
Who: Chain Theatre
What: CHAIN NYC FILM FESTIVAL
Where: Chain Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, 4th Floor, New York City
When: August 7-17, 2025
How: www.chainfilmfestival.com
The Chain NYC Film Festival is renowned for celebrating the creativity and innovation of independent filmmakers from around the globe. The 2025 edition promises to be no exception, offering a rich tapestry of genres and stories that challenge, entertain, and inspire.
