Chain Film Festival, showing short indie films, running from August 6-16

Neighbor Inge, who is one of those people whose taste you should just trust, writes in with a suggestion that we check out Chain Film Festival. This is a small, independent film festival focusing on “personal stories and original ideas set against New York City itself.” It runs from August 6 - 16, 2026, and most of the shows run from 10 - 30 minutes. You can see the film schedule here.

When it comes to films, first and foremost we love a New York City backdrop, and you can see for yourself just by watching trailers of a few pieces on your phone that this goes festival goes hard in that respect. Films, we think, are kind of fun to attend with a partner but really fun to go to alone. Drink all of your senses in better that way and in the silence right after the show, hit the stranger next to you with a “so what’d you think?” Take it from there, and take it from us.