Our Story

Changing Minds is a New York City film and mental health festival founded by Community Access to spotlight young filmmakers and real stories of lived experience.

Established in 2015 by Community Access, Changing Minds is a filmmaking and storytelling initiative by and for young people. It has grown to become a festival and stigma challenging community education program that sparks real-life conversations about mental health matters among young people and adults alike. We have received over 5,000 films from young people in 100+ countries around the world—and we are dedicated to keep lifting up young people’s stories and experiences.

Changing Minds mental health film festival studio panel

COMMUNITY ACCESS

Since 1974, Community Access has served as a provider of supportive housing and support services in New York City for people living with mental health concerns.

HOUSING

We are one of the oldest and largest providers of supportive housing in NYC, providing homes to over 1,500 New Yorkers.

We pioneered the integrated housing model - a model thyt brings diverse populations together under one roof, integrating families, children, and people living with mental health concerns.

Once considered unusual, this model that is now a standard approach throughout New York State.

EDUCATION & JOB TRAINING

Our award-winning programs combine research-based methods with the bedrock principle of peer expertise. Of note, our Howie the Harp Advocacy Center in Harlem is recognized nationally as the gold standard in job training for mental health consumers.

CRISIS SERVICES

Our Residentail Crisis Center was the first of its kind in NYC, and provides a haven to hundreds of New Yorkers each year, helping them avoid emergency rooms and costly hospitalizations.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

We run several programs focused on helping participants improve physical and emotional well-being, including Self Direction, our resources for wellness, urban farming initiative a pet adoption program, and Mobile Teams health care providers who serve individuals in non-traditional settings.

ADVOCACY

We are the leading advocacy organization for mental health consumers in New York. We train and empower community members to engage in activities that help shape policies and system-wide change.

ART

Our Art Collective is a community of artists who share the experience of living with a mental health concern. The Art Collective offers free instruction, studio space, workshops, and other resources that help artists to create, display, and sell their work.

IN THE NEWS

Our cutting-edge programs and services regularly attract the attention of mainstream media outlets - and we're often called upon to share expert opinions on a broad range of subjects within the mental health field. Here are some prominent examples of Changing Minds in the news.

2026

PR Newswire:
Community Access Hosts Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival on May 16th in New York City
May 2026 - Article featuring Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

Patch:
Community Access Hosts Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival on May 16th in New York City
May 2026 · Interview featuring Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

BronxNet:
Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival
May 2026 · Interview featuring Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

The Kelly Clarkson Show:
Ricki Lake Interview with Kelly Clarkson
January 2026 · TV interview featuring Community Access and Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

People:
Ricki Lake Had a 'Traumatizing' Year After the L.A. Wildfires Took Her Home. Now, She Wants to Talk Mental Health (Exclusive)
January 2026 · Article featuring Community Access and Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

2025

ABC Live News:
Ricki Lake talks LA fires recovery and mental health
December 2025 · Interview featuring Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

PR Newswire:
Changing Minds Premieres on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and Google Play on November 24
November 2025 · Press release featuring Community Access and Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

94.7: The Block:
Conversations on the Block
May 2025 · Interview featuring Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

Sandra Tharas - Communicatons:
Young Filmmakers Discuss Mental Health at Community Access’ Changing Minds Film Festival
May 2025 · Press release featuring Community Access and Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

New York Daily News:
7 things to do in NYC this weekend: May 16-18
May 2025 · Article featuring Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

Philly Live:
Young local filmmaker's work to be featured at Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival
May 2025 · Interview featuring Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

Rough Draft Atlanta:
Atlanta filmmaker to debut 'Feng Shui' at Changing Minds Young Filmmakers Festival
May 2025 · Interview featuring Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

BronxNet:
BronxNet: OPEN Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival
May 2025 · Interview featuring Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

NorthJersey.com:
Fair Lawn animator's work, inspired by COVID struggles, will be featured at NYC film festival
April 2025 · Article featuring Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

BK Reader:
Brooklyn Creative Uses Animation to Share His Mental Health Story
April 2025 · Article featuring Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

Sandra Tharas - Communicatons:
Community Access Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival on May 17th in New York City
April 2025 · Press release featuring Community Access and Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

TAPinto Fair Lawn/Glen Rock:
Mental Health Comes In Focus for This Fair Lawn Filmmaker
April 2025 · Article featuring Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

Essex News Daily:
Student’s film featured at NYC festival
April 2025 · Article featuring Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

TAPinto West Orange:
Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival Selects West Orange Native’s Film
April 2025 · Article featuring Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

2023

Stamford Mercury:
Morton filmmaker invited to Community Access Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival in New York to show documentary for Don’t Lose Hope
June 2023 · Article featuring Community Access' Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

PR Newswire:
Community Access Presents the Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival at New York City's Village East Cinema
June 2023 · Press Release featuring Cal Hedigan / Community Access

2021

Mann About Town:
Changing Minds Film Festival Addresses Youth Mental Health
May 2021 · Article featuring Changing Minds

The Laurel of Asheville:
Local Filmmaker Wins National Festival
May 2021 · Article featuring Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

1010 WINS:
Community Access Presents Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival
April 2021 · Video featuring Changing Minds

New York Nonprofit Media:
Today’s Buzz
April 2021 · Article featuring Changing Minds

The New York Times:
5 Things to Do This Weekend
April 2021 · Article featuring Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

Mountain Times:
Local filmmaker selected as winner in New York-based film festival
April 2021 · Article featuring Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

BronxNet:
Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival | Open
March 2021 · Video featuring Community Access

Staten Island Advance:
Staten Island Filmmaker featured in virtual film festival focusing on mental health
March 2021 · Article featuring Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

2019

News 12:
NYU Student Creates Documentary on Mental Health Highlighting Bronxite
October 2019 · Video featuring Community Access’ Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival

2018

NY1:
Teen Mental Health Week
October 2018 · Video Featuring Community Access’ Changing Minds Youth Mental Health Initiative

PIX11:
Teen Mental Health Week
October 2018 · Video Featuring Community Access’ Changing Minds Youth Mental Health Initiative

PIX 11:
Today Is World Mental Health Day
October 2018 · Video Featuring Community Access’ Changing Minds Youth Mental Health Initiative

A Plus:
This Short Film Aims to Change How We View Mental Health
October 2018 · Video Featuring Community Access’ Changing Minds Youth Mental Health Initiative

A Plus:
How One Film Festival Is Working To Change The Conversation Around Mental Health
September 2018 · Article Featuring Community Access

Arts in the City:
Changing Minds Young Filmmakers Interview
June 2018 · Video Featuring Community Access

AM New York:
NYC film competition seeks young artists’ take on mental health issues
March 2018 · Article Featuring Community Access

NY1:
Teen Mental Health Week
October 2018 · Video Featuring Community Access’ Changing Minds Youth Mental Health Initiative

PIX11:
Teen Mental Health Week
October 2018 · Video Featuring Community Access’ Changing Minds Youth Mental Health Initiative

PIX 11:
Today Is World Mental Health Day
October 2018 · Video Featuring Community Access’ Changing Minds Youth Mental Health Initiative

A Plus:
This Short Film Aims to Change How We View Mental Health
October 2018 · Video Featuring Community Access’ Changing Minds Youth Mental Health Initiative

A Plus:
How One Film Festival Is Working To Change The Conversation Around Mental Health
September 2018 · Article Featuring Community Access

Arts in the City:
Changing Minds Young Filmmakers Interview
June 2018 · Video Featuring Community Access

AM New York:
NYC film competition seeks young artists’ take on mental health issues
March 2018 · Article Featuring Community Access

2017

Vancouver Sun:
Young Vancouver filmmakers score award from New York mental health film festival
October 2017 · Article Featuring Community Access

PIX 11:
Teen raises awareness about mental health through prestigious local film festival
August 2017 · TV Broadcast Interview with Francesca Murdoch, winner of CA's 2016 Young Filmmaker Competition (part of our NYC Mental
Health Film Festival)

Fios1 (Lower Hudson Valley):
High school student from Rye makes film to raise mental health awareness
July 2017 · TV Broadcast Interview with Francesca Murdoch, winner of CA's 2016 Young Filmmaker Competition (part of our NYC Mental Health Film Festival)