The festival offers a wide range of films, including documentaries and feature-lengths, focusing on the theme of “Global Issues”.

[3] 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.

In March 2019, Chelsea Film Festival was featured in the Top 10 Best Film Festivals in North America by the American Newspaper USA Today.

The "Charging Bull" replica for a time was the official trophy, until 2021 when the Chelsea Film Festival presented Acrylic trophies.