"I created the Chelsea Film Festival to bring people together"

"The reason I created the Chelsea Film Festival platform is to bring people together, and I think that’s more important than ever. We’re at a moment in time where we need unity," said Ingrid Jean-Baptiste, founder of the Chelsea Film Festival, in a conversation with Anat Katz, Israel’s economic attaché in New York, at the Calcalist and Bank Leumi Mind the Tech NY 2025 conference.

Jean-Baptiste added: "Cinema gives us the opportunity to connect with people and share meaningful stories that resonate with them. Stories from one place can remind us of stories from another. That’s what we’ve been doing every year—for 13 years now. Not just through films, but also through conversations between creators and audiences."

Overcoming adversity and finding purpose

The accident you experienced changed your life in every way. We all go through moments of crisis—perhaps not as extreme—but difficult nonetheless. How did you find the strength to grow from such a low point?

"I decided to move from France to the United States in 2010 to study acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. A year and a half later, I was involved in a very serious car accident. I suffered multiple fractures and fell into a coma. It was an incredibly difficult time.

"In France, I worked as a journalist, but I chose to pursue acting and to do it ‘the American way’ because there is no place more central to the entertainment industry than the United States. And yet, there I was in New York—injured, alone, with no family. There were moments when the pain and challenges were overwhelming, and I was close to breaking down.

"Then, one morning, I had a moment of epiphany: I needed to create a platform that would allow people from all over the world to express themselves—especially people from underrepresented communities. At the time, I didn’t know it would evolve into a film festival. It took time to find a name, a business model, and a clear vision for the platform. Since I was living in Chelsea, I named it the Chelsea Film Festival. Thirteen years ago, I never imagined this would become my life's work."

Identity and resilience

You are Jewish, French, a non-native, Black, and a woman. I imagine each of these aspects of your identity has shaped your journey. Which of them helped you the most, and were any of them obstacles?

"All of these identities are part of my strength. I am proud to be all of them.

"Growing up, my skin color was often an obstacle, particularly in my journalistic career. I always wanted to be in front of the camera, but France is a very conservative country. Being both a woman and Black didn’t necessarily help me achieve that goal.

"However, internally, I never saw it as a limitation. For me, it was a source of strength. I am a woman raised by women. My grandmother raised six children entirely on her own, and I draw my strength from her above all else."

A message for entrepreneurs

Tech entrepreneurs and investors are visionaries, just like you, seeking to change the world. What message do you have for them?

"Trust the journey. The path is never a straight line—it’s full of twists and turns. But that’s what makes the journey meaningful and life fulfilling."

Watch the full interview in the video above.