 CUNYFF's inaugural festival was held on March 29, 2009 at the Macaulay Honors College and screened 14 CUNY student films to over 150 attendees.CUNYFF 09 received seventy-four submissions from students of seven CUNY four-year colleges.CUNYFF 09 hosted a master class on March 22, 2009 that featured Melvin McCray, Senior editor at ABC; Greg Rhem, Manager of Documentary acquisitions at HBO; Matt Kohn, documentary filmmaker and director of Call It Democracy.