LIFF - Film to Change
One event that was of particular interest to me at Leeds International Film Festival was "Film to Change", a seminar/talk-type presentation led by Tom Bailey of Leeds Arts and Minds Network, and Gary Morris, a psychology lecturer a Leeds University.
The talk featured amateur film created by students and volunteers regarding the subject of mental health and what film can do to tackle and approach this whilst raising awareness, being informative, and engaging with a wide audience. Some of the short films were a little bit disappointing albeit a really good attempt. Some of them felt a little bit unfinished and flighty, with no real story or motive behind them. It was later said that some of the films had been created for company briefs, which was unusual as I didn't feel they were "complete" and professional enough to be used in a public setting.
I didn't mean to be so critical however, seeing some of the work students at my college can produce just made me think that the participants of a film festival could've been a little more ambitious as that standard wasn't as polished as some of the work I've seen amongst fellow LCoA students.
Gary Morris talked about mental health in international film and how that has influenced a greater understanding amongst poorer and less education-orientated cultures such as those in India, some South-East Asian cultures, and African communities. He spoke in depth about how some minorities, especially communities in West Africa, still believe very heavily in religion and spiritual healing rather than science and logical reason. This had an impact on how they thought of the mentally ill, and what treatment they prescribed their sufferers. Often this type of lifestyle inflicted great prejudice as it is believed in some cultures that evil spirits are responsible for mental health issues - especially in places where psychotic disorders and hallucinations are prevalent (which has been shown to be very high in the black population).
I have contacted Tom Bailey with request for him to send me the presentation that was shown so that I can gather some of the sources of information for my dissertation and research some of the facts and figures more thoroughly for my own knowledge. I am incredibly interested to find out how animation and film are used internationally to portray mental health, and how much of an impact they have on certain cultures.
With kind permission from the writer of the presentation and speaker at Film to Change, Gary Morris, here is a preview of the presentation we were shown at the festival. It is incredibly useful to anyone studying mental health, film, and the international and cultural aspects surrounding it.
