Shorts 1 Multi-Screening

How Speaking About Suicide Can Save Lives

There is an often overlooked significance of suicide in media, both negative and positive. Dwight Holton, CEO of Lines for Life, explores how individuals who interact with and discuss suicide can make a difference in saving lives.

Directed by Marissa Dingman

Starring Dwight Holton

USA

PAYWAT

The film throws light on the significance of the caregivers (here parents) in mental illnesses like schizophrenia. The caregiver needs to be patient and consistent to cope with the illness and needs to understand the prognosis of the disease and accept the affected person unconditionally. Though the road is bumpy with proper understanding of the caregiver the journey becomes smooth over a period of time.

Directed by Shailesh Kalpana Ramdas Medge

Starring Uday Sabnis, Aakanksha Gade, Arundhati Bhalerao, Shirin Tulalvar

India

Artificial Institution

Warren (Owen Martin) is a recent discharge from a stay at an inpatient mental health clinic. As part of his therapy, he is prescribed an therapeutic A.I. program in the form of DUST-E (A.J. Sass), a progressively intelligent and empathetic humanoid. Though reluctant at first, Warren learns that having a sounding board that runs on pure logic is a welcome, if uncanny, companion in his recovery.

Directed by Jeffrey Baldinger

Starring Owen Martin, A.J. Sass, Brigid Kelley

Black Bear

Black Bear aims to challenge the stereotypes and educate audiences on the symptoms and struggles of OCD through our protagonist Riley, and his road to recovery.

Riley is robbed at the start of the film which triggers his OCD. He is struggling to live with the anxiety and how it affects his daily life, work, and relationships. Riley is suggested therapy sessions at the local church by his friend Shane, where a member Jeffrey tells a fable about dealing with mental health, a little at a time, day by day. This is the moving story of a man's battle with his mental illness.

Directed by Peter Paton

Starring Andrew Joshi, Anita Garcha, Brendon Riley, Paul Dewdney

UK

A Black Sheep

A woman wrestles with her depression, which is preventing her from dating, pursuing her artistic ambitions, performing well at work, and even from getting up in the morning.

Our film fights stigma and defies stereotypes associated with mental illness. It also shares a real-life story of someone with depression, disguised as narrative fiction.

Well Meaning People

This film highlights the important roll of churches and places of worship for people dealing with mental health conditions. The film was written by Charlie Brades-Price who's mother has long suffered with schizoaffective and is based on a real-life situation. The focus of the film is to questions the actions and behaviours of the vicar and her daughter, rather than seeing the central character Mae as the problem