The Film Industry Learner Mentorship (F.I.L.M.) programme has joined forces with Pharma Dynamics as part of its Let’s Talk campaign to get the country talking about mental health conditions, which affect millions of South Africans, many of whom go through life undiagnosed and untreated.
About 40 interns at F.I.L.M. – guided by experts from the Mental Health Information Centre (MHIC) at Stellenbosch University – have produced eight striking and emotionally charged short films for the Let’s Talk campaign.
The films deal with the following critical challenges in South Africa: depression and unemployment; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and depression and suicide in young people.
On a Media Information Communication Technologies (MICT) Seta (Sector Education & Training Authority) internship supported by the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF), the interns, who hail mostly from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, worked in teams to create eight short films – all with different themes, plots, genres and points-of-view, so that viewers will no doubt find a story that they can relate to.
Seton Bailey, project director of the F.I.L.M. programme, says that the students tackled the project with characteristic vigour.
“It was very interesting for them to work with Pharma Dynamics and mental health professionals to translate the challenges of those who suffer from mental health issues in South Africa into a short film. They had to be sensitive and factually correct – while also producing and telling a creative and compelling story from Ground Zero – not always an easy thing to do.’
All the films have been posted on YouTube (search for Let’s Talk Mental) and viewers are welcome to discuss the issues they contain and vote on the ones they find most useful or relevant.
“We decided to use short films that incorporate young people in situations and real-life places they can relate to as a starting point to a bigger discussion on mental health issues,’ says Mariska Fouche, public affairs manager for Pharma Dynamics. “Getting sufferers, friends, families and communities to talk about their perceptions of issues like depression and youth suicide is the best way to start addressing stereotypes, encouraging treatment and getting all those affected on the road to recovery.’
For more information and to vote for your favourite short film, please visit www.letstalkmental.co.za or for more information on F.I.L.M. please visit www.filmsa.co.za / Facebook: Just-call-us-F.I.L.M.
