MindScope 5th Mental Health Film Festival 2020 will be held digitally this year
Mental health has been in the focus for the last few month after a tragic death of a very successful star in the Indian Film Industry. Though It’s been prevalent in the society for ages, it’s been openly discussed in recent times. A lot of film stars and celebrities came into open admitting about facing depression. It’s not a disease but still it’s a heath problem, a major one. Film makers too have been underlining this issue through various films. There’s a film festival specifically dedicated to mental health and it’s in it’s fifth year this ear. MindScope Mental Health Film Fest (MMHFF) is being organised, this year digitally though, by TRIMITI trust, the theme being Covid-19 and Me.
Creating awareness on mental health is one of TRIMITI trusts’ key activities. Entertainment is a powerful medium of education with a mass appeal. Owing to this, we host the first of its kind, a ‘no fare, open to all MindScope Mental Health Film Fest (MMHFF) since October 2015 in Pune and in Goa since 2016. The choice of films is such that they are engaging and entertaining, cinematic yet authentic in their portrayal of the mental health problems.
TRIMITI Trust is a Pune based non-governmental organization working in the field of mental health. Our primary focus is holistic reintegration of people with mental illnesses back into the society. In this endeavour, we focus on promotion and restoration of mental health.
Sangath is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation based in Goa with hubs at Delhi and Bhopal committed to improving health across the life span through task-sharing by empowering existing community with skills to provide interventions with support.
MindScope 2020 is curated and organized by TRIMITI Trust, Pune, co-organized by Sangath, Goa in collaboration with Psychiatric Society of Goa and District Mental Health Programme, District Hospital, Pune. The theme of MindScope Mental Health 2020 is COVID 19 & Me. The film festival is supported Finolex Industries CSR Partner Mukul Madhav Foundation & Rotary Club of Panjim Riveria.
In appropriation to the current mental health crisis stemming from the pandemic it is rather befitting to address this theme. The idea is to showcase films which depict the facets of how the pandemic has affected our well-being and day to day existence. The themes thus are race for productivity, juggling with work life balance (the effects of work from home), domestic violence, unemployment, isolation & the help extended towards each other to cope. It seems rather befitting that through MMHFF, we provide a platform for people to know, talk and discuss about various challenges and the impact of the pandemic, and the probable help modalities.
MMHFF 2020 will feature seven short films. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion. The panel of experts include: Dr Sanjay Oak, Head- COVID 19 Task Force, Maharashtra State; Dr Mohan Agashe, Psychiatrist & Actor; Dr Shirisha Sathe, Psychologist & Dr Rajesh Dhume, Psychiatrist. The film festival is supported Rotary Club of Panjim Riveria.