WHO Announces Health for All Film Fest Winners, Special Mentions
Nearly 1,000 entries from global filmmakers covered topics like gender equity, war trauma, burnout, climate change and healthy aging.
GENEVA— The World Health Organization announced the winners of its 5th Health for All Film Festival on Monday, recognizing seven short films with top honors and four special mentions from the jury, writes Winston Mwale.
The event launched WHO's Investment Round ahead of the 77th World Health Assembly. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus opened the event, attended by government representatives, celebrities and arts figures.
Nearly 1,000 entries from global filmmakers covered topics like gender equity, war trauma, burnout, climate change and healthy aging. A distinguished jury, including actors Nandita Das, Sharon Stone and Alfonso Herrera, judged the 61 shortlisted films.
"Films can create awareness, challenge prejudices, ask uncomfortable questions and tell stories that need to be told," said Das, an Indian actor and social advocate.
The "Grand Prix" winners for WHO's triple billion targets were:
—Universal Health Coverage: "The Visionary Women of Indonesia" (disabilities, blindness, rehabilitation)
—Health Emergencies: "Journey Beyond the Rubble" (Turkish earthquake survivors)
—Better Health and Well-being: "Color" (gender equity)
Special prizes went to films about physical activity, migrants/refugees, a student film and a very short film. Mental health featured prominently in winning entries, like a French film about a teen caring for her mother with cancer.
The physical activity prize went to "Ping Pong Parkinsons" from the U.S. about using ping-pong to help Parkinson's patients. "Dalal's Story" from Iraq won the migrant/refugee health film award for depicting trauma through animation.
A French student animation "Mom & Me, and that..." about a daughter helping her mother through cancer treatment received the student film prize. The very short film winner was the U.K.'s "Cycle Path" highlighting climate change's health impacts.
Four films received special jury mentions: "The Island (ADA)" from Turkey about drought and migration; Iran's "The Pure" on access to hygiene; "Beyond The Last Mile" from Malawi about the health workforce; and a Stanford University film "Human Being. Handle with Care" addressing mental health.
"WHO's Health for All Film Festival gathers powerful stories about health experiences from people worldwide," said Tedros.
"Listening to those affected helps us understand and move towards better health for all."
List of films awarded
Universal Health Coverage "Grand Prix": “The Visionary Women of Indonesia” – Indonesia / Disabilities; Blindness; Rehabilitation
Directed by Nalin Narang (Australia) from The Fred Hollows Foundation / Documentary – Duration 5’10’’
Health Emergencies "Grand Prix": “Journey Beyond the Rubble”– Türkiye / Natural disasters; Earthquake; Internally displaced persons
Directed by Mumen Sayed Issa and Atheer Salem Bahr (Türkiye) from the Independent Doctors Association / Documentary – Duration 7’09’’
Better Health and Well-being "Grand Prix": “Color” – Spain / Gender equity
Directed by Eva Jakubovska (Poland/Spain) / Fiction – Duration 8’
Special Prize Physical Activity and Health Film: "Ping Pong Parkinsons” – United States of America / Mental health; Parkinson; Physical activity
Directed by Dave Steck (United States of America) from Numeric Pictures company / Documentary - Duration 3’06’’
Special Prize Migrants and Refugees Health Film: “Dalal's Story” – Iraq / Trauma; War; Refugees health; Mental health
Directed by Alexandra Cordukes from Laundry Lane Productions (Australia) / Animation – Duration 6’15’’
Student Film Prize: “Mom & Me, and that... (Maman & Moi, et ça...)” – France / NCDs - Cancer; Mental health
Directed by Elisa Tiozzo (France) / Animation – Duration 3’56’’
Special Prize Very Short Film: “Cycle Path” – United Kingdom / Environment; Climate change and health
Directed by Red Wade (United Kingdom) / Fiction – Duration 3’
Films receiving a Special Mention from the Jury
Health Emergencies Special Mention: “The Island (ADA)” – Türkiye / Drought; Climate change; Migration
Directed by MAHMUT TAŞ (Türkiye) / Documentary – Duration 5’
Better Health and Well-being Special Mention:“The Pure” – Iran / Social determinants of health; Access to hygiene
Directed by Masoud Mashouf (Iran) / Fiction – Duration 4’37’’
Universal Health Coverage Special Mention: “Beyond The Last Mile - The Story of Rose Magayi” – Malawi / Health workforce; Community
Directed by Carlo Lechea / Village Reach (NGO in Africa) / Documentary – Duration 8’
Very Short Film Special Mention: “Human Being. Handle with Care” – Global / Mental health; Stress; Healthy diet
Directed by Maya Adam (United States of America) from the Stanford School of Medicine / Fiction – Duration 2’21’’