By Haruna Gimba
Nearly 800 film makers from 106 countries have submitted short films for the 4th edition of the WHO Health for All Film Festival, on themes ranging from the trauma of war to living with COVID-19.
Some 90 films have been chosen for the shortlist, for review by a jury of international artists and development leaders, before the announcement of the winners in June 2023.
“The Health for All Film Festival gathers powerful stories on many health issues from all over the world, bringing emotion and a human face to WHO’s scientific work,” says WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“Film has great potential to raise awareness of lesser-known health issues and improve understanding of people’s experiences with health – these are important ways to advance towards Health for All.”
The following distinguished professionals, artists and activists, joined by WHO senior experts, comprise this year’s festival jury: Sharon Stone (actor from the USA); Alfonso Herrera (actor from Mexico); Ricky Kej (musician from India); Melissa Fleming (United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications); Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng (United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health from South Africa); Sherrie Silver (dance choreographer from Rwanda), Sophia Kianni (Iranian-American climate activist); and Adelle Onyango (media personality and podcaster from Kenya).
The 90 shortlisted films are available on WHO’s YouTube channel in six playlists, one for each of the competition categories: Universal health coverage, Health emergencies, better health and well-being, Climate change and health, Sexual and reproductive health and rights and very short films.
A wide range of topics are covered by this year’s selection: trauma of war; diseases, including COVID-19, HIV/AIDS, mental health issues; disability; as well as environmental and social factors of health, including gender-based violence.
The public is encouraged to view and comment on their favourite shortlisted films and champion them on social media using the hashtag #Film4Health.
In the coming weeks, jurors will review the shortlisted films and recommend winners to the WHO Director-General, who will make the final decision.
Three “GRAND PRIX” and four special prizes will be announced in June at the online Awards Ceremony followed by a series of discussions with winners and jurors.
Since the festival launched in 2020, almost 4300 films have been submitted by patients, health workers, activists, students and professional film makers.
