Pollution that forces Faroe islanders to choose between health and tradition, the haunting cost of US drone strikes, and disease detectives hunting viruses that jump from animals to humans – these are just three of the vivid stories featured in this year’s Global Health Film Festival, taking place on 8-9 December at the Barbican Centre in London, UK.
Conflict, disability, climate change, and mental health are among the themes emerging from the line-up, with headline films including Born in Syria (the effect of warfare on children), Unrest (chronic fatigue syndrome), Destination Unknown (unresolved trauma) and Resilience (how adverse events in childhood affect health in adulthood).
This year’s programme includes over 30 feature-length films as well as short documentaries and animations from all over the world. It also features virtual reality installations, workshops, extended interviews and expert panel discussions.
Channel 4 news anchor Jon Snow will lead Bodies on trollies: a humanitarian crisis in the NHS? ‒ a 60-minute interview with Rachel Clarke, junior doctor activist and author of Your Life in My Hands on Friday, 8 December.
John Pilger ‒ world-renowned multiple award-winning journalist, author, playwright and documentary film-maker ‒ will give a 60-minute interview on global politics, power and global health, drawing on his body of work. This will be held on Friday 8 December, following a screening of his latest documentary The Coming War on China.
The film programme is complemented by a series of masterclasses and workshops from internationally respected American film directors, including Sonia Kennebeck (National Bird) and Janet Tobias (Unseen Enemy). A Global Health Virtual Reality Exhibition with 12 installations will take festival-goers on an immersive journey to experience a range of global health scenarios including refugee camps, detention centres and polluted oceans.
For more information about the festival and to arrange interviews:
Gerri McHugh
+44(0)7885 850088
Tickets and press passes:
One-day and two-day passes are on sale through the Barbican Centre. Most of the afternoon and evening screenings are also available as single ticket purchases.
Information for journalists:
Film descriptions and trailers are available here.
A limited number of press passes are available and pre-festival interviews can be arranged – please contact Gerri McHugh.
The following directors are available for interviews:
Mike Day, The Islands and the Whales
Claire Ferguson, Destination Unknown
Sophie Harman, PILI
Millie Harvey, In Our Hands
Sonia Kennebeck, National Bird
Janet Tobias, Unseen Enemy
About the festival and the Global Health Film initiative:
The 3rd Global Health Film Festival brings together health professionals, opinion leaders and film makers from all over the world to learn about current global health priorities and to explore the power of film and animation to tell difficult and complex stories and act as a catalyst to effect change for social good.
The primary objective of the Global Health Film initiative is to use film as a catalyst for discussion and for change. An annual Global Health Film Fellows Workshop brings together promising filmmakers, journalists, scientists, doctors, public health advocates, and those interested in film and in global health to combine the skills and the language of filmmaking with the technical knowledge of epidemiology and critical appraisal.