Inna Vision Film School celebrate a year long participatory project challenging stigma around mental health with film screenings, and discussion.
Based in East London, the Inna Vision Film School has worked with adults with lived experience of mental health issues, and those without. The participants have made a slate of short documentary and experimental films during the process, touching on various aspects of mental health experience, and with a particular focus on African and Caribbean communities. The participants will present their work and lead discussions of the issues.
Inna Vision is a partnership between Loud Minority (a participatory film practice led by Bhavesh Hindocha and Geoff Johnston), Mellow (a mental health and arts agency), East London Hopefuls (an African Caribbean mental health group) and Social Action for Health. It’s funded by Time To Change, England’s biggest programme to end the stigma and discrimination faced by people with mental health problems.
Films:
“BDD” (10′) dir. Basil Kinghorn, is a bold, controversial, experimental documentary. Through his own mask-wearing performance character ‘MUUF’, Basil tackles the hidden issue of body dysmporhpia in the African and Caribbean communities. Referencing Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Frantz Fanon and many others, Basil tackles the subject with a no holds barred visual gusto, making a plea for compassion and love over physical appearance.
“Let Me Speak” (10′) dir. Nigel Madhoo is a strong, stylish film in which 3 people who’ve experienced the mental health system discuss the personal and social issues it raises for them. Featuring the poetry of Roy Hayde.
“Meet Alice” (10″) dir. Amy Spiteri, profiles the life and work of artist Alice Evans. Alice has had long term experiences of mental illness and the film examines the link between life and art, with the message that the person is more important than their diagnosis.
“Jade” (10′) dir. Ilaria Vecchi & Hamish Graham, is the story of young woman living with multiple scelorosis. Jade is a feisty, extremely active person who refuses to be defined or limited by attitudes to her disability.
“The Phyllis Grant Guide to Well-Being” (10′) prod. Phyllis Grant, is a joint piece filmed by most of the Inna Vision participants. Phyllis is 69, suffers from arthritis of the knees, but is probably the most active person in the group. In addition to the Inna Vision Film School, she dances with East London Dance, sings in two choirs and is part of a drama workshop.
In addition the participants have made short experimental pieces of personal experiences, longer group films about Greenpeace and the Beautiful Octopus Club, as well as a film about the Film School process itself.