WHO invites filmmakers to apply for Health for All Film Festival 2022

 

CAIRO - 24 January 2022: World Health Organization invites independent filmmakers, production companies, public institutions, NGOs, communities, students, and film schools from around the world to submit their original short films on health to the Health for All Film Festival third edition, on 30 January 2022, the latest. 

 

Since it was first launched in 2020, the festival aims to recruit a new generation of film and video innovators to champion and promote global health issues.

 

The films will be submitted for review by the official jury comprising Sharon Stone, Eddie Ndopu and Mia Maestro, and experts from the World Health Organization. 

 

“Telling stories is as old as human civilization. It helps us understand our problems and heal ourselves. We look forward to receiving creative entries inspired by WHO’s mission to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable.” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. 

 

Those who wish to submit their entries can choose one category of three categories that relate to WHO’s global health goals including universal health coverage (UHC) which could include films about mental health, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and other UHC stories linked to communicable diseases not part of emergencies.

 

The second category is Health emergencies which can include films about health emergencies, for example COVID-19, Ebola, disaster relief and health in warzones.

 

Lastly, Better health and well-being which can include films about environmental and social determinants of health, such as nutrition, sanitation, pollution, gender, and/or about health promotion or health education.

 

For each of these three GRAND PRIX categories, candidates can submit short documentaries, fiction films or animation films of three to eight minutes in length.

 

Additionally, some special prizes are attributed to short-listed videos not receiving a GRAND PRIX.

 

Representative of WHO in Egypt and Head of Mission Dr Naeema Hasan Al Gasseer said, "We look forward to contributions from Egypt to the festival this year. Films and arts give hope, contribute to spreading awareness and positively reflect on mental health, especially in times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. On this occasion, I congratulate Egypt on the launch of the International Arts for Development Forum in its first edition, which reflects the interlinkage of arts with sustainable development goals and concepts such as the right to health.”

 

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in May 2022.