The mission of the Health in Focus Film Festival is to improve the health of populations by pairing compelling visual stories with thoughtful discussion. Programming consists of two invited, feature-length films, a panel discussion, and three blocks of short films.

Health in Focus is a program of Population Health Exchange, the lifelong learning hub at Boston University School of Public Health. We provide educational programs and resources to anyone interested in adding to or furthering their population health knowledge and skills.

Awards & Prizes

Audience Award
Young Filmmaker Award (current high school students)
Jury Award

Rules & Terms

Films must be less than 20 minutes in length and subject matter must fit into at least one of the following categories (please submit to the one that you feel best fits your film):

- The world as it is – conditions that keep populations from being healthy and those that are characteristic of unhealthy populations.
Examples: hate, incarceration, suicide, substance use, climate change, reproductive justice, firearm violence

- Inequities – a focus on marginalized populations.
Examples: economic, gender, race, LGBTQIA+, transgender, immigrants, refugees

- Looking ahead – aspirations for the future of health.
Examples: aging, activism, urban health, prevention, innovation, media, social movements, nurturing empathy

Submissions must be in English or have English subtitles. Filmmakers must hold or have cleared all rights to film content, in particular for the purpose of public screening.