BCC Evolution presents the 6th Annual Film Festival focusing on Mental Health and Suicide Awareness.

5 years ago we opened our submissions to International filmmakers and have showcased films from all over the world. With entries across the globe. All these inspiring films have brought awareness to so many aspects of mental health, suicide, substance abuse and different types of therapy.

Our mission for this film festival is to continue the conversation around mental health and suicide awareness and start to break down the stigma centered around these topics. We are looking to invoke emotions, thoughts, and conversations from the audience.
The winning films and their makers will be showcased on our website for 1 year after the festival if they choose.

For more info or sponsor this event: www.bccevolution.org/mhsa-film-festival

Awards & Prizes

All winners are showcased on our website for 1 year and shoutout on our Facebook page and the Make Mental Health Matter show after the film festival is over. Since we are a nonprofit and we tend to only break even for this event we will not be offering any cash prizes.

Best Overall: Award Certificate
Most Impactful: Award Certificate
People's Choice: Award Certificate

Rules & Terms

All films must be related to Mental Health illnesses, conditions, types of therapies or related to mental health in some fashion. Or related to suicide ideology, awareness, or prevention. Biography or documentary on a loved one who died by suicide or the story of a survivor, warrior or one left behind or the journey through grief. The goal of the festival is to provide support, education, and hope in light of these tragedies.

Short films only please, nothing over 30 mins as we will pick as many films that fit in a 4-hour time frame.

Legal Matters:
This festival, as with last year, it will be a hybrid event, with in-person tickets and streamed to Zoom, so that we are able to share the important messages of Mental Health and Suicide Awareness. Only ticket holders will have access to watch these films, it will not be available to the public.

Film Festival will be available for viewing 24 hours after the Live film festival to give access to ticket holders across the world in different time zones time to view. After 24 hours the link will no longer be available for viewing.

The Festival will take every reasonable precaution to store all works securely and preclude any unauthorized recording; the Zoom app itself offers many security features to prevent the public from recording exhibition content. However, with new technologies becoming available, we cannot be held liable for any acts of piracy that may occur.

By submitting your film, take note that:
- You agree to use parts of your film (including trailer/teaser/film poster) for promotional purpose.
- Entry fees are non-refundable.
- You must own all the rights to the film.
- We only accept submissions through FilmFreeway.
- We only accept digital submissions (i.e. private Vimeo link or similar online video service).
- All submissions in languages other than English must be subtitled in English.
- We reserve the right to make changes to our format at any time prior to the festival.
- The Festival is not responsible for any claim involving copyright, trademark, credits, or royalty infringement related to the work.
10 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Jennifer Hathaway

    A remarkable festival with a deeply and personally important cause. The festival director is a tremendously loving and heartfelt individual and the festival that she runs reflects her outstanding character. The festival is extremely impactful and compelling; it was an honor to have been a part of it. Thank you for all the hard work that it took to put on the event. Also, thank you for selecting I'm Here to play amongst such a high caliber of other films. The event was a deeply emotional one for me and I appreciate the care in which the festival was held. Thank you also for the people's choice award, that was truly humbling, I am positively overwhelmed.

    June 2022
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  • Kagan Goh

    It was an honour and privilege to have my film THE DAY MY CAT SAVED MY LIFE officially selected to be featured at the MHSA Film Festival. The lineup and roster of films featured at this festival were of the highest caliber -- films of emotional impact and power addressing the subject of mental health and suicide awareness. I highly recommend this stellar festival of importance and relevance to society at large. Filmmaker and mental health advocate and activist Kagan Goh

    June 2022
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  • cynthia white

    This was a wonderful festival to be a part of: heartfelt, inclusive and compelling. Hopefully we can represent in-person another year. Thank you to all the people who made it happen.

    May 2022
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  • Lucy Rose Shaftain-Fenner

    Great festival, it was great to have a Q&A after my film showing. Unfortunately some technical issues on the online festival with audio, in future it would be ideal to have someone dedicated to reading the chat on Zoom and making sure the online experience is as good as it can be, since I couldn't be there in person!

    May 2022
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  • Lea Ratliff

    Heartfelt and sincere. I’m proud we got to be a part of it! Hard to rate Networking due to the festival taking place during a COVID surge, but I was thrilled to see the reactions to Marge’s story. Very validating from a group who has some understanding of the stressors. Thanks to MHSA Film Festival/BCC Evolution and Ms Hansen!

    May 2022
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