The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (SMHAF), led by the Mental Health Foundation, is one of the world’s largest social justice festivals. It reaches tens of thousands of people across Scotland each year, featuring film, music, performing arts, literature, visual arts and creative workshops.
Now in its 18th year, SMHAF calls on filmmakers to submit films addressing mental health and the various ways this can be understood or reflected. SMHAF is renowned for championing work by filmmakers with lived experience of mental health problems, exploring how film can challenge stigma and perceptions, and raising awareness about the links between inequalities and mental health.
We invite films that draw attention to personal stories and raise awareness about specific mental health problems, but we also welcome innovative and diverse perspectives on mental health and wellbeing. Films produced in collaboration with communities affected by mental health problems, and by first-time or aspiring filmmakers are also welcome.
Each year, our programme includes a diverse range of feature films, shorts programmes, Q&As, talks and workshops. Our main venue is CCA: Centre for Contemporary Arts in Glasgow, but we also work with cinemas and community venues across Scotland.
All films submitted to the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival will be eligible to win a prize at the international film awards.
The winning films will be selected by a panel, comprised of people with backgrounds in film, in mental health, or both. All winning films will be screened during the festival and honoured at our annual ceremony.
Previous award winners include: TOO ROUGH (Sean Lìonadh, 2022), JUDY VERSUS CAPITALISM (Mike Hoolboom, 2020), THAT JOKE ISN’T FUNNY ANYMORE (Hannah Currie, 2019), EVELYN (Orlando Von Einsiedel, 2018), IRENE’S GHOST (Iain Cunningham, 2018), SUMMER, 1993 (Carla Simón, 2017), BECOMING CARY GRANT (Mark Kidel, 2017), and A FAMILY AFFAIR (Tom Fassaert, 2015).
Work by first-time filmmakers, emerging directors, and community organisations are also regularly recognised at our awards ceremony. Please see our website for full details of past award winners.