The World Health Organization has announced the official selection of this year's winning films for its fifth annual Health for All film festival. The winners were announced today at a special event launching the WHO's investment round, on the eve of the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva.
The event, which began with an opening address by WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and was attended by dignitaries from Member States and prominent figures from the film and arts worlds, saw the winners announced in seven categories, with four films receiving special awards from the jury.
Now in its fifth year, the festival received nearly 1,000 submissions from filmmakers around the world addressing a range of issues from gender equality and the trauma of war to burnout, climate change and healthy ageing. The 61 shortlisted films were reviewed by a jury of eminent experts, artists and activists, including renowned actors and activists Nandita Das, Sharon Stone and Alfonso Herrera, filmmaker and producer Apolline Traoré, Olympic swimmer and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Yusra Mardini, multidisciplinary artist Mario Masilau and film director Paul Jarndal. The jury also included senior UN officials and WHO officials.
“WHO's Health for All film festival brings together many inspiring stories of different health experiences from people around the world,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Hearing the stories of people living with health challenges helps us understand their lived experiences and make progress towards better health for all.”
The official selection will award one “Grand Prize” in each of the three main competition categories: Universal Health Coverage in line with the WHO's 3 Billion Goal, Health Emergencies, and Better Health and Well-Being.
Nandita Das, an Indian actress, filmmaker and social activist who has served as a jury member at the Cannes Film Festival twice and has acted in over 40 feature films in 10 languages, said, “It is an honour to serve as a member of the jury for WHO's Health For All film festival. Films can raise awareness, challenge prejudices, ask uncomfortable questions and tell stories that need to be told. Health is both personal and collective, our right and responsibility, so it is important to celebrate films that highlight these issues. I am delighted to have the opportunity to announce the winners of the fifth edition of this annual event.”
Four special awards were also presented: for a student-made film, a film about physical activity and health, a film about migrant and refugee health, and a short film.
The theme of mental health featured prominently in this year's winning films, including a powerful and moving French short film about the challenges of supporting a relative diagnosed with a serious illness. The film follows a 14-year-old girl coping with the weight of responsibility while living alone with her mother, who has cancer.
Another winning film from Turkey captures the survival and recovery of a young Syrian refugee mother in southern Turkey who was trapped under the rubble of a building for five days in the aftermath of the February 6, 2023 earthquake. The moving film details her rehabilitation progress, including learning to walk again.
List of Award-winning Films
Universal Health Coverage “Grand Prix”: “Visionary Women from Indonesia” – Indonesia / Disability, Blindness, Rehabilitation
Director: Nalin Narang (Australia), Fred Hollows Foundation / Documentary – Duration 5 minutes 10 seconds
Health Emergency “Grand Prix”: “A Journey Beyond the Rubble” – Turkey / Natural disasters, earthquakes, internally displaced persons
Director: Mumen Said Issa and Asir Salem Baer of the Association of Independent Doctors (Turkey) / Documentary – Length 7’09″
“Grand Prix” of Better Health and Well-Being: “Color” – Spain / Gender Equality
Director: Ewa Jakubowska (Poland/Spain) / Fiction – Running time 8 minutes
Special Award Physical Activity and Health Film: “Ping Pong Parkinson's” – USA / Mental health, Parkinson's disease, Physical activity
Director: Dave Steck (USA) / Numeric Pictures / Documentary – Length 3'06''
Special Award for Film on Migrant and Refugee Health: “The Story of Dalal” – Iraq / trauma, war, refugee health, mental health
Director: Alexandra Cordeux (Laundry Lane Productions, Australia) / Animation – Length 6'15''
Best Student Film: “Maman & Moi, et ça…” – France / NCDs – Cancer, Mental Health
Director: Elisa Tiozzo (France) / Animation – Length 3'56''
Special Prize Ultra Short Film: “Cycle Path” – UK / Environment, Climate Change and Health
Director: Red Wade (UK) / Fiction – Running time 3 minutes
Special Jury Award Winner
Special Award for Health Emergency: “Island (ADA)” – Turkey / Drought, Climate Change, Migration
Director: MAHMUT TAŞ (Türkiye) / Documentary – Duration 5 minutes
Better Health and Well-Being Special Award: “The Pure” – Iran / Social determinants of health, access to sanitation
Director: Masoud Mashouf (Iran) / Fiction – Running time 4 minutes 37 seconds
Universal Health Coverage Special Award: “Beyond the Last Mile – The Story of Rose Magai” – Malawi / Health Workers, Community
Director: Carlo Rechea / Village Reach (African NGO) / Documentary – Duration 8 minutes
Special Award for Short Film: “Humans. Handle with Care” – Global / Mental health, stress, healthy eating
Director: Maya Adam of Stanford University School of Medicine (USA) / Fiction – Duration 2 minutes 21 seconds
