Two films from the WHO South-East Asia Region have won awards at this year's Health for All Film Festival (HAFF) organized by WHO.
'One in 36 Million: Story of Childhood Lead Poisoning in Bangladesh', directed by Arifur Rahma and Mitali Das and produced by Pure Earth Bangladesh, won the award under the Better Health and Well-being category. 'When Climate Change Turns Violent' a film by Vandita Sariya from India won the Special Prize under the Climate Change and Health category.
The WHO initiated HAFF in 2019 to make audio-visual language a key component of the organisation’s "communicating for health impact" approach. Well-produced and well-targeted short films can improve the health status of some groups by encouraging behaviour change or providing knowledge, motivation, or skills needed for people to take action.
This year, more than 780 entries were received. Of them, 93 films were shortlisted which covered issues ranging from anxiety and depression through to the effects of climate change on health, as well as the health challenges of people with disabilities, The films were judged by a panel of distinguished professionals, artists and activists, including the renown actors, Sharon Stone and Alfonso Herrera, dance choreographer, Sherrie Silver, climate activist, Sophia Kianni and media personality, Adelle Onyango. They were joined by senior United Nations officials, and WHO staff from all over the world participated in this preselection. Senior experts and acclaimed professionals in the field of filmmaking further screened the shortlisted films.
The awards were announced at a ceremony last night.
Since 2020, the Health for All Film Festival has gathered more than 4300 submissions from 110 countries. As of April 2023, WHO has included 300 titles in its catalogue to improve the health status of people globally.