Universal Health Coverage (UHC)

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Category 1

(1-8 minutes long)

Films about mental health, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and other UHC stories linked to communicable diseases are not part of emergencies.

Australia - Mental health / Animation

The Quiet 

Directed by Radheya Jegatheva (Malaysia and Australia)

This film covers the journey of the mind through self-discovery. 

Cambodia – Tuberculosis (TB) / Documentary

The last mile is the longest

Directed by Ripple Effect Images (United States of America)

The monsoon season can turn entire communities into islands for months at a time, cutting them off from medical services. In a country dealing with an alarming Tuberculosis crisis, this is a recipe for disaster. 

Cameroon – Health promotion and prevention / Documentary

Mezoh's lamentation 

Directed by Tikum Titus Akuro (Republic of Cameroon)

A strong speech from a teenage girl calling directly to her peers to check their health status to prevent potential infections.

El Salvador - Tribute to health workers / Animation

Phosphôros 

Directed by Susana Beatriz Serrano (El Salvador)

A beautiful tribute to the heroes and heroines dressed in white – the health workers saving lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

France - Cancer / Documentary

I feel I am a woman

Directed by Juliette Chapal (France)

Sarah is thirty years old and has breast cancer. She embraces her newfound changes by participating in a photoshoot with her painted skull.

Greece - Mental health / Fiction

No offense 

Directed by Dimitris Andjus (Greece) and Calliopi Villy Kotoula (Greece)

Bullying can happen to anyone at any age, in any walk of life. This is the story of a girl who overcomes the painful experience of bullying. 

India - Mental health / Documentary

These demons are not who you are

Directed by Shumail Mirza (India)

The film covers the experiences of four individuals struggling with mental health issues. It hopes to separate the person from the illness, and as a result, demystify mental illnesses and how they make you feel.

Iran - Human organ transplantation / Fiction

The eye 

Directed by Omid Seifi (Iran)

The film shows the benefits of human organ transplantation through the story of a photographer who donates her eyes.

Malawi - Social determinants of health / Documentary

Chipatala cha pa Foni 

Directed by Hope Ngwira and Kat Tillman from VillageReach (Malawi), Dr. Lindi Van Niekerk, from Chembe Collaborative (South Africa), and Anna Telford at Butterfly Films.

The film presents the Chipatala cha pa Foni project, a phone-based health services delivery center which has increased access to health care services.

Mexico - Mental health / Documentary

Alzheimer, the person I was

Directed by Rocío Siqueiros and Raúl García (Mexico)

With illustrative footage, this story documents the evolution of Alzheimer’s disease through therapeutic and research efforts helping patients and their families in Mexico.

Nigeria - Cancer / Documentary

The malady 

Directed by Mnena Akpera (Nigeria)

This documentary explores the lives of people living with cancer. The aim of the film is to stress the importance of testing and early detection.

Pakistan - Digital health / Documentary

DoctHERs Telemedicine

Directed by Maheen Dhanani (Pakistan)

The film shows a project that reintegrates female doctors/healthcare providers (HCPs) who have been excluded from the workforce, by using a digital health platform.

Portugal - Noncommunicable diseases / Documentary

How to fly with Multiple Sclerosis 

Directed by João Meirinhos (Portugal)

A video about Pedro Silva's jump while living with Multiple Sclerosis - an homage to all those who dare to defy prejudice and live with dignity.

United Kingdom - Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) / Fiction

Antibiotics: a matter of time

Directed by Juliet Riddell (United Kingdom)

A film that travels through time with artist Nina Dunn to unveil the risks of drug resistance. 

United States of America - Mental health / Animation

Inhale, Exhale, Draw

Directed by Cynthia White (United States of America)

This is the story of a child suffering from chronic anxiety and depression, following his journey to fight his fears with the help of meditative drawing.

Health Emergencies

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Category 2

(1-8 minutes long)

Films about health emergencies in the current humanitarian context, for instance, COVID-19, Ebola, disaster relief, and health in war zones.

Angola - Covid-19 / Fiction

WHY

Directed by Nuno Barreto (Portugal)

This is the story of a lonely girl affected by the pandemic restrictions.

Benin - Covid-19 / Fiction

Deep silence 

Directed by Beaucéjour Akodjenou (Benin) and Idayatou Ibrahim (Benin)

The staggering rise in COVID-19 infections and deaths around the world traumatizes a young woman. At home, she struggles with the fear of contracting the virus and infecting her daughter.

China - Covid-19 / Fiction

I realize 

Directed by Watermelon Yuanfeng Song (China)

The story of an ambitious 18-year-old boy who becomes increasingly depressed during the pandemic lockdown in China.

Colombia - Covid-19 / Fiction

Unity 

Directed by by Alejandro Montoya (Colombia)

A film about what it means to face isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ethiopia - Mental health of refugees/ Documentary

Picture: hope 

Directed by Shelley Wenk (United States of America)

The story of the International Medical Corps and National Geographic, who in 2019 teamed up to bring Photo Camp to a group of young Somali refugees from Melkadida Refugee Camp in Ethiopia. 

India - Covid-19 / Documentary

The invisible humans 

Directed by Aaron Mathew (India)

The film highlights the stories of an invisible generation - our elderly citizens, who have been forced into oblivion during the pandemic.

Iraq - Water, sanitation and health / Documentary

Restoring dignity through water, sanitation and hygiene 

Directed by Ayar Freedom (Iraq) and Solidarités International (France)

The story of Solidarités International, leading a project in Iraq to provide access to water, hygiene, and sanitation to displaced families in Ninewa, Salahaldin, Sulaymaniyah, Diyala, and Baghdad. 

Jordan - Covid-19 / Documentary

Stressed: A pandemic of fear

Directed by Daniel Wheeler (UK)

An alarming rise in stress levels amongst displaced children in the Middle East due to COVID-19. With no end to the outbreak in sight, stress poses a major threat to the health of some of the world's most vulnerable children.

Kenya - Covid-19 / Documentary

KWA MUDA 

Directed by Gibran Mwaisa (Kenya)

The film tells us the story of a young university student who returned home after all learning institutions were closed by the government due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is his journey to ensure the people in his area have clean water to protect themselves against the virus. 

Mexico - Covid-19 / Animation

Our true heroes 

Directed by Cid Rodrigo Castillero Mortera (Mexico)

A symbolic homage to frontline health workers and their response to the pandemic – superheroes in their fight against the virus.

Mongolia - Covid-19 / Documentary

Far Away 

Directed by Battulga Gantulga (Mongolia)

This film shows how the healthcare workers in some communities in Mongolia were trained to respond to COVID-19.

The Philippines - Covid-19 / Fiction

Miss You, George!

Directed by Mark Moneda (Philippines)

A boy in quarantine maintains a long-distance friendship with a frontline health worker in the midst of the pandemic.

Romania - Emergency preparedness - Documentary

Red Cross disaster preparedness

Directed by Catalin Tiriplic, Filip Scarlat (Romania) and Romanian Red Cross (Romania)

Natural disasters often strike unannounced. This film is about warm-hearted volunteers who make an effort to be always ready to save as many lives as possible. 

Ukraine - Health care in conflict context - Documentary

(Un)forgotten

Directed by Zdeněk Chaloupka (Czech Republic)

This is the story of the aftermath of an armed conflict, which broke out in eastern Ukraine, leaving thousands of people without health care, It follows the MSF mobile clinic, which visited the villages near the front line in November 2019. 

United Kingdom - Covid-19 - Animation

Coronavirus vaccines explained

Directed by Laura Foster, Kate Forbes, Terry Saunders, Mattea Bubalo and Mel Lou (United Kingdom)

What's the difference between the COVID-19 vaccines? This film takes you through the approval process for vaccines in the UK: Pfizer-BioNTech, Astra-Zeneca, and Moderna.

United States of America - Covid-19 / Documentary

Case of Emergency: COVID Story 

Directed by Carolyn Jones and Lisa Frank (United States of America)

An inside look at the daily lives of nurses working in emergency services in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Better Health and Well-being

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Category 3

(1-8 minutes long)

Films about environmental and social determinants of health, such as nutrition, sanitation, pollution, gender, and/or health promotion or health education.

Albania - Water, sanitation and health / Fiction

Cefalea 

Directed by Kim Hyejin (Republic of Korea)

Elira lives with her father and grandmother In a small village close to the Patos-Marinza oil field in Albania. Since her mother passed away, she has experienced various physical symptoms including a chronic headache

Bangladesh - Women and gender equity / Documentary

Shopna

Directed by Oliver Meinborn (Germany) and Björn Weber (Germany)

When Shopna's husband fell sick, the family put all of their financial resources towards his treatment. This film follows her journey to empowerment.

Benin - Environmental health / Documentary

SOS Pier 

Directed by Sossoukpe Iris Ghislain and Gueli Woosung Ulrich (Benin)

This documentary film follows Anas Séko and his friends and documents their actions motivated by patriotic will and the desire to make his country a cleaner and more attractive place to live.

 

China - Occupational health / Documentary

Sleepless 

Directed by Lu Xiaohong (China)

Directed by Emily Oliver and Laura Price (United Kingdom)

Match 

Directed by Vincent Hazard (France)

Gregory has been wheelchair-bound since falling off a roof. As he trained for a new career he seemed to be on the road to recovery, but things have taken an unexpected turn in the last few weeks.

 

India - Cancer / Documentary

The journey of hope 

Directed by Jorik Dozy (Netherlands) and Sean Lin (Malaysia)

This is the story of Sapna, a 10-year-old girl who takes an eight-hour overnight train every week in order to reach a hospital where she can access affordable cancer treatment.

 

Indonesia - Ageing / Documentary

My healthy, my struggle 

Directed by Qudsi Soni Febita (Indonesia)

Fresh is healthy 

Directed by the Israeli Ministry Of Health (Israel)

A film that helps to encourage people to prioritize fresh, unprocessed food over ultra-processed foods for their children.

 

Nepal - Menstrual hygiene and health / Documentary

Break the Silence: the right to bleed with dignity 

Directed by Haechan HA, Yumin Kim (Republic of Korea)

Photovoice: the voice of those affected

Directed by Mesoamerican Nephropathy by Oriana Ramirez-Rubio (Spain)

Efun /Flesh 

Directed by Anita Abada (Nigeria)

As part of traditions, to achieve womanhood, a young girl is forced to undergo Female Genital Mutilation - even though she believes she has a right to make decisions about her own body.  

United Kingdom - Typhoid / Animation

Alice in Typhoidland 

Directed by Samantha Vanderslott (United Kingdom) and Claas Kirchhelle (Germany)

Typhoid plagued the population of Victorian England and is still a major threat to global health.  Glide with us on a murky ride as we journey down the sewer hole into Oxford’s underside.

United States of America - Environmental health / Documentary

Running through barriers 

Directed by Julia Ngeow (Australia) and Ben Severance (United States of America)

A short that features the Vermont-based ultra-runner, author, and social justice advocate, Mirna Valerio, which explores the interrelation between environmentalism and racial justice.

Worldwide - Covid-19 / Documentary

Open doors 

Directed by Breech Asher Harani (Phillippines)

This short film highlights 10 people, from 10 countries, all from different backgrounds, expressing their feelings and concerns for their well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health Equity

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Special Prize

(1-8 minutes long)

Films paying tribute to the theme of the World Health Day campaign in 2021

Brazil - Access to health care / Documentary

Beatriz 

Directed by Diego Imai and Ricardo d'Avila (Brazil)

For three days, a team of doctors, dentists, and volunteers serve hundreds of families from riverside communities without access to health posts and hospitals.

Germany - Women and  gender equity / Fiction

My name is Sami

Directed by Daniela Lucato (Italy)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sami calls a friend to let her how she feels and what she is going through during the difficult times. 

India - Gender equality / Documentary

The outcasted

Directed by Gautami Purushottam Berde

The film raises awareness about the social determinants that affect transgender people's health in India as a result of social rejection. 

Iran - Water, sanitation and health / Documentary

Gando

Directed by Teymour Ghaderi (Iran)

This film brings light to the story of a girl named Hawa and her trip to bring clean water to her family while she faces the Gando (Cocodrile in Iranian).

Kenya - Social exclusion / Documentary

Trachoma in Turkana

Directed by Kate McCoy, Taome Bamford-White and Tom Jenkinson (UK)

The challenges around finding and treating the last remaining cases of trachoma in Turkana, northern Kenya.

Mozambique - Access to health care / Documentary

The Beat of Change: Rheumatic Heart Disease

Directed by 
World Heart Federation (Switzerland)

In this film we follow the daily struggles of a young mother from Mozambique, who is diagnosed with Rheumatic heart disease (RHD), to dive into the difficulties, the stigma and the lack of awareness surrounding this devastating disease. 

Nepal -  Women and gender equity / Animation

Menstrual hygiene

Directed by NHEICC (Nepal)

An animated educational video on menstrual health and hygiene management in Nepal.

New Zealand - Healthy ageing / Animation

Elder Birdsong

Directed by Sarina Pearson (New Zealand)

An Owl, a Tui, and a pair of Godwits deliver some hard truths about growing old in New Zealand.

Uganda - Access to health care for children / Documentary

The Paediatric point of care clinical trial collaboration

Directed by Giulia Gaudenzi (Italy) and Philip Sundbom (Sweden)

This short documentary follows a large pediatric study developed to advance the diagnosis of meningitis among children in the rural western region of Uganda. Meet the scientists behind and their cutting-edge research.

United Kingdom - Cancer / Fiction

Uncle Mike

Directed by Neil Ahwan (United Kingdom)

This short film aims to spread awareness amongst men about prostate cancer and encourage them to talk with each other, and seek advice and support.