Mental Health Foundation Australia presents

2nd Multicultural Mental Health Film Festival

join us on 31 October 2024!

Tickets on FilmFreeway

Announcing the Official Selections for the 2024 Multicultural Mental Health Film Festival!


We proudly present a diverse lineup of short films exploring mental health and multiculturalism through powerful storytelling. Join us on Thursday, October 31st at 6:30pm at Lido Cinemas, Hawthorn, Melbourne, to celebrate these incredible filmmakers and their contributions.

SELECTED FILMS (Australian)

Bird Drone

Directed by Radheya Jang Jegatheva. Australia

SELECTED FILMS (INTERNATIONAL)

Alma

Directed by Chandan Savio Games. India

About

Now open to international submissions, the festival highlights the impact of mental illness on people from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to Armenian, Indian, Palestinian, Chinese, Filipino, African, Iranian, African-American, Italian, Caucasian, German, Irish, Spanish, Hawaiian, Mexican, Greek, Jewish, Korean, and Turkish communities.


We celebrate and champion all voices and talents by seeking films that explore themes of language, identity, culture, religion, sociocultural and economic stressors, political issues, migrant and refugee struggles, xenophobia, and intergenerational trauma.


These films should address how mental illnesses, such as addiction, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, insomnia, OCD, PTSD, personality disorders, phobias, and schizophrenia, intersect with these aspects of identity and culture.


Our aim is to showcase the power of diversity and highlight important stories from all cultures and communities.

Submissions Open: Saturday the 1st of June, 2024 

Early-Bird Deadline/Entrants are reminded of the Deadline: Tuesday the 16th of July, 2024 

Regular Deadline/Submissions Close: Friday the 23rd of August, 2024 

Announcement of Selection:  Friday the 4th of October, 2024 

Screening of films and awarding: Thursday the 31st of October, 2024 

Australian Categories*  

1. Best Short Film (Narrative Live-Action)  

2. Best Experimental Short Film (Art Film/Non-Narrative)  

3. Best Documentary Short Film  

4. Best Animation Short Film  


*Note: In a brief of up to 150 words, entrants must inform the festival of their culture and or language background, and what mental illnesses their film explores. This must be written in English. Entrants must either be from Australia, currently living in Australia, have lived in Australia, or the film must be produced in Australia.


International Categories*

1. Best International Short Film (Narrative Live-Action)  

2. Best International Experimental Short Film (Art Film/Non-Narrative)    

3. Best International Documentary Short Film 

4. Best International Animation Short Film 


*Note: In a brief 150 words, entrants must inform the festival of their culture and or language background, and what mental illnesses their film explores. This must be written in English. For the International categories, entrants can apply from anywhere in the world. Entrants can apply from anywhere in the world, except Australia 

Entry fees breakdown for all categories:

Standard Entry: $10

Student Entry: $8

FilmFreeway Gold Members: $5  

Filmmakers can submit their films by clicking the link on the Multicultural Mental Health Film Festival page as seen on the Mental Health Foundation of Australia’s website. This link will direct filmmakers to Film Freeway, where they can submit their films.  

Alternatively, filmmakers can type in the “Multicultural Mental Health Film Festival” on Film Freeway and submit it from their website.    

This year's Jury for the Multicultural Mental Health Film Festival includes award-winning filmmaker and Festival Director Matthew Keisoglu, editor and screen producer Ramin Iranfar, filmmaker and columnist Roby J. D’Ottavi, and independent filmmaker Anastasiya Bura. 

The judging process will prioritize films based on their alignment with the festival's criteria. Only a limited number of films from each category will be chosen for screening during the festival's awarding/closing ceremony.

Selected filmmakers will receive invitations to attend the ceremony, which will take place on October 31st at Lido Cinemas, Cinema 3, located in Hawthorn, VIC 3122. 

 

Selected films will be adorned with a laurel, marking their official selection. Winners will receive engraved trophies for their achievements, along with special laurels recognizing them as champions in their categories. The screening/ceremony will be catered. 


Winners of the Best Film award in each category at our film festival will also receive a certificate to commemorate their achievements.

Mental illness can come in many forms, and: Addictions, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, insomnias, OCD, PTSD, personality disorders, phobias, and schizophrenic disorders, to name a few. What can get in the way of treatments, dialogues and discussions is stigma, especially the stigmas that run deep within some multicultural communities. 


We believe that by making the Festival open in international categories, we can see and showcase the way that mental illness affects individual and communities from diverse cultures in either similar or different ways, detailed in people from all across the world, not just Australia.  Whether fictitious or lived experiences, we seek films that showcase sociocultural, economic and or political stressors, refugee traumas, xenophobia, intergenerational traumas, and crises of identity, culture, and religion. Films about Indigenous stories (Australian or other) are strongly considered to apply. 


We aim to use this Festival as a platform to showcase diverse mental health stories, fostering understanding and unity among communities. By sharing multicultural mental health stories, our goal is to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage communities to come together to support each other and one another.


Matthew Keisoglu

Festival Director, Multicultural Mental Health Film Festival

Reviews

We are deeply grateful for the heartfelt stories shared by those who have been touched by the Multicultural Mental Health Film Festival. Here, you'll find inspiring testimonials from filmmakers who have supported our mission to raise awareness and understanding of mental health in multicultural communities. These personal accounts highlight the festival's impact in fostering empathy, breaking down stigmas, and celebrating diverse experiences. We thank you for being part of this journey and helping us build a supportive, informed community that promotes mental wellbeing for all.

Fantastic communication, care and professionalism. A festival with lots of heart that evidently believes in the power of film for social change and specifically shining a spotlight on mental health. Would absolutely recommend.

Kaylene Tyler

Remarkable festival. wonderful communication throughout and amazing hospitality to our film rep who attended the event.

Radheya Jegatheva

It was an amazing experience and wonderful space to share our diverse story and shed an important light on health story with audiences. It was an honour to have our film screened. Congrats to Matthew and the team for organising such a great Film Festival to share multicultural stories with a very important message.

Kamil Domaradzki

Our Judges

Matthew Keisoglu

Matthew Keisoglu is an award-winning filmmaker who specialises in horror cinema.  Matthew’s work focuses on narratives that explore the intersection of sociocultural heritage and supernatural elements. He earned both a bachelor’s and Honours Degree in Film and Television from Deakin University before embarking on his current pursuit of a Master of Arts degree, where he is completing his latest short film When Dogs Bark. 


His films have garnered international acclaim, with screenings in Istanbul, Los Angeles, Florida, New York, and London, along with virtual showcases in online film festivals worldwide.


Beyond his role as a filmmaker, Matthew contributes to the global film community as a judge for the prestigious International Brightlight Film Festival, lending his expertise to identify and celebrate emerging talents. His insights and experiences have been sought after by various media outlets, including SBS Armenian, the Student World Impact Film Festival's Film Sessions podcast, 3CR Community Radio, and AGBU Melbourne, where he shares his journey and artistic vision.


As the Festival Director of the Mental Health Foundation Australia’s Multicultural Mental Health Film Festival, he spearheads initiatives to foster understanding and support through the power of storytelling. He has a cat named Sherlock. 

Ramin Iranfar

Ramin Iranfar is an editor, producer, and screenwriter. Originally from Iran, he moved to the UK at the age of 13. Growing up in a multicultural environment fostered his deep understanding and appreciation of different cultures.


Ramin has further broadened his horizons by living in the UAE and the US, connecting with people from various walks of life. His passion for understanding people and their experiences led him to pursue a degree in Psychology, enhancing his ability to empathize and connect with others. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Film from Deakin University and is committed to creating platforms that allow authentic voices to share their stories with the world without limitations. Ramin has been an active member of the Australian film and TV industry for over six years. Currently, he works with the Mental Health Foundation Australia as a producer, editor, and videographer for their podcast series, Empowering Voices of Harmony.

Anastasiya Bura

Anastasiya Bura is a film director and filmmaker exploring culture and human psychology around the world. Originally Ukrainian, she uses her extensive experience of living in Dubai, UAE and Lisbon, Portugal to tell stories and understand life. She is currently completing 2 short documentaries, “Hustlers of Dubai” and “My Playground” exploring human ambition in sports and the creative world. Anastasiya uses film and storytelling as a form of detangling complex personal emotions and dealing with the stress of life.

Roby J. D’Ottavi

Roby J. D’Ottavi is a writer, director and columnist whose work has appeared in The Age, Frankie Magazine, FilmInk and Buzzfeed. He completed the Advanced Diploma in Professional Screenwriting at RMIT in 2022. 


Roby's debut short film The Traveler was released in 2021, with his sophomore effort now circulating festivals 

Professor Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson is a leading international researcher in brain and mental health, who has more than 30 years of clinical experience in the Victorian public and private sectors, working with people who have complex mental health conditions. 


She also has more than 15 years of executive and senior leadership experience at the University of Melbourne, most recently as Pro Vice-Chancellor of Student Life. 

Dr Bulent Hass Dellal AO

Dr Bulent (Hass) Dellal AO is the Executive Director of the Australian Multicultural Foundation, Chair of the Australian Multicultural Council, the former Chair of SBS (Special Broadcasting Service) and appointed Panel Chair for the Commonwealth’s Multicultural Framework Review, May 2023. He has over 30 years of experience in multicultural affairs and serves on a number of committees and boards.

Bwe Thay

Bwe is a spirited advocate for a multicultural Australia. He works to develop the capacity of multicultural communities, with a focus on leadership development, education and employment outcomes. His involvement extends from working with individual communities to advocacy at the highest levels. His work informs the direction and policy of service providers, businesses and all levels of government.

Bwe has held many leadership roles within Victoria’s multicultural sector and is an Attaché for the Mental Health Foundation of Australia. He has been widely recognised for his advocacy, community service and professional achievements, including the Whitehorse City Council’s 2022 Citizen of the Year Award. With his strong commitment to promoting harmony by engaging and bringing communities together to build a vibrant society, Bwe’s practical, hands-on approach is well recognised within multicultural communities.



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