Danya Institute Inc.

Art With Impact – Mental Health Short Film Competition

One of Art With Impact‘s goals is to use short film to create awareness and discussion about mental health. In order to achieve that goal it sponsors a monthly short film contest. Winning filmmaker to receive $1,000 cash prize and have work featured in campus events around the country. Film projects can be up to 5 minutes in length, of any genre, using mental health as the point of interest. Film topics may either be interpretive of mental health, or address it directly.

While focused on colleges and universities, these films can certainly be used in other contexts as well. Below are the first four winners of this contest. We found these beautifully crafted films to be very moving.  We hope to see them put to good use and contribute to many good conversations about behavioral health.

 Always Hope

Suicide affects young men more than any age group, in fact, men are three times more likely to take their own life than women. Among men under the age of 35, suicide is the second most common cause of death.  On every journey there is always an opportunity to turn around.

Black and Shiny Things

After Joesph has a mental breakdown in a suicidal attempt to reach out for help, his Mom, goes in search for a solution to help her son. Sometimes the question we ask ourselves are complicated but the answers are simple. This film is about mental illness and how a family comes together to overcome their obstacle with understanding, hope and love.

Crooked Beauty

Destigmatize Mental Illness:  Reject the Silence