Health in Focus Film Festival

*We have decided to cancel the festival for this year. Thank you for your support.*

The mission of the Health in Focus Film Festival is to improve the health of populations by pairing compelling visual stories with thoughtful discussion. The schedule consists of three invited, feature-length films, a panel discussion, and three blocks of short films. Awards will be granted to the best short film, as selected by a jury, as well as an audience favorite and a young filmmaker.

Submissions

Films must be less than 20 minutes in length and subject matter must relate to public health. See examples of themes below:

hate, incarceration, suicide, substance use, climate change, reproductive justice, firearm violence, inequities (economic, gender, race, LGBTQIA+, transgender, immigrants, refugees), aging, activism, urban health, prevention, innovation, media, social movements, nurturing empathy

Submissions must be in English or have English subtitles. Selected films must also provide closed captions. Filmmakers must hold or have cleared all rights to film content, in particular for the purpose of public screening.

 

Browse 2022 Films

Tickets

Health in Focus Film Festival is pleased to participate in the Card to Culture program, a collaboration between Mass Cultural Council and the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Massachusetts Health Connector, and the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program by extending discounts to EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders.

75% off of tickets and passes for:

  • EBT: A collaboration between Mass Cultural Council and the Department of Transitional Assistance. See the full list of participating organizations online. Please use code “MCC75EBT”.
  • WIC: A collaboration between Mass Cultural Council and the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program. See the full list of participating organizations online. Please use code “MCC75WIC”.
  • ConnectorCare: A collaboration between Mass Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Health Connector. See the full list of participating organizations online. Please use code “MCC75CC”.

2022 Award Winners

Best Short: The Panola Project

Highlighting the heroic efforts of Dorothy Oliver to keep her small town of Panola, Alabama safe from COVID-19, the film chronicles how an often-overlooked rural Black community came together in creative ways to survive.

Emerging Filmmaker: Time Sick

When work becomes a nightmare for a doctor during the COVID-19 pandemic, wisdom from her great grandmother helps her make a difficult decision.

Audience Favorite: A Donation Conversation

A documentary that explores the many sides of organ transplant and donation, offering a glimpse into the lives of the people involved in the process.