1 in 4 Film Festival marks 10th anniversary
The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is celebrating a decade of stamping out stigma and raising mental health awareness with the 10th anniversary of the 1 in 4 Film Festival.
The popular annual event shines the spotlight on mental health through its annual film festival, which screens a variety of feature films that highlight a wide range of mental health issues followed by an audience discussion.
The film festival is organised by UCLan’s Comensus and Service Users and Carers Advisory Group with help from local community support groups. Its 10th anniversary was marked on World Mental Health Day with staff, students and members of the public coming together on the opening night.
Phyllis Prior-Egerton has been on the 1 in 4 Film Festival organising committee for the last eight years. She said: “We’re really excited to be celebrating a decade of the event which has grown in popularity each year. With one in four people suffering from mental health issues, it is something that affects us all in one way or another.”
"Through the festival we want to stamp out stigma and prompt discussion and films provide a good platform to do this."
Fellow committee member Susan Blowers added: “Through the festival we want to stamp out stigma and prompt discussion and films provide a good platform to do this. People often tell us they feel like they can be more open and ask questions at the event, which can only be a good thing and breaks down barriers.”
Lisa Malihi-Shoja, Comensus Co-ordinator and UCLan Community Engagement Ambassador, said: “UCLan is proud to support the 1 in 4 Film Festival and we can see how much progress it’s made over the last decade in bringing people together to talk openly about mental health.
“The festival is the only service user and carer-led film festival in the UK and the Comensus and Service Users and Carers Advisory Group (SUCAG) does a great job of working with local community groups to organise the event and create the opportunity for open discussion about what is often a taboo subject.”
The 1in 4 Film Festival runs until Friday 14 October. Each film will be screened at 7.00pm preceded by entertainment at 6.30pm. For more information about the One in Four Film Festival and screening times call 01772 893818, visit the UCLan Comensus Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UCLanComensus/ or email comensusoffice@uclan.ac.uk People can also follow UCLan Comensus on Twitter @UCLanComensus
View images from the anniversary gathering on UCLan's Flickr gallery.