The World Health Organization (WHO) calls for submissions of short films for its 2024 Health for All Film Festival. Now in its fifth year, the Festival is an annual opportunity for health champions and advocates to raise their voices and tell stories of people facing various health issues and challenges.
Two topics will be highlighted in this next edition: the health of migrants and refugees, leaving their homes because of wars, disasters, climate change, or other reasons; and physical activities as a means of staying healthy.
The regular three “Grand Prix” will also be awarded, one for each category aligned with WHO’s major global public health goals: universal health coverage, providing support in health emergencies, and better health and well-being. Films submitted in all of these categories should not exceed 8 minutes.
There will also be two special prizes: one for a student-produced film, and one for a very short film (of 1-3 minutes).
The call opens on 1 November and the deadline for submissions is on 31 January 2024.
“The WHO Health for All Film Festival has become an incredible platform for telling powerful stories from around the world about people who face all kinds of health challenges, and those who devote their lives to improving health,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Films provide an authentic way for affected people to connect with others and contribute to a better understanding of the communities we serve.”
Submissions for the Festival can be made by public institutions, nongovernmental organizations, communities of patients and health workers, students of public health, and film schools from around the world. The Festival is also open to independent filmmakers, production companies, and TV broadcasters.
Around 90 shortlisted films will be presented to the public in April 2024 on WHO’s YouTube channel and website. From this list, a jury of distinguished professionals, artists, activists and senior experts at WHO will select the winning films.
Sharon Stone, critically acclaimed actress from the USA and public advocate on health and humanitarian issues, will, once again, join the 2024 Festival jury. She previously participated as a member of the jury in 2022 and 2023.
Winning films from the Festival help to increase awareness and support for key health issues worldwide. With an average of 1000 submissions each year from more than 100 countries, the films are increasingly being used by other institutions and partners for health promotion and education.