The D-RRIG Film Bursary Scheme exists to provide opportunities for people interested in using film (or video) to tell stories or share narratives about mental health, from any perpective.

We believe that films (much like books) can change the way we think, feel, and ultimately deal with life events. Films can speak to us at many levels, particularly when they provide an opportunity to learn about ourselves in more profound ways based on how we respond to different characters and scenes.

Taking what we believe to be the potential transformative effect that films have, moving beyond just transporting viewers into new worlds and fantasies, we think that film has the power — perhaps beyond that of any other medium — to shed light on an issue through telling a story and chronicling history.

While there is no shortage of mental health issues depicted in films, unfortunately their treatment is often inaccurate and negative, with the primarily intention often being to entertain. As a result, little appears to be done to stretch audiences and to move away from popular stereotypes. We think that this pervasive portrayal of mental health means that for many people these narratives are their primary source of mental health information.

The current call for films can be found here