WHO Announces Winners of 5th Health for All Film Festival

The event, inaugurated by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was attended by high-level representatives from Member States and celebrities from the cinema and arts domain.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the winners of its 5th Health for All Film Festival today during a special event that also launched WHO’s Investment Round on the eve of the Seventy-Seventh World Health Assembly in Geneva.

The event, inaugurated by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was attended by high-level representatives from Member States and celebrities from the cinema and arts domain. Winners were revealed across seven categories, with four films receiving special mentions from the jury.

This year’s festival, in its fifth edition, attracted nearly 1,000 entries from filmmakers worldwide, addressing issues such as gender equity, war trauma, burnout, climate change, and healthy ageing. A panel of distinguished professionals, artists, and activists, including renowned actors Nandita Das, Sharon Stone, and Alfonso Herrera, filmmaker Apolline Traoré, Olympic swimmer Yusra Mardini, artist Mário Macilau, and film director Paul Jerndal, judged the 61 shortlisted films alongside senior United Nations officials and WHO staff.

“WHO’s Health for All Film Festival gathers many powerful stories about various health experiences from people worldwide,” said Dr. Tedros. “Listening to these stories helps us understand people’s lived experiences and move towards achieving better health for all.”

The festival awarded a “Grand Prix” for each of the three main competition categories: Universal health coverage, Health emergencies, and Better health and well-being, which align with WHO’s Triple Billion Targets.

Nandita Das, Indian actor, filmmaker, and social advocate, expressed her excitement about being a juror. “Films can create awareness, challenge prejudices, ask uncomfortable questions, and tell stories that need to be told. Health is our right and responsibility. Celebrating films that focus on these issues is important. I am glad to announce the winners of the 5th edition of this annual event.”

Special prizes were also awarded for a student-produced film, a film on physical activity and health, a film on migrants and refugees’ health, and a very short film.

This year’s winning entries prominently featured mental health themes. One powerful short film from France depicted the struggles of a 14-year-old caring for her mother, who has cancer. Another winning film from Türkiye followed the recovery of a young Syrian refugee mother who survived the February 6, 2023 earthquakes.

List of Awarded Films:

• Universal Health Coverage "Grand Prix":“The Visionary Women of Indonesia” – Indonesia / Disabilities; Blindness; RehabilitationDirected by Nalin Narang (Australia) from The Fred Hollows Foundation / Documentary – Duration 5’10’’

• Health Emergencies "Grand Prix":“Journey Beyond the Rubble” – Türkiye / Natural disasters; Earthquake; Internally displaced personsDirected by Mumen Sayed Issa and Atheer Salem Bahr (Türkiye) from the Independent Doctors Association / Documentary – Duration 7’09’’

• Better Health and Well-being "Grand Prix":“Color” – Spain / Gender equityDirected by Eva Jakubovska (Poland/Spain) / Fiction – Duration 8’

• Special Prize Physical Activity and Health Film:"Ping Pong Parkinsons” – United States of America / Mental health; Parkinson; Physical activityDirected by Dave Steck (United States of America) from Numeric Pictures company / Documentary - Duration 3’06’’

• Special Prize Migrants and Refugees Health Film:“Dalal's Story” – Iraq / Trauma; War; Refugees health; Mental healthDirected by Alexandra Cordukes from Laundry Lane Productions (Australia) / Animation – Duration 6’15’’

• Student Film Prize:“Mom & Me, and that... (Maman & Moi, et ça...)” – France / NCDs - Cancer; Mental healthDirected by Elisa Tiozzo (France) / Animation – Duration 3’56’’

• Special Prize Very Short Film:“Cycle Path” – United Kingdom / Environment; Climate change and healthDirected by Red Wade (United Kingdom) / Fiction – Duration 3’

Films Receiving a Special Mention from the Jury:

• Health Emergencies Special Mention:“The Island (ADA)” – Türkiye / Drought; Climate change; MigrationDirected by Mahmut Taş (Türkiye) / Documentary – Duration 5’

• Better Health and Well-being Special Mention:“The Pure” – Iran / Social determinants of health; Access to hygieneDirected by Masoud Mashouf (Iran) / Fiction – Duration 4’37’’

• Universal Health Coverage Special Mention:“Beyond The Last Mile - The Story of Rose Magayi” – Malawi / Health workforce; CommunityDirected by Carlo Lechea / Village Reach (NGO in Africa) / Documentary – Duration 8’

• Very Short Film Special Mention:“Human Being. Handle with Care” – Global / Mental health; Stress; Healthy dietDirected by Maya Adam (United States of America) from the Stanford School of Medicine / Fiction – Duration 2’21’’

The event also featured performances by Egyptian opera singer Farrah El-Dibany and pianist Jeff Cohen. A post-event reception hosted by Germany included remarks from basketball star Pau Gasol and a performance by choreographer Sherrie Silver and young dancers.