90 Films Make WHO Health For All Film Festival Shortlist

Ninety films by 800 filmmakers from 106 countries made the shortlist of the fourth edition of the WHO Health for All Film Festival.

Submitted film centered on a variety of themes ranging from trauma of war to living with COVID 19 and HIV/AIDS, mental health issues to disabilities, diseases to environmental and social factors of health including, gender-based violence (GBV).

The public is urged to watch and vote for the shortlisted films on WHO YouTube channel where all selected films are accessible in six playlists, one for each of the competition categories: Universal Health Coverage, Health Emergencies, Better Health and Well-Being, Climate Change and Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Very Short Films.

“The Health for All Film Festival gathers powerful stories on many health issues from all over the world, bringing emotion and a human face to WHO’s scientific work,” says WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Film has great potential to raise awareness of lesser-known health issues and improve understanding of people’s experiences with health – these are important ways to advance towards Health for All.”

To review the shortlisted films is a jury comprising international artistes and development leaders including American actress, Sharon Stone; Mexican actor, Alfonso Herrera; Indian singer, Ricky Kej; Rwandan dance choreographer, Sherrie Silver; UN Under-Secretary-General, Melissa Fleming; and Kenyan media personality and podcaster, Adelle Onyango.

Jurors will review and recommend winners to the WHO Director General, Dr Ghebreyesus, who will make the final decisions. Winners will of the festival – which include three (3) Grand Prix and four (4) special prizes will be announced in June 2023, at the virtual Awards ceremony followed by a series of discussions with winners and jurors.

Since its kickoff in 2020, the WHO Health for All Film Festival has witnessed over 4300 submissions with about 300 submissions this year, 2023.