Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival

The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (SMHAF), led by the Mental Health Foundation, is one of the world’s largest social justice festivals. In 2019, the most recent in-person festival, SMHAF attracted attendances of over 25,000 at more than 300 events staged throughout Scotland, including film, performing arts, literature, music and visual arts. Now in its 16th year, SMHAF calls on filmmakers, established or aspiring, to submit films addressing mental health, and the various ways this can be understood or reflected. In its programming, SMHAF is renowned for championing work by filmmakers with lived experience of mental ill health, films that challenge stigma and perceptions about mental health, and films that raise awareness about the mental health experiences of marginalised communities. Its screenings draw attention to specific mental health problems, but we are also keen to present innovative and diverse perspectives on mental health and wellbeing, and work that resonates with people with lived experience. Films of any length, genre and style are welcome. Screenings at SMHAF 2022 are planned to take place in-person, with selected titles also available for online audiences. However, final plans will be developed in accordance with Covid-19 guidance. Most in-person screenings will take place at CCA: Centre for Contemporary Arts in Glasgow from 12-15 May 2022, but we may also feature programming at cinemas and other venues across Scotland throughout the festival.