Join Us For the Show!
APHA's Global Public Health Film Festival aims to be a catalyst in the movement toward a healthier nation by sparking the conversation about health in creative ways. The film festival features public health films of all varieties and include this year's theme, "Creating the Healthiest Nation: Health Equity Now" and other general public health areas that explore and highlight public health locally, nationally and globally.
This year's film festival will include a feature film series and general films like animations, documentaries, narratives, shorts, promos and PSA and related films that demonstrate, educate, inspire, and encourage a change for a healthier future. View the full APHA Global Public Health Film Festival General Films schedule in the mobile app or Online Program.
The Gary Black Memorial Award for Excellence
Gary Black believed anyone could create a film and that the need for change and world betterment could be conveyed through art. The 2018 award winners are filmmakers who have excelled in creating a tool for a public health call to action and have encouraged advocacy through storytelling and video production.
Congratulations to:
Jay Vera and Emily Papak (30 and under category) — Death and Diabetes in the City of Angels
Cure Violence (Non-profit category) — We Can Cure Violence: An Epidemic Control Method of Preventing the Spread of Violence
Please stop by the film festival to see the award-winning films!
APHA Global Public Health Feature Film schedule
Sunday, Nov. 11, 2 - 4:30 p.m. — Film Festival Kick-off Event
The Bleeding Edge: A Groundbreaking Investigation into the Medical Device Industry
The film documents an investigation into the medical device industry and reveals an emerging health care and public health crisis and shines a light on the dark side of the relentless pace of innovation. Following the screening, film academy award nominated and highly regarded investigative journalist and film director, Kirby Dick, along with experts featured in the film will participate in a facilitated discussion and audience Q&A. Watch the trailer.

Monday, Nov. 12, 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Advancing Health Equity and Social Justice: Voices from the Field
This session features the stories of community members and leaders on neighborhood and community-specific issues. It also explores the influence of culture, social discrimination, poverty, and other key determinants of health on people’s lives and work via a series of moving interviews and stories.

Monday, Nov. 12, 1 - 2:30 p.m.
Facts Matter: Truth, Media and Public Health
Our world is awash in a super-saturated, fast-moving vast array of information from endless amounts of faces and places. This session will boost your ability to determine what is real news, what is questionable and what needs to be deleted. Watch the trailers for Truth Decay and Checkology.
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with:
- Alan Miller, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and Founder/CEO of The News Literacy Project
- Dr. Jennifer Kavanagh, lead in the RAND’s Truth Decay project
- Tessa Jolls, president and CEO Center for Media Literacy
- Paul Sission, health journalist, San Diego Union Tribune

Monday, Nov. 12, 3 - 4:30 p.m.
Community-Driven Solutions for Health Equity: A Conversation with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Community empowerment and action is key to advancing health equity. This session features films about three 2017 Culture of Health Prize Winners, and showcases stories of commitment, resilience, and teamwork across the following communities: Richmond, Virginia; Seneca Nations of Indians, New York; and San Pablo, California. This is an unique opportunity to hear from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on this topic!

Tuesday, Nov. 13, 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Reel to Real, Public Health Strategies for Combatting the Opioid Epidemic
This film session explains the underlying causes of the opioid epidemic in the United States and discusses how film can be used to break down stereotypes and barriers to addressing the opioid epidemic. After the screening, there will be a panel discussion with FBI agents connected to the film "Chasing the Dragron" and Dr. Eric Petersen and Dr. Rosalie Pacula, both noted researchers from the RAND Corp. Watch the trailers for Runnin', Addiction and Chasing the Dragon.

Connect with Us
For questions and concerns or to share exciting films and media events, please email Film Festival Chair Linda Bergonzi-King.
Film Festival Committee: Linda Bergonzi-King (Chair), Pamela Luna (Feature Sessions Co-Chair and Lead), Renata Schiavo (Feature Sessions Co-chair), Nora Lindner, Javier de la Maza Guzman and Suraj Arshanapally. The APHA Global Public Health Film Festival is organized by APHA and members of the Public Health Education and Health Promotion Section's Health Communications Working Group.