Let’s all go to the movies: At APHA’s Global Public Health Film Festival, people tell their own stories

The audience for APHA’s Global Public Health Film Festival may be seated in the Colorado Convention Center’s Mile High Ballroom, but really, it’s a world away: Combatting the opioid addiction crisis with the FBI, or following a former fashion photographer as he documents the lives of people with albinism, or on the pitch with women and girls playing soccer in South Africa.

That’s the power of the film fest, which for more than a decade has shown the power that film has in telling public health’s story. And today, more than ever, public health advocates have the ability and technological access to tell their own stories, says Pamela Luna, co-chair for featured sessions for the film festival.

“Filmmaking is so accessible,” she said. “We’re seeing great films being made by kids in high school. We want to educate, inspire and encourage people to take action.”

Throughout the APHA Annual Meeting, the film fest will be showing shorts, full-length features and documentaries on a variety of hot public health topics, from sports concussions to health equity. Special featured sessions, highlighted in the Annual Meeting program under the film festival tab, will take closer looks at topics, often with filmmakers or leaders in the field on hand to answer questions.

Luna noted that the featured sessions focus on issues that festival organizers believe are current public health priorities. Some sessions will also focus on how underserved populations can harness the power of film to tell their stories. After all,with today’s cellphone video capabilities, nearly everyone can be a director or producer.

Among Annual Meeting attendees, the film fest is a perennial favorite. Its continued success in drawing attention to different topics, Luna noted, is an “important added value.”

The film festival continues until the close of the Annual Meeting on Wednesday afternoon. For a full schedule, check your program. (Below is a trailer for one of the films that will be discussed on Tuesday during a special film festival session on traumatic brain injuries and sports.)