DIRECTORS KETHIWE NGCOBO, SARA CHITAMBO AND JULIA JAKI
This dynamic forum will consider the power of storytelling through film in reducing the stigma surrounding mental health, especially in underserved communities in South Africa. Black People Don’t Get Depressed, Dorpie and 1001 Days showcase personal experiences and the transformative power of communal support in overcoming obstacles and the critical need to support mental health. The conversation explores filmmakers Kethiwe Ngcobo, Sara Chitambo and Julia Jaki’s distinctive approaches to storytelling in documentary and resilience-building practices in communities facing systemic oppression in a climate of mental health crisis in South Africa. Additionally, it addresses the accessibility and responsiveness of mental health services to diverse groups, emphasising the need to challenge existing mental health messaging and create a more inclusive environment for victims of circumstance, depression and gender-based violence. We invite attendees to join participate in this interactive conversation sharing related personal experiences and perspectives.
1001 DAYS
Dir. Chloe White & Kethiwe Ngcobo | South Africa/United Kingdom | 2022 | 97 min
1001 Days offers a tender and eye-opening account of the Ubulele Visiting Home programme in Alexandra, South Africa. Following eight devoted women, the film is a poignant reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the transformative power of communal support.
BLACK PEOPLE DON’T GET DEPRESSED
Dir. Sara Chitambo | South Africa | 2023 | 107 min
Sara Chitambo shares her mental health journey and seeks out individuals to share their stories, highlighting stigmas and secrecy surrounding mental health problems for people of colour. The film sensitively conveys how art, community and storytelling are used for catharsis.
DORPIE
Julia Jaki | South Africa/Germany | 2022 | 75 min
Dorpie follows community worker Lana O’Neill as she establishes a safe house in Bredasdorp, a town plagued by poverty, addiction and sexual violence against women. The film offers a moving tribute to Lana's compassion, while highlighting important structural inequalities.
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