The Visible and Invisible of Mental Health

    Films

    Sorry I Missed Your Call

    I Bathe With Moths

    Unfolding

    In My Skin

    A Town Called Needville

    i absolutely hate this place

    The Spinning Wheel

    Focus Throw

    Looking Glass

    Animals

    Filmmakers

    Audrey Lane

    With a background in psychology and experience working with end-of-life and special needs individuals, Audrey embraces filmmaking with care and humility. Audrey's projects often focus on activism and delve into themes such as mental health.

    Meghna Chakraborty

    Meghna Chakraborty is an LA-based director, producer and dancer/choreographer. Her projects span documentaries, music videos and narrative film.

    A young woman with long dark hair wearing a black top and a tan skirt stands against a light blue background.

    Hae Ji Cho

    Hae Ji Cho is a Korean Brazilian American writer-director exploring the beauty and grief in human contradictions. With experience across scripted and unscripted media, her work has contributed to projects nominated for Clio, Webby, and Shorty Awards.

    Mentors

    A middle-aged man with gray hair and a serious expression sits at a wooden table, his arms crossed, with a mug in the background.

    Glenn Holsten

    Glenn Holsten creates human-driven documentary films about art, social justice and mental health. I explore journeys of recovery and discovery, and strive to give the “red carpet treatment” to stories that are hiding in plain sight.

    A man with dreadlocks wearing a red shirt and jeans sits on a set of concrete stairs in an outdoor setting.

    Bomani J Story

    Bomani J. Story, a USC graduate, is a writer and director. His 2018 film Rock Steady Row won awards at Slamdance. In 2023, his directorial debut, The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster, premiered at SXSW and theaters.

    A man with a beard and curly hair is shown against an orange background, looking directly at the camera with a friendly expression.

    Gavin Seal

    South Asian Québécois Canadian Writers Guild of Canada prize-winning filmmaker and President of Intersectionnel Films. ​ Favourite film: Gattaca

    A smiling young woman with long, dark curly hair sits in front of a bookshelf in a cozy, warm-toned setting.

    Mitra Shahidi

    Mitra Shahidi is an Iranian-American, director, screenwriter, working as a Story Artist at Pixar. Shahidi's passion for art and storytelling began at a young age and led her to pursue a career in animation in United States.

    The image shows a woman with long, dark hair wearing a black turtleneck sweater against a dark green background.

    Josephine Anderson

    Josephine Anderson is a documentary filmmaker exploring time, irreverence, and female experience. Her work has screened at Tribeca, IDFA, and Hot Docs and been showcased by The New Yorker, CBC, and the NFB. She is a Berlinale and CFC alumna.

    A middle-aged man with a beard and glasses, wearing a denim jacket, stands against a plain background.

    Jeff Petry

    Jeff Lee Petry is a Canadian-born documentary producer, director, and cinematographer. He is co-founder of SALAZAR, a Vancouver-based production company focused on documentaries. Jeff has earned a Grammy and Juno nomination, been honoured in the British parliament, and has had multiple films included in the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Library.

    A man wearing a striped hat and jacket stands in a mountainous, misty landscape.

    Edmund Stenson

    Edmund Stenson’s work as director spans both documentary and fiction and focuses on social issues, loners and nomads. He most recently directed BLINK, a National Geographic feature. Before that, he was an associate editor on BAFTA- and Oscar®-winner Navalny (2022), a documentary-thriller about the Russian dissident’s poisoning.

    A young woman with glasses sits at a table, holding two colorful toy caterpillars in front of a vibrant blue background.

    Fu Yang

    Fu is a stop-motion filmmaker and partner at the boutique animation studio, Cafe LaBobo. She specializes in mixed media storytelling and crafts each project from concept to final. In one of her past productions, she directed a segment for "Yo Gabba GabbaLand!", streaming on Apple TV+.

    A smiling woman with wavy blonde hair wearing an orange dress stands in front of a gray background.

    Natalie Sandy

    Natalie Sandy is a television and film producer for AppleTV+ based out of Los Angeles, CA. ​​​​ Favourite film: Silence of the Lambs

    A young woman with wavy blonde hair sits in a green armchair, surrounded by potted plants in a cozy, indoor setting.

    Linnea Velikonja

    Linnea is a Canadian sexologist, mental health advocate, and gender-based violence prevention specialist. Her work has involved developing and leading evidence-based education programs and resources related to sexual health in post-secondary institutions.

    A woman in a black dress is holding an Emmy award trophy while posing in front of a backdrop featuring the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences logo.

    Nancy Schwartzman

    Nancy Schwartzman is an Emmy winning and Peabody nominated documentary filmmaker and a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences.

    A man sits at a mixing console surrounded by various electronic musical instruments and equipment in a recording studio setting.

    Johnny Knittle

    Johnny is a music composer primarily for animation but loves all things sound. At 6, his first dream career was to be a syndicated comic strip artist, ended up on guitar instead. He also enjoys DnD, mainly for the cool dice.

    Jurors

    A smiling woman with dreadlocks sits comfortably in a white chair against a green wall background.

    Asha Alaji-Sharif

    With a passion for creativity, Asha aims to uplift underrepresented communities through storytelling. She is a graphic designer and filmmaker from Atlanta, GA, who has created two documentary shorts through VWI. Her favorite film is Zoolander!

    The image shows three smiling women posing together in what appears to be an office or professional setting, with a plain background behind them.

    Sierra McCullough

    Prospective Masters of Clinical Psychology student with a keen interest in film! ​ Favourite film: Charlie's Angels

    Mel Jonnson

    ​N/A - kept private due to current work

    The image shows a woman with vibrant blue hair, wearing a blue blouse and an elaborate necklace, smiling warmly against a plain background.

    Margaret Kroen

    Margaret Kroen is a clinical social worker from Baltimore. In her long diverse career, she’s learned that all people have both beauty and pain inside. Art nourishes beauty and sends love to the pain.

    A smiling woman with long, wavy red hair wearing a pink jacket and green top stands against a plain pink background.

    Kincaid Walker

    Kincaid Walker, a Northwestern graduate based in LA, is an actress, writer, and producer. She has appeared alongside Rosario Dawson, Minnie Driver, Aziz Ansari, and Nick Offerman. Kincaid also created the award-winning digital series Hug it Out and received a writing fellowship from the Ucross Foundation. Favourite film: The Royal Tenenbaums

    A young woman with long brown hair and glasses is smiling brightly in a cozy indoor setting with warm lighting and decorative elements in the background.

    Abigail Palazzo

    I'm a nonprofit communications strategist and a Georgia Bulldog! ​ ​ ​ ​Favourite film: Poor Things

    A smiling young woman with long dark hair sits in a casual setting, surrounded by what appears to be a cafe or restaurant environment.

    Emilie Cheung

    Emilie is a shorts director based in the UK. After training with the BFI Film Academy in 2016, she made her directorial debut at 17, with a commission from Channel 4’s ‘Random Acts’, for her short film ‘Pas De Deux’. She’s since gone on to direct a variety of projects; from social media commercials for ‘Adolescent Content’, to narrative shorts, including Underwire nominated ‘Walk of Shame’. sid

    A man with a beard and curly hair is shown against an orange background, looking directly at the camera with a friendly expression.

    Gavin Seal

    South Asian Québécois Canadian Writers Guild of Canada prize-winning filmmaker and President of Intersectionnel Films. ​ Favourite film: Gattaca

    A smiling young man wearing glasses and a plaid shirt stands in front of a storefront with signs advertising currency exchange services.

    David McShane

    Director and animator based in London, love stories centered around queerness & fantasy. Primarily work in stop-motion! ​ Favourite film: Pan's Labyrinth

    A man with a serious expression sits on a bench in front of a rocky, cave-like background.

    Nich Perez

    Nich Perez is a Filipino-American filmmaker and educator, blending human connection with storytelling. Through his nonprofit, the Nonprofit Film Collective, he crafts powerful narratives that inspire change. His latest film, letters to eleanore, explores disability, hope, and community.

    A smiling young man in a gray suit stands in front of a modern glass and steel building.

    Juan Sosa

    Juan Sosa, M.D. is a psychiatrist with sub-specialty training in forensic and addiction psychiatry. Dr. Sosa appreciates the use of various art forms, including film, to highlight and reflect on the impact mental illness has on those diagnosed.

    A young woman with long hair stands in a field, gazing at the vibrant orange and red sunset in the background.

    Aliza Brugger

    Aliza Brugger, an award-winning screenwriter and director from rural Nebraska with an MFA from Columbia, lives in Los Angeles. Their internationally recognized work explores queerness, class, and family dysfunction, aiming to create empathy and connection through narrative, music, and commercial projects.

    A middle-aged man with a beard and tousled hair gazes directly at the camera, set against a blurred outdoor background.

    Randy Kelly

    Randy Kelly is an award-winning director, editor, and cameraman based in the Ottawa/Gatineau area. With 25 years of experience in film, TV, and documentaries, he focuses on projects highlighting Indigenous cultures, traveling across Canada and internationally.

    A young woman with long, wavy reddish-brown hair stands outdoors, smiling at the camera against a backdrop of trees and a body of water.

    Michelle Jobes

    Dr. Michelle Jobes is a dedicated public servant working in substance use disorder research with an eye and heart always on reducing the stigma of substance use disorders and mental health.

    Sarah Coupland

    ​N/A - kept private due to current work

    A smiling woman with short dark hair wearing a purple blouse stands in front of a blurred blue and green background.

    Emily Diamond

    Dr Emily, a lover of illustration and arts, studies mental health and societies under strain from climate destabilization. Favourite film: The Last Emperor

    A smiling woman with long blonde hair stands in a park-like setting, surrounded by trees in bloom.

    Jaime Jacobsen

    A filmmaker who uses storytelling and her work directing the Center for Science Communication at Colorado State Uni.

    A young woman with long dark hair and glasses is smiling warmly in a natural setting with lush greenery in the background.

    Carly Stock

    Carly is a LPCC in Oakland, California. She approaches therapy from an existential lens and supports adults trying to navigate dread, worry, fear and depression. She's passionate about sustainability, cycling and films! She loves anything by David Lynch and Wong Kar-wai.

    A black and white portrait of a young woman with a pensive expression, her face partially obscured by shadows and her body wrapped in a flowing garment.

    Feyannie Hung

    Feyannie Hung was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, and is based in Vancouver, BC. Fey graduated with a degree in Film Production from the University of British Columbia and currently works in the film industry. Fey has been nominated for and has won a number of notable awards including the Leos Award and awards at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival and Seattle Asian American Film Festival. Fey has produced short films including Especially Joy (2019), Midlife (2019), Cheers! (2019), The First Coffee (2020), American Girl (2020), and Coming Home to Myself (2022), and worked on Avatar the Last Airbender, Shazam 2, The Last of Us, and more.

    A smiling young woman with long brown hair and glasses stands in front of a window, with a cheerful expression on her face.

    Katie Bendel

    I like learning about mental health, helping other people feel less alone, and spending time outside (with my dogs)!​ ​ Favourite film: Billy & Molly

    A young woman with glasses sits at a table, holding two colorful toy caterpillars in front of a vibrant blue background.

    Fu Yang

    Fu is a stop-motion filmmaker and partner at the boutique animation studio, Cafe LaBobo. She specializes in mixed media storytelling and crafts each project from concept to final. In one of her past productions, she directed a segment for "Yo Gabba GabbaLand!", streaming on Apple TV+.

    A woman with long dark hair, wearing a black top, smiling at the camera against a plain gray background.

    Amanda Holda

    Associate Director of Advising and Student Services in NYU's Applied Psychology Undergraduate Program.

    Kim Lange (Huynh)

    Kim Lange is a filmmaker, photographer, curator, and mindfulness facilitator based in Charleston, SC. Favourite film: Almost Famous

    Deena Gorland

    Associate Director of Archives at the Melvin Sabshin, M.D., Library & Archives, preserving psychiatric histories!​ Favourite film: Parasite

    A smiling woman with curly dark hair wearing a gray shirt and resting her chin on her hand against a plain gray background.

    Shenuka Corea

    Shenuka Corea is a visual storyteller from Sri Lanka and is the creator of the animated shorts ‘Sweet Oranges’ and ‘The Plastic Horror’. She is currently working on a graphic novel. In her free time, Shenuka enjoys fiber arts and Dungeons and Dragons.

    The image shows a young woman with long dark hair wearing a light purple shirt, standing in a natural outdoor setting with blurred foliage in the background.

    Hao Zhou

    Zhou is a filmmaker from Southwest China, making films in narrative and documentary genres.​ ​ Favourite film: Days of Being Wild

    A person with curly dark hair and a patterned scarf appears in the foreground, with a blurred background of what seems to be a room or indoor setting.

    Sonya Littlejohn

    I'm a poet, writer and community championing active listener who loves movies!​​ ​ Favourite film: The Princess Bride

    A woman with long hair stands in a field, gazing at the vibrant orange and red sunset in the background.

    Brugger Brugger

    Aliza Brugger a filmmaker who explores class, queerness, and rurality in their award-winning work. ​​ Favourite film: American Honey

    A young woman with curly brown hair is smiling brightly, seated on a concrete surface with a blurred background.

    Olivia DePaul

    An Occupational Therapist who loves helping others reach their full potential.​ ​ Favourite film: Airplane!

    A smiling woman with dark hair wearing a black blazer and red top stands against a bright blue background.

    Lilia Coffin

    Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer for the APAF, excited to work with other groups supporting mental health. Favourite film: Clue

    A smiling woman with wavy blonde hair stands in front of a brick wall, wearing a pink blouse and appearing to be in a cheerful mood.

    Julie Colman

    Head of Production at Rural Media and Rural Studios and I absolutely love films that make an impact!​​ Favourite film: Cabaret

    A smiling woman with wavy blonde hair wearing an orange dress stands in front of a gray background.

    Natalie Sandy

    Natalie Sandy is a television and film producer for AppleTV+ based out of Los Angeles, CA. ​​​​ Favourite film: Silence of the Lambs

    A young woman in a blue graduation gown holds a bouquet of flowers, standing in front of a vibrant blue mosaic wall.

    Angela Isabelle

    Psychology graduate dreaming of making the world even the slightest bit better through MH advocacy! ​ Favourite film: Barbie

    A woman with curly dark hair wearing a bright red jacket is smiling at the camera against a plain background.

    SJ Valiquette

    SJ (she/ they) is an actor, poet & photographer from Treaty 7 who moonlights as a beekeeper & farmhand.​

    A smiling woman with curly, vibrant hair and a floral scarf against a plain background.

    Jane Carter

    I am a socially conscious psychologist who is full of mischief, and a lover of motorcycle trips! Favourite film: The Lobster

    A man with a beard and glasses, wearing a black shirt, stands in a dark background.

    Jason Eskuzian

    A 2023 Voices With Impact grant recipient, Jason Eksuzian is an award-winning director, writer, producer and cinematographer based in Los Angeles, California. As both a scripted and unscripted director, Jason has helmed a vast array of projects, from independent short films to commercials and network television shows.

    A black and white portrait of a woman with dark, wavy hair and a pensive expression, set against a textured background.

    Leanne Dimant

    Leanne, a Northern Canada-raised film director now in the UK, has created films for the Red Cross, Glastonbury Festival, and the V&A Museum. She is currently producing a documentary funded by the BFI Doc Society. Favourite Film: Lady Macbeth.

    Richard Espinoza

    Dr. E is a psychologist passionate about expressive arts therapy, applying cinematherapy to help healing. Favourite film: The Silence of the Lambs

    A young woman with long, dark hair is smiling warmly while wearing a light blue blazer against a blurred natural background.

    Sol Mirkin

    Creative problem-solver who enjoys fusing art, design + tech to inspire change & discover new ideas Favourite film: Hunt for the wilderpeople

    A young woman with blonde hair lies in a hammock, her face partially obscured by the fabric.

    Mikaela Ivanco

    Dedicated and creative health promoter with over a decade of experience in evidence-based health promotion. 

    A black and white portrait of a middle-aged man with short gray hair and a serious expression, set against a dark background.

    Perry Voulgaris

    Creating, managing, launching and distributing programming in screen-based, immersive and experiential media.​ ​ Favourite film: Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

    A young man with dark hair and a friendly expression stands against a backdrop of a serene sky at sunset.

    Aiden Keltner

    San Diego & LA based filmmaker, 2 time Emmy Award recipient, VWI Alum and William Male Foundation Grant awardee. Favourite film: Capernaum