Mental Health Film Festival ‘Screening the Mind’ to Launch Ahead of Manotsava
A new film festival, ‘Screening the Mind,’ will launch this month as a precursor to the annual Manotsava – National Mental Health Festival, aiming to foster empathy and understanding through cinematic storytelling.
Organized by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies (RNP), the National Centre for Biological Sciences, and NIMHANS, the festival will showcase six films exploring diverse experiences with mental health, including stories of illness, caregiving, survival, and recovery. Natasha Joshi, Chief of Strategy at RNP, explained the intention behind the festival: “You get time to build nuances and bring in perspectives which are harder to access at mainstream festivals.” The initiative comes as mental health awareness continues to grow globally, with increasing recognition of the need for accessible resources and open conversations.
The film lineup includes critically acclaimed features like Margarita with a Straw, starring Kalki Koechlin, alongside Dhoosar, which focuses on Alzheimer’s disease and its impact on families, and Invisible Chains, offering a perspective on drug use and substance dependence. Other films featured are Swagatam, Khidki featuring Naseeruddin Shah, and Enso, each presenting unique narratives around mental wellness and trauma. Joshi emphasized the festival’s commitment to diversity, stating, “We wanted to have diversity in terms of language and regions, so you will see that reflected in the films.” You can learn more about the importance of mental health support at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences.
Festival organizers hope the screenings will encourage dialogue and connection among attendees, creating a shared empathetic experience. Manotsava itself has become a significant platform for bridging the gap between mental health research and public understanding; you can find details about the broader festival here. The festival will conclude with a screening of Margarita with a Straw and is scheduled to begin later this month, with further details to be announced soon.
