Brixton Reel Film Festival uses film and arts to pioneer awareness of mental wellbeing amongst some of the UK’s most excluded minority communities.

Now in its ninth year, the free festival shows the best new films and arts, and along the way, explores positive images of mental well-being and self-empowerment. The feel-good events are open to everyone, providing a platform for communities to come together to speak openly about their personal experiences.

Cary Rajinder Sawhney, FRSA. Director of Brixton Reel says ‘It’s great to see the Brixton Reel Film festival growing from strength to strength with its exciting and engaging mix of mental wellbeing messages, pioneering arts and the latest films. This year’s festival has expanded out of home turf Lambeth to Hackney, Southwark and Camden engaging new audiences that standard health promotion pathways can’t reach. It’s fun, community empowering and it’s free. What’s not to love!’

Brixton Reel is working in partnership with Mental Health Foundation, the Mayor of London’s Culture team and Thrive LDN on a festival of cultural activity in London to coincide with World Mental Health Day on Wednesday 10 October 2018.

There are a series of screenings from a new range of films from Cannes and other international film festivals featuring diverse young people and children’s experiences, as well as facilitating cabaret, debate, food, and music events.

The 2018 festival takes place on two dates with an early event on World Mental Health Day – 10th October and the main festival taking place from 8th to 15th November.

See what’s on during the festival