APHA PUBLIC HEALTH FILM FESTIVAL 

We are pleased to announce that we are now accepting submissions for our annual Public Health Film Festival to be held during APHA’s Annual Meeting in Minneapolis from October 27 – 30.  APHA's Film Festival will screen a mix of on-demand and featured films during the Annual Meeting. Submissions are due May 24, 2024, at 11.59pm (ET). 

About the Film Festival 

The Film Festival highlights public health locally, nationally, and globally and welcomes all types of submissions including independent, community-created, and youth-created films. Films can be animations, documentaries, narratives, and educational videos. All should demonstrate, educate, inspire, and encourage a change for a healthier future. 

Submission Types: 

All submissions are peer-reviewed and scored before selection. Submitters may choose between the following two session types: 

1. Featured Films

Filmmakers submitting their film to one of the three featured film sessions (outlined below) will have the opportunity to screen a clip of their film (up to 20 minutes) onsite. You will be part of a live panel of filmmakers where you will discuss your film and other related films included in the panel. If accepted, you must pay to register for the meeting on the day of your scheduled film and attend in person to present your film and participate in your session. No compensation is provided for showing your film, but you may be eligible for a 1-day pass to present your film if you are not planning to attend the rest of the conference. All films shown during the featured session will be available for viewing on-demand after the meeting until December 31.  

We encourage submissions that address current and emerging public health issues related to one (or more) of the featured film topics below: 

2. On-demand Films

Films that are 30 minutes or less and do not align with the Featured Film topics should be submitted to the On-Demand Films Program. Films accepted for on-demand viewing will become available through the Online platform on Saturday, Oct. 26 and will remain available for registered attendees until December 31. The highest scored films will also be shown onsite during the lunch hour on Monday, Oct. 28 and Tuesday, Oct. 29. There will be no presentation time for on-demand films shown onsite, but we invite film participants to be in attendance to answer questions during an open networking time. APHA membership is not required to participate. However, if your film is accepted, you will be required to pay a $195 registration fee to have your film shown. If you are planning to attend the Annual Meeting, this fee will be waived. 

While films from all disciplines of public health will be considered, films related to the APHA 2024 theme, "Rebuilding Trust in Public Health and Science" are highly encouraged. We especially encourage submissions related to one of the on-demand film topics below. 

Film Topics:

• Featured Session: Health and Emerging Technologies
  This session features stories from the intersection of health and emerging technologies. From vaccine development to wearable devices to artificial intelligence, there are many new scientific and technological breakthroughs that have the potential to impact global public health outcomes. The implementation of these new tools also raises ethical questions and additional challenges for people and organizations.
• Featured Session: Health, Misinformation, and Media
  This session explores the role of information ecosystems, and its media, in contributing to spreading disinformation/misinformation on a variety of health and social issues. It also features stories on community-driven strategies for infodemic management and to build community resilience to misinformation.
• Featured Session: Health, Trust, and Community
  In recognizing the importance of addressing the global trust crisis on health and science information, this session highlights the role of communities and their leaders in addressing community-specific factors that may contribute to mistrust in U.S. and global settings. Through storytelling and community-driven experiences, the session explores multiple drivers of trust and their contribution to health and well-being, and features interventions and strategies to build or restore trust in evidence-based information.
• Featured Session: Student Created Films
  This session highlights the work of students on important public health topics and seeks to highlight the role of young filmmakers in raising awareness and promoting discussion on critical public health issues within the context of key social determinants of health and other influencing factors. It also discusses the importance of harnessing the power of student voices and empowering young people to affect change through film.
• On-Demand: COVID-19 Related topics
  
• On-Demand: Chronic Diseases and Infectious Diseases
  
• On-Demand: Climate Change/Environmental Health
  
• On-Demand: Health Promotion/Community Health and Advocacy
  
• On-Demand: Special Populations (Women, Men, Children & Adolescents, Homeless, Minority, LGBTQ, Immigrant, Disabled, Elderly
  
• On-Demand: Strengthening Communities, Social Connectedness and Mental Health
  
• Workshop: How to Get Started in Filmmaking
  
• Other Topics
  

General Submission Criteria and Guidelines:  

Criteria: 

• Film should address a public health issue; 
• Film must be produced within the last three years; 
• Film must be accessible to the audience in English (language and/or subtitles); 
• Films must be open captioned in English (captions should be burnt into the film so they are always visible); 
• The submitter must be affiliated with the film; 
• Film must be uploaded in an MP4 format. The preferred sizes are 1920x1080 for high definition and 720x480 for standard definition. 
• The submitted film clip should be no longer than 20 minutes (although the overall film can be longer); 
• Film must reflect credible, science-based facts and recommendations and must not misrepresent or distort facts. 

Submissions must include: 

• A synopsis or summary of the work (200 words or less). 
• Intended audience 
• Supporting evidence or objective for the film’s message 
• Mention of campaigns or programs that are linked to the film (if any to date) 
• Open captions  

For additional information on this meeting, visit: https://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual and for questions about your film submission, please contact one of the program planners below: 

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Ready?

Program Planner Contact Information:

Kerstin Hundal, MA
kerstinkalke2023@u.northwestern.edu


and

Gary Ashwal,
gary@boostershotmedia.com


and

Renata Schiavo, PhD, MA, CCL
renata@renataschiavo.com


and

DaKysha Moore, PhD, MHS, MS
Kyshapm@gmail.com


and

Linda Bergonzi-King, MPH
lindabk64@gmail.com


and

Mary Nelson Robertson,
mnrobertson@humansci.msstate.edu


and

Steven Jackson,
steven@jackson-cor.com


and

Osman Galindo,
osman.galindo@uth.tmc.edu


and

Donna Wright, On-demand
donna.wright@apha.org