CALL FOR FILM SUBMISSIONS — APHA 2024 Annual Meeting and Expo
APHA Public Health Film Festival
Meeting theme: "Rebuilding Trust in Public Health Professionals"
Submission Deadline: Friday, June 7, 2024
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. 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:
APHA Film Festival Opening Session: Building Trust in a Warming World: Film Insights on Climate and Solutions (organized by the Health Communication Workgroup) This session includes a screening of two films and a discussion on the topic of climate change and trust. “Too Hot to Work” is a global investigation of climate changes impact on worker exposed to extreme heat. "How To Power A City" is a solutions-focused feature documentary exploring the front lines of the clean energy revolution. After selections from each film, there will be discussion between the filmmakers and a climate change education expert with a focus on planetary health and environmental justice.
Building Trust: Stories of Health, Equity, and Community Leadership (organized by the Health Communication Workgroup) 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.
COVID-19 Related topics
Chronic Diseases and Infectious Diseases
Climate Change/Environmental Health
Creating Change through Innovations: Stories of Novel Public Health Interventions (organized by the Health Communication Workgroup) This session features films about public health interventions that use technology and other innovative strategies. The stories include a new community health program in Illinois, a mobile dental clinic in Maine, a wastewater screening program in Texas, and changing digital healthcare approaches in Minnesota. Representatives from each film will be in attendance to discuss the technical, practical, and ethical issues reflected in the projects.
Film Festival Brown Bag
Film Festival Brown Bag
Health Promotion/Community Health and Advocacy
Misinformed and Misunderstood: Addressing Misinformation in Health and Social Systems (organized by the Health Communication Workgroup) 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. Through the lens of three powerful films, we explore the long-standing challenges in child protection and foster care systems, the critical role of trusted community messengers in boosting mpox vaccine acceptance, and building community resilience against misinformation.
Shot in the Arm
Special Populations (Women, Men, Children & Adolescents, Homeless, Minority, LGBTQ, Immigrant, Disabled, Elderly
Strengthening Communities, Social Connectedness and Mental Health
Student Voices: Celebrating Young Filmmakers’ Efforts to Advance Public Health through Film (organized by the Health Communication Workgroup) This feature session highlights the work of students on important public health topics such as food insecurity, gun violence, and affordable health care services and products. The session 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. Don’t miss an opportunity to meet these talented young filmmakers for the panel discussion that will follow all screenings!
Test Session
The Invisible Shield | Episode 1 | The Old Playbook
Using Film to Advance Public Health—Insights and Discussions with Experts (organized by the Health Communication Workgroup) Interested in learning more about using film to advance public health efforts? This workshop is for you! We bring together a diverse group of filmmakers and researchers who can speak on a variety of topics, from using documentaries to raise awareness about health issues to employing storytelling techniques that inspire behavior change and community engagement. The sessions will highlight innovative ways film can be leveraged to communicate complex health information, influence public perception, and advocate for policy changes. Attendees have the opportunity to ask questions in an intimate and informal setting.
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:
