(From left) Wan Nong Danial of My Mind On Film, Chew Gui Fang and actress Farihin Ufiya of Nyawa, with attendees of the MMOF launch and Layar Perak 2.0 at GSC Starling Mall in Petaling Jaya.
My Mind on Film (MMOF) has launched its third season at GSC Starling Mall in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
MMOF is a youth-led international film festival dedicated to mental health.
Youths are invited to participate by submitting their films.
This year’s theme, “Revival”, focuses on post-Covid-19 pandemic stories as well as a holistic approach to mental health.
“MMOF is an empowering initiative that lets youths share their stories and experiences through movies to show us how they bounce back during these challenging times,” said MMOF2023 director and HELP University Psychology Department deputy head Bashir Bashardoost.
The film festival is a collaboration between the Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing of HELP University, the Malaysian Mental Health Association and Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC).
It is also held in conjunction with the Mental Health Aid Association’s (Nyawa) charity film screening of “Layar Perak 2.0”.
The line-up of activities includes film-making, mental health workshops and roadshows leading up to the announcement of winners and screening of finalist films during the awards presentation ceremony which will be announced at a later date.
“Film is a powerful medium to connect and communicate with audiences effectively, and we believe it can best champion mental health, breaking the stigma and encouraging open conversations around the subject,” said GSC chief executive officer Koh Mei Lee.
Winners stand a chance to walk away with RM10,000 cash as well as an internship with Naluri, a digital healthcare provider that aims to empower users with the provision of holistic, interdisciplinary care.
The grand prize exclusive to the Young Adult category gives the winner an opportunity to produce a mental health public service announcement (PSA) valued at RM30,000, which will be supported by GSC and screened in its theatres nationwide.
MMOF2021 winner, Ahmad Shah Ahmad Shahrifuddin said: “My Mind On Film changed my life, providing me many opportunities since my participation.
“The opportunity to shoot a PSA with GSC has been one of the best and most challenging experiences in my life so far, a journey spanning over seven months in production.
“I look forward to seeing the final public service announcement on the big screen and hope it will inspire a new generation of filmmakers to tell their own personal stories of mental health to audiences,” added Ahmad Shah.
As part of “Layar Perak 2.0”, a curated showcase of Malaysian and international mental health-themed short films were screened on Dec 30 last year.
Some of the Malaysian short films that were featured included Dear Kakak (MMOF2021 Finalist and Award Winner), Can You Love Me Most and A Bowl of Soup.
The first physical launch for the MMOF festival and “Layar Perak 2.0” was attended by over 180 individuals, and subsequently raised over RM2,800 for Nyawa’s Inisiatif Menyantuni 4.0, which aims to provide accessible mental health care for the underprivileged Orang Asli community.
If you are between 15 and 25 years old, MMOF welcomes you to submit films that express your personal experiences and perspectives on mental health.
Film submission categories are Malaysian Young Adults (aged 18 to 25), Malaysian High Schoolers (aged 15 and above) and International Young Adults (aged 18 to 25).
Your film must be between one and eight minutes long.
Make your submissions to FilmFreeway (filmfreeway.com/mymindonfilm). Submission closes on March 12.
Write to mymindonfilm.my@gmail.com for more information on the MMOF2023.
