• Date: October 17th, 2024, 12.30-3.30pm
  • Venue: Hyde Park Picture House, Leeds
  • Activities: In addition to film screenings, the festival will feature panel discussions, Q&A sessions with filmmakers, and networking opportunities.

Risk and Resilience in partnership with The Leeds Trauma Informed Network are thrilled to announce the launch of the first-ever Trauma-Informed Film Festival, set to take place on October17th at the iconic Hyde Park Picture House in Leeds. This groundbreaking event is dedicated to showcasing the creative talents and profound stories of the many services in Leeds (and beyond!) that support individuals facing homelessness, mental health challenges, substance use issues, and other challenges.

The Trauma-Informed Film Festival aims to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary work done by local services and the incredible journeys of their service users. By utilising the powerful medium of film, we hope to raise a deeper understanding of trauma, resilience, and growth within our community. This festival is more than just a series of screenings; it is a celebration of the human spirit, the strength of our community, and the transformative power of storytelling.

We welcome a variety of formats and styles, encouraging creativity and authenticity. Whether it's a documentary, a short narrative, an animation, or a series of interviews, we want to see your stories brought to life on the big screen.

Submission Guidelines
  • Duration: Videos should be between 2 to 10 minutes long (but don’t worry if it is slightly under or over, these are guidelines!).
  • Themes: Submissions should align with one of the six trauma-informed principles: Safety, Trustworthiness and Transparency, Peer Support, Collaboration and Mutuality, Empowerment, Voice, and Choice, and Cultural Humility.
  • Co-Production: We strongly encourage services to involve service users in the creation of the films. Co-production ensures that the voices of those with lived experiences are at the heart of the storytelling process.
  • Format: Films can be submitted in any digital format suitable for screening at a cinema. All submissions to be provided to: [email protected] If the files are too big to be emailed. Please send via https://wetransfer.com/
  • Submission fee: To submit a film, we are asking for a contribution of £50 per organisation. This will go towards funding the event and providing refreshments.
  • Post-festival: All submissions will be placed on our YouTube channel and website for people to view after the festival (as long as people consent to this), especially for those that are unable to attend.

The Trauma-Informed Film Festival is more than an event; it is a movement towards greater empathy and understanding within our community. We look forward to receiving your submissions and witnessing the powerful stories of resilience and recovery from the services around Leeds and beyond. Together, we can make a difference and inspire positive change through the art of film.

We can't wait to see your stories on the big screen!
Click on the link below and add into the send field: [email protected]