Vandita Sariya’s 4-minute 32-second documentary sheds light on the intersection of gender-based violence and climate change.
Our Bureau
Geneva
Indian flimmaker Vandita Sarjya’s documentary, ‘When climate change turns violent’ won the special prize in the Climate Change and Health Film category at the 4th Annual Health for All Film Festival conducted in Geneva.
Vandita Sarjya’s 4-minute 32-second documentary sheds light on the intersection of gender-based violence and climate change. The documentary effectively portrays the alarming consequences of climate change on vulnerable communities, particularly women, and highlights the urgent need for action.
The WHO initiated HAFF in 2019 to make audio-visual language a key component of the organization’s “communicating for health impact” approach. Well-produced and well-targeted short films can improve the health status of some groups by encouraging behavior change or providing knowledge, motivation, or skills needed for people to act.
WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, ‘The Health for All Film Festival’ brings a human face to WHO’s scientific work. Listening to the voices of people affected by health issues is a powerful way to raise awareness and improve our understanding of people’s experiences and this can help us advance towards health for all.”
This year, more than 780 entries were received. Of them, 93 films were shortlisted which covered issues ranging from anxiety and depression to the effects of climate change on health, as well as the health challenges of people with disabilities, The films were judged by a panel of distinguished professionals, artists and activists, including the renown actors, Sharon Stone and Alfonso Herrera, dance choreographer, Sherrie Silver, climate activist, Sophia Kianni and media personality, Adelle Onyango. They were joined by senior United Nations officials, and WHO staff from all over the world participated in this preselection. Senior experts and acclaimed professionals in the field of filmmaking further screened the shortlisted films.
