New York, NY: Community Access, a nonprofit that provides housing, jobs, and support to people with mental health concerns, is now accepting submissions of films for their Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Competition. The winning film will be screened at the organization’s 13th annual NYC Mental Health Film Festival – the oldest and largest film festival of its kind in the U.S. The festival will be held in New York City this October.
The NYC Mental Health Film Festival takes a bold stand in fighting the stigma people with mental illness commonly face. For the second year in a row, Community Access is calling on young filmmakers, between the ages of 15-25, across the globe to tell their stories through the Changing Minds Young Filmmakers Competition. Submissions should focus on how mental health issues affect young people, promote ideals such as social justice and human rights, and inspire conversation about stereotypes and stigma.
Festival founder, Carla Rabinowitz, says “Young people provide an essential voice in the conversation about mental health. We are proud to incorporate their perspectives into our festival again this year.”
Film submissions will be accepted through August 30, 2017. Guidelines on how to submit to the competition can be found here:http://www.mentalhealthfilmfest.nyc/about/young-filmmaker-competition.
ABOUT COMMUNITY ACCESS
The mission of Community Access is to expand opportunities for people living with mental health concerns to recover from trauma and discrimination through affordable housing, training, advocacy and healing-focused services. We are built upon the simple truth that people are experts in their own lives.
Each year, Community Access programs help thousands of New Yorkers connect with housing, job training, education, and a range of mental health services. A finalist in the 2014 New York Community Trust Nonprofit Excellence Awards, Community Access also runs NYC’s first crisis respite center, a cost-effective alternative to hospitals and emergency rooms. To learn more, visitwww.communityaccess.org.
