Aspiring filmmakers gathered in St Patrick’s University Hospital, Dublin on 31 January 2020 for the awards ceremony to announce winners of our annual Frame of Mind short film competition.
This year, the competition, which uses film to put the spotlight on mental health awareness, saw 20 entries shortlisted across two categories, General and Secondary School. Participants were invited to produce an original short film, clocking in at under three minutes, which they believe challenges stigma or highlights the importance of positive mental health, with each shortlisted film screened at the awards ceremony on 31 January.
On the night, Fergus Keane took home first place in the General category with his film Stereo Self-Talk, while Niamh O’Connor’s Two-Faced was named as runner-up.
In the Secondary School category, Loreto College Crumlin scooped the top prize with Rise Up, and Templeogue College came in as runners-up with With You in a Heartbeat.
Meet the filmmakers
We had numerous entries in the Secondary Schools and General categories, with the shortlisted entrants below attending our awards ceremony.
The first place winner of each category received a cash prize of €1,000, with runners-up each receiving €500. The judging panel included award-winning actor Jordanne Jones; RTÉ Guide Film Editor, Michael Doherty; Chair of St Patrick’s Mental Health Services’ Service User and Supporters Council (SUAS), Sean Fitzpatrick; and Director of Services at St Patrick’s, Tom Maher.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Metal Heart star Jordanne Jones, said:
“I am honoured to be part of this year’s judging panel for such a meaningful mental health awareness-raising initiative from Walk in My Shoes. Film is a very powerful, creative outlet and it’s empowering to see so many filmmakers here today to share their encouraging and affirming messages of positive mental health, while also challenging mental health stigma.”
Sean Fitzpatrick, a former service user of St Patrick’s and Chair of SUAS, also spoke about film can shed a new light on mental health for both audiences and filmmakers themselves:
“Film can transport us to other worlds or give us new perspectives on the one around us and, for me, it is a vital part of my mental health recovery. Exploring mental health through film plays an important role in tackling the misconceptions often surrounding mental health difficulties, as well as providing both filmmakers and viewers with an opportunity to consider their understanding of positive mental health. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to see so many high-quality films reframing mental health in a meaningful and innovative way.”
Fergus Keane |Stereo Self-Talk| 1st Place General Category
Niamh O’Connor|Two-Faced| Runner-up General Category
Loreto College Crumlin |Rise Up| 1st Place Secondary School Category
Templeogue College|With You in a Heartbeat| Runner-up Secondary School Category
The other shortlisted films also screened on the awards night included:
General
- Breaking the Cycle | Eoghan McQuinn
- Bulimia – My Addiction | Emma Drumm
- I’m Fine | Swan Youth Service
- The Interview | Ethan Kelly
- It’s OK Not to Be OK | Kingscourt Youthreach
- Taboo | Mark Doyle
- Take Me with You | Sinéad Collopy
- When Words Fail, Music Speaks | Lisa Price.
Secondary School
- The Domino Effect | Scoil Mhuire, Clane
- The Flipside | St Mary’s CBS, Portlaoise
- Masking My Mood | Presentation College, Tuam
- Not Your Usual Suspect | St Michael’s Loreto, Navan
- Reach Out | St Augustine’s College, Dungarvan
- Some Ways to Have a Healthy Mind | St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rush
- Speak Out | Pobalscoil Chorcha Dhuibne, Dingle
- We All Have Something to Live For | Pobaslscoil Chorca Dhuibne, Dingle.