The Cape Town Recovery Film Festival returns for the 5th year, continuing a focus on themes of addiction, mental health issues and recovery. It screens at The Labia in Cape Town and at the Bioscope in Johannesburg from 22 to 25 September.
The showcase, which partners with SACAP (South African College of Applied Psychology), aims to promote solutions to recovery from addiction and other mental health problems. It’s part of the International Recovery Month initiative.
The Festival opens with multi-award winner The Peacemaker, the film’s subject, Professor Padraig O’Malley has strong links with SA, and brought both sides in the Irish peace process to Arniston to a conference hosted by Nelson Mandela in the lead up to the historic Good Friday Agreement which brought peace to Northern Ireland. Prof O’Malley was a long term alcoholic who established his recovery in South Africa and used the tools he learnt for personal recovery into his peacekeeping work.
Films & synopsis
- The Peacemaker
THE PEACEMAKER follows Padraig O’Malley, who helps make peace for others but has struggled to find it for himself. His approach to his work is based on his recovery from addiction. Filmed over five years, the film takes us from Padraig’s isolated life in Cambridge, Massachusetts to some of the most dangerous crisis zones on Earth – from Northern Ireland to Kosovo, Nigeria to Iraq, as well as the darkest personal spaces of Padraig’s alcoholism. Now in the third act of his life is in a race against time to find some kind of salvation for both the world, and himself. Trailer: http://www.peacemakermovie.com/
- Healing Voices
A new feature length film exploring the experiences, commonly labeled as “psychosis” or “mental illness”, through real-life stories of individuals working to overcome extreme mental states whilst integrating their experiences into their lives. Harrowing, joyful, complex and controversial the film challenges us to rethink our cultural understandings of mental illness through a message of recovery. http://healingvoicesmovie.com/
- Julian Leff: Unravelling Schizophrenia
Directed and edited by his son Adriel, this feature length documentary retrospective of Professor Julian Leff’s esteemed career in social psychiatry examines the path that eventually led him to his recent groundbreaking work in the fascinating field of Avatar Therapy, which utilises cutting edge technology to provide the most radical new treatment for schizophrenia in decades. The film delineates the evolution of the psychiatric fraternity’s approach to, and shifting perception of, this most perplexing of mental illnesses both in Britain and across the world.
- Gambling, Addiction and Me
Star of The Real Hustle, Alexis Conran is definitely someone you don’t want to be playing cards with. An expert poker player and a man at home in a casino, but what for Alexis is a pleasurable pastime, ruined his father’s life. His father was a gambling addict who committed fraud to get money for betting and went to prison for his crimes. Exploring the tipping point that turns the odd flutter into something darker and more dangerous, the film explores why most people can place one bet and walk away, whilst some are compelled to lose their shirt, house and families. Filmed all around Britain, Greece and in Las Vegas, Alexis meets gambling addicts, experts and members of his family to try and understand what can make gambling a compulsion that ends in ruin.
- Brought Up By Booze
Calum Best is the son of one of the greatest footballers of all time, George Best. He is also the son of an alcoholic. In this intimate film, Calum confronts the harsh realities of growing up with an alcoholic parent. Meeting some of the 1.3 million children who are growing up with a parent that abuses alcohol, and sharing with them intimate tales of his own upbringing, he begins to accept that his life continues to be affected even now by his father’s drinking. The film takes Calum across the UK to meet young people who share stories of neglect, but also inspirational stories of determination not to end up like their parents. In this raw and often distressing journey of a son still reaching for his dad, we see firsthand the devastating effect that drink can have on alcoholics’ children.
- Hitler’s Hidden Drug Habit
Based on a US intelligence dossier and the medical diaries and journals of Hitler’s personal physician, this documentary sheds new light on his health and extraordinary medicinal regime during the Second World War. Dr Theodor Morell’s records, which have been locked away since 1945, are a unique source of information. They reveal that, far from being a picture of robust health, the Fuehrer was a nervy hypochondriac, and chart in great detail his descent into illness and drug dependency.
- A New High
An inspiring documentary following ex-Army Ranger Mike Johnson, who enriches the lives of a group of recovering addicts at Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission by encouraging them to join him on a mission of personal discovery and redemption–climbing to the 14,400-foot summit of Mt. Rainier. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFRNT3f79o0
- ASK
ASK is an exploration of alcoholism, drug addiction, and codependency. The heartaches of family and loved ones who don’t know what to do, and above all else want to help, to be kind can lead to addiction growing even more in the family unit. With compassionately shot interviews with addicts, family members and health care professionals – this film offers hope to families and individuals caught up in alcoholism, addiction and co-dependency. Trailer: https://vimeo.com/204229864
“Every one knows someone who is negatively affected by substance abuse, whether alcohol or drugs. Process addictions such as sex, gambling, eating problems, gaming and technology are seemingly increasing and the prevalence of stress, depression and other mental health issues across society are hard to deny. The problems are all too evident, and the impacts on every level of society all too obvious. However, the solutions are too seldom celebrated,” says organiser, Dougie Dudgeon, “In the Mother City, we have invited the Recovery Walk Cape Town participants to finish their annual event with us at The Labia on 25 September. See www.recoverywalkcpt.co.za/ The Festival can help people understand addiction, and recovery, so we welcome those in recovery, family, friends, health care professionals, carers of all types, policy makers, law enforcement, and most of all anyone who likes good films!”
“The Recovery Film Festival serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration,” adds SACAP CEO, Lance Katz, “It is an important reminder that there are brave warriors meeting these devastating social challenges and constructively confronting them head-on with a range of game-changing projects and initiatives. Recovery is not the preserve of an elite few; it is a possibility for everyone battling with addiction and mental health problems. The Festival raises critical awareness of the enormous personal and social price that is paid.”
What: The Cape Town Recovery Film Festival
When: 22 – 25 September, 2017
Where: The Labia, Cape Town,and Bioscope, Johannesburg
Book Tickets: www.webtickets.co.za
WS
