MHSA FILM FESTIVAL WHAT???

Overview: A young college student full of grief and loneliness after finding out about the unexpected suicide of her best friend must make the ultimate life or death decision.

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Film Block 1

Overview: A young man on the brink of despair finds hope when he meets a blind stranger on a train platform, discovering the transformative power of shared perspectives.

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Film Block 1

Overview: When celebrity psychologist Larry Gatlin returns to his home state of Wisconsin to receive an award for his work fighting the stigma of mental illness, all is not well. An unexpected turn with his estranged sister and personal demons collide, creating a narrative that goes beyond the surface of celebration.

"The Last Rung on the Ladder" is the short film adaptation from the 1978 Stephen King short story, co-written by Max Blaska and Karla S. Bryant. Blaska received permission and extension from the King organization through the "Dollar Baby" program. As the initiative was discontinued in 2024, "The Last Rung on the Ladder" is among the last of the Dollar Baby films.

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Film Block 1

Overview: A man sorts through the debris of his childhood, seeking help to untangle the differences between his own anxiety and depression, and the impact of toxic masculinity.The film focuses on the epidemic of depression.

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Film Block 1

Overview: “Absent of Me” is a short documentary that offers a look into the lives of nine individuals across five U.S. states and three countries who live with a little-known mental health condition known as depersonalization disorder. With expert insight from medical writer Jeffrey Abugel, audiences will gain a clearer understanding of this largely unknown and under-researched condition.

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Film Block 2

Overview: A heroin addict must choose between his family and his addiction in this raw and powerful film that encourages those struggling with opioid abuse to seek help, choose hope, and continue with recovery efforts.

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Film Block 2

Overview: Rural America faces a significant mental health crisis, characterized by higher rates of mental illness and suicide compared to urban areas, alongside limited access to proper treatment. While the idyllic imagery of rural life persists, the reality for many residents paints a different picture. Yet amidst these challenges, hope emerges through partnerships with horses.

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Film Block 2

Overview: The Darkness Before Dawn follows 26-year-old Kevin as he spirals through a sleepless night consumed by grief and guilt over his girlfriend’s murder. Trapped in the silence of his apartment and the noise of his own mind, he is desperate to escape the darkness that surrounds him. Trigger Warning: This film includes themes of suicide, grief, and emotional distress.

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Film Block 3

Overview: Ane, tricked by her friend Naroa, ends up at the Armata, a sword fighting event her fencing club organizes every year. Naroa hopes the event will help her forget for one day, the most tragic day of her life. Unfortunately she finds herself with the person that was there with her on that terrible day.

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Film Block 3

Overview: The Spirit of Death narrates visiting a 16-year-old girl dealing with self-worth issues related to an eating disorder and substance abuse and bullying,

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Film Block 3

Overview: First Responders are routinely exposed to traumatic events in the course of their duties. In fact, at any given time, one in four First Responders is experiencing Posttraumatic Stress and if left untreated, they are at increased risk for long-term mental and physical health problems. However, with the support and care of family, friends and peers, many people are able to recover from the effects of traumatic stress. That is why it is so very important for First Responders to know that seeking and accepting support and help is essential to healing.

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Film Block 3

Overview: The daughter of a single father is diagnosed with depression. The Father’s perspective changes when he is offered a “Love Shades” -a pair of glasses that reveal the true emotion of the person whom you look at with the glasses on, However, it is not only the Father who finds clarity through the Love Shades. The pair of glasses have a surprise in store for the daughter too.

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Film Block 4

Overview: Feel It All chronicles professional skier Drew Petersen’s journey from the depths of suicidal depression to the resilience and strength found in running—and skiing the peaks surrounding—the Leadville Trail 100 ultramarathon. The mission is to change culture and shred the stigma of mental health and suicide.

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Film Block 4

Overview: A documentary telling a story of a young man named Won Soen. After he has decided to break the cycle of self-destruction and a path to addiction, he has started to look for ways to avoid the noise and chaos around him. As well as to manage the stress of a very demanding job, which happens to also be his passion. What turned out to work for him is considered extreme by many others. But it is definitely a step on the road to completness.

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Film Block 4