WHO ‘Health for All’ Film Festival Shortlists MiracleFeet Story from Brazil
“Films are a powerful way to raise awareness, improve understanding and encourage action.”
The third edition of the Health for All Film Festival hosted and organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) announced its 2022 shortlist selections this week. Among 1,027 submissions from 110 countries, the story of João Paulo, a boy from Brazil born with complex clubfoot, is a finalist in two categories: Universal Health Coverage and the Special Prize on Rehabilitation. Winners will be announced May 10.
WHO asks the public to comment and “vote” on the official selection by sharing one film that most speaks to them on social media using #Film4Health. Comments can also be posted directly on the WHO YouTube playlists available from the Festival’s website. In the coming weeks, jurors will review the shortlisted films and recommend winners to the WHO Director-General, who will make the final decision.
About the Film
Rachel Vianna produced and directed João Paulo’s story with her team at MoxyDox, a film group in Sao Paolo. The short documentary, titled The 5%: A Family’s Perspective on Complex Clubfoot, Ten Years Later, shows how far he has come, while honestly presenting the challenges of ongoing rehabilitation for his relapse.
For 95% of children born with clubfoot, a series of 6-8 casts followed by a brace treats it completely. But João Paulo’s story represents the 5% whose treatment is more complicated. João Paulo was also one of the first children whose care MiracleFeet supported through its very first partnership in Brazil.
WHO’s selection is important in recognizing clubfoot, a condition for which myths and misperceptions persist, despite it being the most common congenital cause of physical disability worldwide. Recognition among global health organizations and policy leaders is key to raising awareness about the importance and extreme impact of clubfoot’s low-cost treatment and reducing stigma for people living with the condition.
About the festival
Special Prize on Rehabilitation: films telling stories about the life changing impact that rehabilitation has on people’s lives. Rehabilitation addresses the impact of a health condition on a person’s everyday life and ensures that people remain as independent as possible, while continuing to participate in education, work and meaningful life roles.
240 million children with disabilities worldwide cannot access the rehabilitation they need, and most people will require rehabilitation at some point in their lives, for injury, disease, illness, or decline in function with age. Many countries are not equipped to respond to existing rehabilitation needs.
The Health for All festival invites independent filmmakers, public institutions, NGOs, students, and other global communities to submit original short films on health issues and aims to recruit a new generation of film and video innovators to champion and promote global health issues. The competition has received 3,475 films from 110 countries since 2020. Each entry competes for the Grand Prix prizes in three categories:
Universal health coverage (UHC)Health emergenciesBetter health and well-being
This year, four Special Prizes will be awarded to films featuring health innovations, rehabilitation, plus a student film and a very short film. The Grand Prix prize includes a WHO trophy, certificate, and $10,000 grant. Winners of the Special Prizes will receive a $5,000 grant and all winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in mid-May. The jury includes three WHO senior experts and distinguished artists and activists: Sharon Stone (actor from the USA); Emilia Clarke (actor from the UK); Mia Maestro (actor from Argentina); Anita Abada (producer from Nigeria); Eddie Ndopu (UN SDGs Advocate from South Africa), and Dr Eckart von Hirschhausen (TV presenter from Germany).
Vote by sharing. Tag #Film4Health
You can help champion local filmmaking, Joao Paolo’s journey, and MiracleFeet’s mission by posting a comment about the film on any social media platform between now and May 10, 2022 about the importance of this story in raising awareness, reducing stigma, and encouraging action for clubfoot care—an issue overlooked in public health for far too long. Be sure to use #Film4health in your post and note that select posts will be shared during the awards ceremonies.
See João Paulo’s full story here.
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