As I’ve mentioned in a previous blog post, I am passionate about film and documentaries – especially ones which explore tough social issues. Earlier this year I blogged about the powerful documentary Shed Your Tears and Walk Away, which put a spotlight on alcoholism and mental health issues in the picturesque town of Hebden Bridge.  

It was a film that I had first come across at the London Film Festival – I might never have seen it otherwise.

So I wanted to give you the heads-up that the line-up of films being shown at the London Film Festival has just been released. And it’s worth taking a look and, if you can, going to see something.

This year the line-up is as relevant to our sector as ever, with films covering themes including bullying, homelessness, poverty and child abuse.    

The Sutherland Award recognises the director of the most original and imaginative debut in the Festival and several candidates explore issues that might not get coverage on mainstream media.   

Picco features prison life in a story of young inmates in an overcrowded youth prison, while Two Gates of Sleep looks at bereavement and Submarine is about bullying.

In other parts of the programme, Comic Relief is supporting the film Africa United – linking poverty and football in the run up to the World Cup.
 
Films can provide a real opportunity for an organisation to piggyback on the marketing when they are released to a wider audience. But the truth is that some of these films might not get a wider release – they might only get to be shown at festivals, and then film distributors, who have the real power, might simply decide to release the ones that have mainstream appeal.

The fact is the London Film Festival might be your only opportunity to see a particular film that has a resonance for the charity you work for.
 
So my advice is that if you see a film you think brings the issues you are dealing with to life, don’t wait for it to reach the mainstream. Get in touch with the director yourselves, champion the film yourself, perhaps even screen the film yourself, but don’t waste what is a fantastic opportunity to get your messages out.  

I’ll leave you with a story. I met a film director who approached a large charity to be the financial beneficiary of a documentary film screening, which featured issues that particular charity dealt with. He called several times but no one returned his calls. When he finally got through to someone from the communications team they said they were too busy to be involved or send someone along to the screening.

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