RSU to again host the International Short Medical Film Festival supported by the Latvian Psychiatric Association

On Thursday 26 April, Rīga Stradiņš University will host the short medical film festival and a discussion on silence, communication and their various aspects — Medfest 2018 Beyond Words. The festival will be held in English for the first time.

This festival is aimed at reducing stigmas and prejudices about mental disorders and psychiatric patients. This year’s festival will address seemingly routine and at the same time highly significant matters, making spectators think about our inner world and silence, its significance and consequences. In everyday life, people tend to miss how valuable or devastating silence can be. This event is organised to encourage people to talk about their feelings.

There will be four short films screened at the festival:

• In Pursuit of Silence,
• The Conspiracy of Silence,
• The Mindfulness of Silence,
• Choose Psychiatry.

These films will make viewers rethink their attitude towards the concept of silence and its significance in people’s lives. People encounter noises, stress and crowds on a daily basis, which are often disregarded, without assessing the hidden meaning of silence in our own life, not to mention the fact that there might be people nearby, who live in unbearable silence. What can each of us do in our everyday lives to allow ourselves to enjoy moments of silence? What do patients with mental disorders keep silent about? How many questions does this topic include? One of the goals of this event is to encourage people to speak about their feelings and concerns, as well as to look at a person’s ability to overcome and withstand inner turmoil.

Every year, there are several experts who comment on the films watched and get involved in discussion with the audience. Experts are representatives from medicine, communication and other fields. Traditionally, the film viewing is followed by discussion by experts. This year, the following persons will take part and answer participants’ questions:

• Prof. Elmārs Rancāns – Head of the RSU Department of Psychiatry and Narcology, psychiatrist,
• Prof. Māris Taube – lecturer in the RSU Department of Psychiatry and Narcology, Head of the 20th Division of VSIA RPNC, psychiatrist,
• Dr. Voldemārs Švarcs – psychotherapist certified by the Latvian Medical Association, Member of the International Psychoanalytical Association working in psychotherapy,
• Dr. Artūrs Miksons – member of teaching staff at the RSU Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, psychotherapist,
• Dr. Psych. Indra Majore-Dūšele – member of teaching staff at the RSU Department of Health Psychology and Pedagogy.

The film festival and discussion will be held in the RSU Hippocrates Lecture Theatre from 16:30 to 18:00. It is organised by the Young Psychiatrists’ Section of the Latvian Psychiatric Association in cooperation with the Department of Psychiatry and Narcology of the RSU Faculty of Medicine. Admission to the event — free. All interested are invited to participate!

About the festival

The Medical Film Festival Medfest originated in Great Britain in 2011. The first medical film festival took place in nine different locations and was visited by a total of 450 people. In 2014, the festival became international — film evenings were also organised in Australia and Latvia. Every year, more and more countries get involved in the organisation of the short film festival.

The festival was created by physician Kamran Ahmed while still a student, who has now completed his residency and is working as a qualified psychiatrist. During his residency years, he received the “Resident of the Year” award presented by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and he is still patron of the festival.

In 2008, the results of a large-scale audit of medical education were published in Great Britain, disclosing the low level of interest in psychiatry among medical students. The initial goal of Medfest was to popularise the speciality of psychiatry among medical students. Now it has transformed into a popular film festival not just for students. During the festival there are active discussions on topical themes and trends in medicine in general, concurrently fighting against prejudice towards psychiatry both among medical personnel and by the general public.

Festival website