Our Lady's Bower students win award at mental health film competition
The filmmaking skills of students from Our Lady's Bower in Athlone were celebrated recently when an entry from the school was among the winners at a mental health-themed competition in the Irish Film Institute.
'Happiness Is The Most Important Thing' is the name of the film made by the Bower students, and it claimed the top prize in the TikTok category at the Frame of Mind competition in partnership with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland.
Held annually, Frame of Mind is an initiative of Walk in My Shoes, the flagship awareness-raising campaign of St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, which uses the mediums of short film and photography to help to promote positive mental health and reduce stigma around mental health difficulties
Some 81 students from nine counties across Ireland were shortlisted in this year’s competition, which was open to secondary schools, special education schools, Youthreach centres and Further Education and Training (FET) centres.
The winning films were selected by a panel of expert judges comprising Éibh Collins, Shorts Programmer for the Galway Film Fleadh and Film and TV Manager at the National Talent Academies; Michael Doherty, Movies Editor from the RTÉ Guide; and Tom Maher, Director of Services at St Patrick’s Mental Health Services.
First-place entrants in each category won a €1,000 cash prize for their school or education centre, while runners-up received €500.
You can watch the Bower students' entry, 'Happiness Is The Most Important Thing', here:
Paul Gilligan, CEO of St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, praised the quality of the entries submitted for the Frame of Mind competition this year.
"As always, the entries to this year's competition were of extremely high calibre and highlight the incredible talent, tenacity, and vital role that young people can play in inspiring conversations about mental health," he said.
A playlist of all shortlisted and winning films is available to view on Walk in My Shoes’ YouTube channel.