Psychosis HIT hosts Bristol film screening

“Informative, welcoming, eye opening”

said one audience member about the Psychosis Health Integration Team (HIT)’s recent film night. Around 80 people came along to the Station in Bristol on 29 January for a special screening of two films about experiences of psychosis.

Ballyman is an autobiographically inspired short film by Faruq Adigun exploring the parallels between psychosis and spirituality, co-directed and co-produced with Roisin Feeny (Sounds Like Chaos).

Ballyman follows Deji, a young Black man from South East London, as he traverses through the city hiding behind his (bally) balaclava. As his mental state declines, he is forced to shield away from the world, stepping onto his new path of enlightenment.

Watch the trailer for Ballyman

In the Real is an observational documentary by Conor McCormack, filmed over two years in collaboration with the Bristol Hearing Voices Network.

In the Real goes to the heart of the voice-hearing experience. Who, or what, are the voices that only these men can hear? What do they say and what do they mean? And how does hearing voices transform their sense of self and world?

Watch In the Real

The  screening was followed by a Q&A with film makers Conor and Faruq alongside Don and Errol – two people with lived experience of psychosis who both feature in In the Real). HIT co-director Sarah Sullivan chaired the panel.

Don and Errol were extraordinarily generous is sharing their experiences and insights,  Faruq brought lots of energy and myth-busting, and Conor posed constructive challenge to those working in statutory mental health services. The HIT would like to thank all the panel members for their contributions.