Film Festival Brings Awareness Of Addictions And Recovery

Mayor of Cape Town, Patricia de Lille (left) with Dougie Duncan.

An idea was generated about four years ago, when a group of people in Cape Town found out about The Reel Recovery Film Festival, in Los Angeles. The funds generated from this festival was used to help creative individuals get treatment for their addictions. From a start in one location, it had grown to several different locations. What if the same thing could be done in Cape Town?

At the same time, Dougie Duncan had been been getting some experience in running screenings of various films either to raise awareness about a particular social issue or to raise funds for various causes and organizations. Then came a convergence of several filmmakers with quality movies about issues involved in recovery, and a beginning of a film festival started to take shape.



All combined together about three years ago, and Cape Town Recovery Film Festival, now known as SOUTH AFRICAN RECOVERY FILM FESTIVAL (SARFF), had its start. This year's film festival was held on Sept 22 to Sept. 25, under the main sponsorship of The South African College of Applied Psychology, along with such other sponsors as Prospect Hill, The Mindfulness Centre, TB/HIV Care Association, Life Matters Outpatient, The Foundation Clinic - Sharp, World Without Wine, Ixande, Recovery Outcomes, and Start 2 Stop.

The films are chosen to bring awareness, educate, stimulate debate and discussion, celebrate successes, and provoke thinking about solutions. It is open to members of the recovering community, friends of those in recovery, health care professionals and practitioners, policy makers, and members of the general public. This year, the festival has also developed symbols that warn of graphic drug use, language, and scenes of drug-induced euphoria. Some of the money from each ticket sold went to Cape Town Drug Counselling Centre.

Movie poster from My Name Was Bette.

Some of the movies included in the program: Kingdom of Shadows looks at some of the hard choices and consequences of the US/Mexican war on drugs. DIS (Honesty) explores the reasons and ways that people lie. My Name Is... tells the frank story of eight people's relationships with alcohol. The Adventures of Dr. Crackhead profiles researcher Dr. Ferentzy and his tour to urge a more compassionate view of addicts. Call Me Lucky provides a portrait of comedian Barry Crimmins. My Name Was Bette looks at the life of this nurse, wife, and mother as her alcoholism progresses until she died in 2007. Almost Holy chronicles the Ukrainian pastor who takes children off the streets and out of unsuitable homes into his rehabilitation and housing facility. Nine other films on similar topics are also in the line-up.

Scene from Ruben Guthrie.

Thanks for information from this article on Charter For Compassion: http://www.charterforcompassion.org/index.php/cape-town-recovery-film-festival; the article on SARFF's home page about this year's festival, this article on SARFF's site: https://southafricanrecoveryfilmfestival.com/films/; and the above link.

Click here: FUN AND UNIQUE PRINTABLE BABY SHOWER GAMES