Discussion on Mental Health Challenges in the Film Industry at Malmo Arab Film Festival

As part of the Malmo Film Industry Days, the Malmo Arab Film Festival held a discussion session entitled “Mental Health Challenges within the Film Industry”

Participating in the discussion session was Mina El-Naggar, the Egyptian actor and founder of Medvest Egypt, known for her extensive experience in the film industry and her interest in advocacy for mental health, Louise Johansson, Sane Cinema actress, specialist in psychology. health and filmmaking, and the Lebanese actress Nada Abu Farhat, who presented a variety of complex roles in film, television and theater.

Mina Al-Najjar said in the discussion session that he is happy to collaborate with the Malmo Festival in strengthening the dialogue about the mental health of workers in the field of art and discussing concerns related to the creative process and the challenges that the creative person goes through. , whether pressures or problems facing the creative process in all stages, during preparation or during Execution or presentation.

Al-Najjar pointed out that the industry itself, the unions, representatives and directors have a great responsibility regarding the mental health of their employees, as well as their personal responsibility regarding a person’s balance and how he deals with himself, explaining that the Medvest. The Festival will address many discussions about the same topic.

Al-Najjar said that the artist in the age of social media is exposed to double pressure through comments, criticism, and sometimes bullying on his social media accounts.

For her part, the Lebanese actress Nada Abu Farhat said during the session that there are measures to preserve a person’s mental health, stressing that there is still fear in declaring a mental illness that a person could declare that any illness, but people are still afraid to talk about it and show their illness with mental illness, she said that there is a guidebook for maintaining mental health, which is very useful.

The Lebanese actress said, “As an actress who made her career in the field, I see that we are exposed to pressure and problems, and we have a lot of negative energy. At first, I couldn’t face it and I was always frustrated, but now, after realizing it, I decided not to let the negative energy affect me on me, and I became proud of being calm and understanding things.” I can recover as long as I maintain my mental safety and not put pressure on myself he can’t handle.”

Louise Johansson, representative of Sane Cinema, said during the session that pressure and comparison between others is what workers in the creative industries in the field of art suffer the most, whether they are actors or behind the camera, confirming that there are many workers in the field. It is believed that those who spend a lot of time working with filmed content need psychological support to maintain their mental health more than others.

For her part, the artist Bushra, who was among the attendees, mentioned the psychological importance of being in the place showing works of art to put pressure on the actors and help them with showing the character’s true feelings as well as helping to be. eliminate the psychological and nervous stress that the actor is exposed to while playing every role in his life. a psychologist must be in the filming location.