Blog: Film festivals

The mission of the Au Contraire film festival (ACFF) is to showcase stirring and thought-provoking films that explore issues of mental illness from different angles.

In a culture that stigmatizes people living with mental illness, the ACFF challenges audiences to see the personal behind the labels—stories of hope, stories of suffering and, often, a mixture of both. It calls on filmmakers to help us look at our human shadows with greater compassion.

The festival is held in the stunning theatre of Montreal's Museum of Fine Arts. Films are complemented by post-screening panel discussions inviting audience participation. Panelists have included directors, subjects of documentaries, youth living with a mental illness and leading professionals in the field.

The ACFF is the only completely bilingual, French and English, mental health film festival in the world.

Our previous two years surpassed our expectations for success by standards too usual to mention save our favourite one: an entertained and engaged audience that did not want the panel discussions to end.

The ACFF raises funds for Montreal organizations providing direct services for people living with mental illness and related issues.