Recovery Festival 2024
Watch I am Only Human Filmmaking Course Students Films here:
Portsmouth Film Society's Recovery Festival Revels for its 6th Year with 4 Days Festival Programming
28.Sept.2024 – Portsmouth Film Society (PFS) is proud to announce its 6th annual Recovery Festival, taking place from Wednesday, November 13th to Sunday, November 16th, 2024, at various locations throughout Portsmouth. The Portsmouth Film Society is pleased to announce its full programme, featuring a diverse range of events, workshops, film premieres, and celebrations. The festival, which runs from 13th to 16th November, showcases the power of creativity and community in the recovery journey.
Main festival supporter Gareth J Lewis, Loss Prevention & Security Manager from Southern Coop said:
“The ‘I am Only Human’ community film project run by Portsmouth Film Society provides a unique opportunity for a number of Portsmouth citizens to tell their own personal stories of their lived experiences in dealing with diverse issues such as substance abuse and recovery, multiculturism and homelessness.
The whole film making process they will experience through this project, will provide them with the opportunity to review and reflect on their personal journeys and, through the medium of film, they will present us with the unique opportunity of sharing in their story.
I have seen for myself the positive pride and emotion experienced by those that have taken part in this project. Film more than any other art form has the power to tell a story and to move the individual on a personal level. The Southern Co-op is proud to help sponsor this project and in doing so, we wish those taking part the very best of wishes on their film making journey.”
PFS Director and the Festival Coordinator Aysegul Epengin expressed her excitement, stating:
“Thanks to Southern Coop’s generous grant, we’ve been able to expand our festival and create a truly enriching experience. This year’s Recovery Festival is a celebration of the strength, resilience, and joy of those who have embraced healing and growth. We’re thrilled to share our students’ incredible short film projects with the community, and we feel honored to be part of a lasting legacy of recovery and creativity in our city with many collaborators.”
A highlight of this year’s festival is the “I Am Only Human“ course, where individuals in recovery learn the art of filmmaking to share their stories. The course culminates in a trip to the renowned Pinewood Studios in London, offering participants a unique opportunity to connect with the film industry. The Recovery Festival is made possible through the generous support of Southern Co-op and the Portsmouth City Public Health Department. This year, PFS is partnering with other new community groups to raise awareness of recovery support services in the city, including B.More, Intuitive Thinking Skills, Rebound and The Silkworth CIC.
Tom Byrne from Familiar Strangers Films shared his enthusiasm, stating:
“We’re thrilled to have Young Buck featured at the Recovery Film Festival. This film exemplifies the power of storytelling when combined with a vital mission. Rebound’s initiative to address addiction and gang culture among young people is both bold and essential. At Port of Call Media, our work is designed to leave a lasting impact, and Young Buck is no exception. It’s more than just a film; it’s a catalyst for change that has the potential to make a significant difference in our communities.”
Recovery Festival Workshop from Havant and East Hants Mind: Awareness to Education: The journey from awareness to education can be a gradual and non-linear one, much like the journey many of us experience with our mental health. Please be aware this session will include discussion and reflection on crisis and suicide ideation, potentially with elements of lived experience being shared.
During the November, Southsea Cinema and Arts Centre will host ‘The Man Mead Assembly’ Photograph Exhibition from Steve Mead, who is recovery for a long time.
Wednesday, November 13th - Guildhall Portsmouth, Lens Studio
5:00 PM – “I Am Only Human” Students Film Premiere.
5:10 PM – Opening Speech by The Lord Mayor, Councillor Jason Fazackarley.
5:20 PM – Sponsor Speech by Gareth J. Lewis, Loss Prevention & Security Manager, Southern Coop.
5:30 PM – Welcome Speech by Aysegul Epengin, Portsmouth Film Society Director and Filmmaking Course Tutor.
5:35 PM – “I Am Only Human” Short Films & Behind the Screen of Filmmaking Course.
6:20 PM – Intermission.
6:30 PM – Students’ Award Ceremony and Testimonies.
7:00 PM – Event Ends.
Thursday, November 14th - Southsea Cinema and Arts Centre
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM – The Silkworth Project Art Therapy with Diana Evseeva and residents.
A recovery focused art group, where we will explore the nature of addiction using descriptive words transformed into art. (Free entry)
6:00 PM – Rebound: The Power of Filmmaking in Portsmouth for Groundbreaking Drug Education Initiative
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Rebound: Young Buck Short Film Screening and Networking Event
Rebound has commissioned Young Buck, a powerful educational film created by Port of Call Media. This compelling film, designed to inform and engage Year 8 students in Portsmouth and Southeast Hampshire, serves as a comprehensive educational tool, combining cinema and learning.
Friday, November 15th - Southsea Cinema and Arts Centre
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Workshop: Awareness to Education from Havant and East Hants Mind
The journey from awareness to education can be a gradual and non-linear one, much like the journey many of us experience with our mental health. Please be aware this session will include discussion and reflection on crisis and suicide ideation, potentially with elements of lived experience being shared.
3:00 PM –4:00 PM – B.More and Intuitive Thinking Skills celebrate Inclusive Recovery Cities
Screening of B.More short films and personal testimonies of recovery.
“I Am Only Human” Short Films and Behind the Scenes of Filmmaking Course
7:00 PM – Film Screening: All Your Faces (+15) – France (1hr 58min)
Directed by Jeanne Herry, All Your Faces explores a controversial programme that helps criminals take responsibility for their actions and assists victims in their healing. This thought-provoking drama examines themes of self-realisation and forgiveness with sensitivity and insight. Introduction talk form Lucy Pots, from the Society of St. James.
Saturday, November 16th - Southsea Cinema and Arts Centre
2:00 PM – Recovery Street Film Festival + – “I Am Only Human” Short Films:
An annual event featuring three-minute films about recovery from addiction, showcasing personal stories of healing and transformation. (Free Entry).
6:00 PM – 11:00 PM – Recovery Non-Substance Party and Live music:
Join us for a celebratory evening, honoring those in recovery with a substance-free party. Let’s celebrate the strength, resilience, and joy of those who have embraced healing and growth. Come and watch live… HUBRIS and Warnock TT played at Victorious 2024… Silkworth resident Tony Standen, presents his band HUBRIS, playing a rendition of their best songs.
No substance party is representing recovery. Get ready for dancing!
Additional Information
Recovery Festival Dates: Wednesday, November 13th to Saturday, November 16th, 2024.
Main Location: Southsea Community Cinema and Arts Centre PO5 3QQ.
More Information: Please email info@portsmouthfilmsociety.org.uk
For further information and festival updates, please visit: https://www.portsmouthfilmsociety.org.uk/recoveryfestival/
About Portsmouth Film Society
Portsmouth Film Society is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting film culture and education in the Portsmouth area. Through its diverse programming, PFS aims to entertain, inspire, and foster community engagement.
More information from The Recovery Festival Collaborators:
Havant and East Hants Mind work to promote good mental health and seek to support and empower people to lead a full life as part of their local community. To achieve this HEH Mind offers a range of services and support to individuals and groups across South and East Hampshire, with some of our services support and projects being Hampshire wide. Our services include: wellbeing services for adults, children and young people, families and workplaces. Crisis support is also offered via the Adult’s Safe Haven and Young People’s Safe Haven. Additionally, HEH Mind has an active Community Team that deliver and support fundraising,community engagement, campaigns and events.
The Silkworth project CIC
We provide safe and secure housing for people trying to rebuild their lived after addiction. We aim to support these people to find meaning in their lives, gain employment, their own accommodation and become the very best version of themselves they can be. www.thesilkworthproject.com #BEMORE
Inclusive Recovery Cities: https://www.inclusivecities.info/
Let’s celebrate recovery. We help you to create inclusive cities. Supporting people in recovery from addiction
“Becoming” an Inclusive City is a process that takes time but even small steps are steps towards the right direction. Becoming an Inclusive City is a process that takes time and even small steps, mostly focusing on making recovery visible and celebrate it in the community by raising public awareness, are steps towards the right direction.
Portsmouth Film Society’s Recovery Festival Returns for its 6th Year with Expanded Programming
11.July.2024 – Portsmouth Film Society (PFS) is proud to announce its 6th annual Recovery Festival, taking place from Wednesday, November 13th to Sunday, November 16th, 2024, at various locations throughout Portsmouth. This year’s festival will feature an expanded program of events, including film screenings, workshops, Recovery party, and the premiere of short films created by participants in the “I Am Only Human” filmmaking course.
A highlight of this year’s festival is the “I Am Only Human” course, where individuals in recovery learn the art of filmmaking to share their stories. The course culminates in a trip to the renowned Pinewood Studios in London, offering participants a unique opportunity to connect with the film industry.
The Recovery Festival is made possible through the generous support of Southern Co-op and the Portsmouth City Public Health Department. This year, PFS is partnering with other community groups to raise awareness of recovery support services in the city, including B.More and Intuitive Thinking Skills, who are working to establish Portsmouth as an Inclusive Recovery City.
Main festival supporter Gareth J Lewis, Loss Prevention & Security Manager from Southern Coop said:
The ‘I am Only Human’ community film project run by Portsmouth Film Society provides a unique opportunity for a number of Portsmouth citizens to tell their own personal stories of their lived experiences in dealing with diverse issues such as substance abuse and recovery, multiculturism and homelessness.
The whole film making process they will experience through this project, will provide them with the opportunity to review and reflect on their personal journeys and, through the medium of film, they will present us with the unique opportunity of sharing in their story.
I have seen for myself the positive pride and emotion experienced by those that have taken part in this project. Film more than any other art form has the power to tell a story and to move the individual on a personal level. The Southern Co-op is proud to help sponsor this project and in doing so, we wish those taking part the very best of wishes on their film making journey.
A quote from Cllr Matthew Winnington, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, Health & Care:
“We are really pleased to support the annual Recovery Film Festival and the fourth ‘I Am Only Human’ recovery film making course. I saw last year how the participants on the course developed their skills and also developed a strong bond of support and friendship with each other. Activities like this help people sustain long-term recovery from drug and alcohol misuse. We are grateful to the Portsmouth Film Society and Southern Co-op for working together to fund and run this important work”.
One of the main collaborators Mike Taylor, Operations Director, Society of St. James said:
“We are excited to partner again this year with the Portsmouth Film Society on this impactful filmmaking course and recovery film festival. This programme offers a unique opportunity for our service users in recovery from substance misuse to develop new skills, express themselves creatively, and find their voices through filmmaking. We believe this programme fosters empowerment and connection, and we’re proud to support it”.
David Bremmer, Ambassador Lead Portsmouth, Intuitive Thinking Skills stated also:
“We are currently working in collaboration The Recovery Film Festival to bring even more opportunities to engage with the local community. Please look out for further information on our “light” Introduction to Inclusive Recovery Cities event being held in September and also our “Full” introduction coming in November. B.More is a group of service users who have come together to support Portsmouth with being an Inclusive Recovery City. As part of the IRC agreement, Portsmouth agree to hold 4 community facing events each year and our group will take the lead on planning, organising and holding these events.”
PFS Director and Festival Coordinator Aysegul Epengin expressed her gratitude, stating:
“We are profoundly grateful for Southern Coop’s generous grant, which will significantly enhance our festival and filmmaking course. We are committed to enriching our Recovery Festival and contributing to the cultural and artistic development of our city. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to PCC Public Health for their unwavering support and assistance with our venue, Southsea Cinema and Arts Centre. We eagerly look forward to collaborating with individuals in recovery to create impactful short film projects that resonate within our community.”
The much-anticipated ‘I am Only Human Film Making Course 4’ is set to begin on 27th August at 10:30 AM at Southsea Cinema. This free course will span 10 weeks, culminating in a public premiere of the participants’ short films on 13th November at The Lens Studio, Portsmouth Guildhall. The full festival programme will be announced in September.
Join us as we work together to help strengthen our Portsmouth community, forging relationships which will continue on long after the festival. More information, please email to info@portsmouthfilmsociety.org.uk
Additional Information
- Recovery Festival Dates: Wednesday, November 13th to Sunday, November 17th, 2024.
- Locations: Southsea Community Cinema and Arts Centre.
- Inclusive Recovery Cities: https://www.inclusivecities.info/
- More Information: Please email info@portsmouthfilmsociety.org.uk
About Portsmouth Film Society
Portsmouth Film Society is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting film culture and education in the Portsmouth area. Through its diverse programming, PFS aims to entertain, inspire, and foster community engagement.
Recovery Festival 2023
PFS RECOVERY FESTIVAL
“Let’s Share”
Join us as we work together to help strengthen our Portsmouth community, forging relationships which will continue on long after the festival.
Portsmouth Film Society (PFS) announces its 5th annual Recovery Festival Thursday 9 to Sunday 12 November in Portsmouth.
The programme is intended to be meaningful to those of you who have sought support for mental health issues, trauma, and people in recovery, by raising awareness and celebrating people’s ability to recognise their problems, have the bravery to come forward, talk about them, seek help and realise they are not alone whatever the problem.
The highlights of the weekend are recovery films: The vision for the festival is to share a celebration of those who have found recovery and the organisations who have helped them.
Cllr Matthew Winnington, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, Health & Care at Portsmouth City Council, said:
“We are really pleased to see people in recovery from addiction participating on this course. Activities such as this provide people with a sense of purpose and hope for the future, it also provides an opportunity for them to tell their stories on film. We look forward to seeing the films they produce at the Recovery Film festival in November. We are grateful to Southern Co-op for funding this course.”
Director of Portsmouth Film Society Aysegul Epengin:
‘The objective for our festival is we hope to celebrate the impact that recovery services have had across communities around the globe and within local areas, bringing awareness of causes that help to understand the needs of those in recovery as well as the services they provide to help progress and sustain their communities in the recovery process. It will also the explore the positive impacts that recovery has on individuals and people around them, presenting stories of recovery through their own personal lenses and how they improve and enrich their communities. Thank you so much all our supporters, including Southern Co—op for their support to our filmmaking course: I Am Only Human 3’
Southern Co-op’s Loss Prevention and Security Manager, Gareth Lewis, said:
” We firmly believe in the power of community-driven initiatives to bring about positive change so Southern Co-op is delighted to be able to support this year’s Recovery Film Festival. With the films being centred around the theme of addiction and recovery, this resonates deeply with our mission and we hope it will bring together a better understanding of how we can all help each other breaking down stigmas and promoting a supportive environment for those affected by addiction.”
For more information and ticket purchases, visit us at https://southseacinema.co.uk/
Group discounts are available; please ring 07528 808400 (12:00 PM -4:00 PM) or visit us at the Southsea Cinema & Arts Centre, 1-3 Palmerston Road, Southsea.
I Am only Human Course 3 Outcomes
In summer 2023 Portsmouth Film Society, working with the Society of St. James, embarked on a project to train people in early recovery from drug or alcohol dependency on film making skills, with the aim of them making their own films. The project received financial support from Southern Co-op, which enabled the course to run over 12 weeks, and for the films to be made and edited at the end of this time.
Key Objectives
- Provide positive activities for People in recovery:
- Provide a safe space.
- Meet new People, also in recovery and develop mutual support.
- Develop new skills and interests.
- Students complete the film making course.
- Films are produced and edited for the Annual Recovery Film Festival.
- Promote Recovery:
- Encouraging recovery, showing people what they can do in recovery.
- Make recovery visible.
- Celebrate recovery.
The Film Making Course
- The course began in July 2023. The first introductory session had 14 possible students in attendance.
- Unfortunately, as was expected, a few students dropped out over the period of the course and we ended with 8 completers.
- The course covered aspects of film making, including; story boarding and planning, using a camera, lighting, directing, using a clapperboard and editing.
Student Feedback
“it (the course) offers many things from, getting out of the home, meeting new people who have struggled with drugs and drink and mental health problems, also there is something we can all take from what was offered and that is learning more about films to just simple things like communication to camera lighting and much more”
“Completing the film course was very beneficial as it gave me the opportunity to be around like-minded people and all come together for a common purpose everyone who was at the course had a different story, different backgrounds but everyone had something in common.”
“I really enjoyed the whole aspect of film making seeing how media is run in general including documentaries and news clips, everything was covered somewhere in the course. The sheer effort and organization it takes to run clips and movies was eye opening. I really enjoyed it. However overall it was the participants that made the group it was that we all had a common purpose to be there. I now feel a much deeper appreciation for films, documentary and any media clip and what goes behind the scenes, the effort and origanisation is amazing. I will never see a movie in the same way again.”
” I enjoyed working with the people, the students as well as the technical people who came in to show us stuff, I enjoyed learning about story board, lighting, doing the camera, doing the clapperboard and doing the grip. I think the course has benefitted me as I have expanded my knowledge around film production. The course has encouraged me to think more creatively around art and potentially think about creating a film or doing another course to further my knowledge. I think I have seen some changes in myself since doing the course, I feel I reflect a lot more about my own life. Also, I feel I look much further when I am watching a film or TV series now about how it has been created and made.”
“there was plenty of that on the course (connection). The thing about recovering addicts is that we have a common bond that unites us no matter how wildly different the specifics of our lives are. The boys and I worked together, advocated for each other, and provided support for each other in ways that it would be difficult to quantify to outsiders. The bonds we formed were unbreakably strong and for that I am grateful; we could speak for each other in vulnerable times or when the integrity of the work demanded it.
Am I going to go on to be a film maker? Probably not. I’m a single mum from a council estate with a minimum wage job. But it was nice to be permitted, on this occasion to use my voice. It was nice to be able to make something tangible and authentic, about something that’s usually glamourised or stigmatised on the screen. It was nice to take the most pain I’ve ever been in and transform it into art. Not many single mums from council estates get to do that, more’s the pity.”
The Films
Our students completed 2 films ‘Make good choices’ and ‘Wind of change’. In addition, a behind the scenes video of the course and film making was produced. These videos can be viewed on these links:
Launch and awards event 9th November 2023
50 people attended an emotional event to launch the 2023 Recovery Film Festival. This included showing the 2 films made by the students and the behind-the-scenes film. The launch included speeches by the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth Cllr Tom Coles; Cllr Matthew Winnington, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, Health & Care and Gareth Lewis Loss Prevention & Security Services Manager, Southern Co-op. Students were awarded certificates for completing their course and given replica Oscars to remember their achievement.
The event was filmed and can be watched here: https://www.facebook.com/pompeyfilms/videos/665321339076817
Longer Term Imapact
The view shared by Society of St. James: “overall it was a great course, and outcome was amazing, the the skills and techniques the clients have learnt are invaluable”
Outcomes for our Students:
- Two students have become volunteer with Portsmouth Film Society.
- One has gone to gain employment.
- One is in a course to become a peer mentor supporting others into recovery.
- One who relapsed during the course and became homeless, however re-engaged, found accommodation and now is drug & alcohol free.
- The videos will be used on an ongoing basis to share with people, promoting recovery and to highlight what can be achieved and what options there are for people.
- As this course successfully brought together people in recovery to make new friends, learn new skills and produce films, it is hoped we will get the change to run a future courses on an ongoing basis.
Portsmouth Film Society Feedback
“We are delighted to have collaborated with our film-making students from recovery, witnessing their remarkable growth throughout the course as they acquired new skills. Together, we embarked on a journey to explore the diverse meaning of recovery for each participant. The students not only formed strong bonds but also provided practical and emotional support to one another throughout the course. By presenting their personal stories of recovery through their unique perspectives, they are actively fostering a culture of recovery and contributing to the enrichment of our community.”