Documentary on Art Studio for People with Schizophrenia Selected at the Hamilton Film Festival

Oct. 11, 2011 - PRLog -- The film is a documentary on the Cottage Studio, an art program for people with schizophrenia, in Hamilton, Ontario. The studio has been operating at St Paul's Presbyterian church in downtown Hamilton as a place where those with serious mental illnesses can go to pursue art.

The artists at the Cottage Studio had the opportunity to prepare for and hang a show of their work at an opening at the Gallery on the Bay in Hamilton at the end of June 2009.

The documentary deals with their preparation for the show, the show itself, and in-depth  interviews with three of the artists. While the story is about the preparation for a serious gallery opening for these artists culminating in the opening itself, the interviews will explore the very issue of schizophrenia, the lives of the people it affects and the role of artistic expression in their recovery.

The film first premiered at St Joseph's Healththcare in Hamilton, Ontario and has since been screened at the Canadian Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, 2010, The Canadian Mental Health Association Annual Conference, 2010, Movie Monday in Victoria, British Columbia and at other venues.

Dr. Peter Cook, Head of Service Schizophrenia & Community Integration Service St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, On, Canada and Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences, McMaster University said :

"I loved this film. Without shying away from the realities of having a serious and persistent mental illness, three courageous people talk of their struggles, their dreams and their hope. Educational, accurate, human, and compelling."

Bruce Saunders, Founder, Movie Monday, Victoria, BC  commented that the film has "great moments that really land the idea of the  place art can have in recovery, the pride people get from their work and the  identity as 'artist'."

Eufemia Fantetti, author and performer of "My Own Private Etobicoke", Toronto, ON  said "I found the documentary profoundly moving, educational and hopeful. It's vital to see an accurate portrayal of the struggles that come with having schizophrenia, and also inspiring to see the positive impact of a place like the Cottage Studio. "

The film is distributed by http://www.movingimages.ca/ Moving Images in Vancouver

For details on the Hamilton Film Festival visit http://www.hamiltonfilmfestival.com/

For a sneak preview, the trailer can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4loR-bAKbuQ



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Coming November 2011: :What A Life Can Be:One: One Therapist's Take on Schizoaffective Disorder and based on a true story by Carolyn Dobbins PhD - "an inspiration for all who have ever experienced psychosis" and highly recommended by Dr E. Fuller Torrey. A "powerful and revealing, and provides a unique insight into chronic mental disease". He added that the book is "a probing, liberating story" Dr. Thomas G Burish, a professor of psychology and Provost of Notre Dame