Pune, Dec 7 : A special film festival has been organized by Schizophrenia Awareness Association (SAA), which is working for persons suffering from Schizophrenia and their families, to mark its silver jubilee.
The festival will be held at National Film Archives of India (NFAI), Law College Road, on December 11.
11 short films on mental healthcare will be screened in the first session, while SAA produced national-award winning film ‘Devrai’ will be screened in the second session.

The festival will be inaugurated at 10.30 AM on December 11 in presence of senior psychiatrist and actor Dr Mohan Agashe, film-maker Sunil Sukhthankar, film-maker Makrand Shinde, former Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol and industrialist Krishnakumar Goyal. ‘Loksatta’ newspaper editor Mukund Sangoram will also be present on the occasion. The program will be moderated by Vinaya Desai.

Sharing details about the Association, its President Abhay Kele said, “SAA founder Director Dr Jagganath Wani knew about the traumatic experiences which one mentally disturbed person and his or her family undergoes, as he was taking care of his wife. And hence he founded the Schizophrenia Awareness Association (SAA). The organization runs a rehabilitation centre for mentally-ill persons. It also runs a self-help group for mentally-challenged persons. The Association has contributed while drafting the Mental Healthcare Act 2017. The Association will complete 25 years on December 18, 2022. The film festival has been organized to spread awareness about the importance of mental healthcare.”