Young people have been celebrated for their creativity and commitment to promoting positive mental health in our Frame of Mind awards ceremony.
Secondary school and Youthreach students from across Ireland were joined by Matilda star Alisha Weir at a special screening and awards ceremony in the Irish Film Institute (IFI), as Walk in My Shoes (WIMS), in partnership with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, crowned the winners of our Frame of Mind short film competition.
Held annually, our Frame of Mind competition uses the mediums of short film and photography to help to promote positive mental health and reduce stigma around mental health difficulties. In 2024, in celebration of the competition’s 10-year anniversary, we partnered with Screen Ireland, the national agency for Irish film, television, drama, animation and documentary, to help to amplify positive mental health messages, while also showcasing emerging young talent within the sector.
Our Frame of Mind 2024 winners
81 students from nine counties across Ireland were shortlisted in this year’s competition, which was open to secondary schools, special education schools, Youthreach centres and Further Education and Training (FET) centres.
The winners, listed below, were announced at a special ceremony in the IFI on 30 April. They were selected by a panel of expert judges comprising Eibh Collins, Shorts Programmer for the Galway Film Fleadh and Film and TV Manager at the National Talent Academies; Michael Doherty, Movies Editor from the RTÉ Guide; and Tom Maher, Director of Services at St Patrick's Mental Health Services.
First-place winners in each category won a €1,000 cash prize for their school or education centre, while runners-up received €500.
Short Film secondary schools’ general category
This category includes special education schools and special education classes.
Winner
Dance into the Light | St Finian’s College, County Westmeath.
The makers of this film explained that “this piece relates to the theme of mental health as we show how words hurt more than actions… The video begins with words playing inside our heads, affecting us at school and at home. We wanted to show resilience and positive channeling through dance, as we are both dancers and we feel this artform is a way to escape. We literally dance all our negative feelings and thoughts away, it gives us a sense of belonging and makes us feel free.”
Watch Dance into the Light here.
Runner-up
The Reincarnation of Hope or Hope Dies Last | Ardscoil La Salle, Raheny, Dublin 5.
The filmmaker said this short film is “about my real story of how I beat depression. If you fill yourself with hope, the things happening by chance on your way will build your life because of the way you implement them. And I'll show you how it was with me. Hope is an important thing.”
Short Film
This category includes Youthreach and FET-specific learners.
Winner
Saving Sadie | Youthreach Ballinrobe, County Mayo.
This short film, according to its makers, is the “story of a person who can't see any way forward and how friendship can conquer all.”
Joint runners-up
Me | Banagher Further Education and Training Centre, County Offaly.
The filmmakers stated how this film “reveals the perspective of a young woman who is partially blind and how she is treated in a school setting. Her isolation is negatively affecting her mental health. The film demonstrates vulnerability and the benefit of talking and how we all need to listen and be mindful of other people’s feelings and emotions.”
HUH - Head Up High | Enniscorthy Youthreach Spring Valley, Enniscorthy, County Wexford.
The students who made this short film said “our movie was created to show how a young, bullied boy coming from another school flourished and developed when he felt a sense of belonging and inclusiveness within our centre. The movie shows the progress and confidence developed during his time in Youthreach.”
TikTok
This category includes secondary schools, incorporating special education schools/special education classes, Youthreach and FET centres.
Winner
Happiness is the most important thing | Our Lady’s Bower Retreat Road, County Westmeath.
This TikTok, explained its makers, “encourages people to focus on what makes them happy in life – whether it be time alone spent reading a book, out dancing or just spending time with friends.”
Watch Happiness is the most important thing here.
Runner-up
Men Matter | Portlaoise Youthreach Ridge Road, Portlaoise, County Laois.
For its makers, this TikTok “aims to show that men’s mental health matters. There is often a stigma attached to men who cry or show their emotions, and our aim through this TikTok is to combat this stigma and to show that it is ok for men to not be ok and it is ok to show their emotions.”
Celebrating our winners
Alisha Weir joined the winners and runners-up for the special screening. Alisha is the Dublin-born young actor who starred in the lead role in the hit film Matilda: The Musical and recently became the second-youngest ever person to make the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, following only Stranger Things star, Millie Bobby Brown.
Speaking at the screening, the young star led congratulations to the students: "I think everyone nominated tonight should be really proud of themselves, and have done an amazing job."
"The message of the Frame of Mind competition is so important. It’s a great way for us to use our creativity and our voice to make something together - but most importantly, to talk to each other about things we don’t normally talk about. Congratulations!"
The winning short films will now be featured on Screen Ireland’s Short Film Player, adding to its existing curated selection of new, emerging and established Irish talent across short filmmaking and providing an additional platform for sparking important conversations about mental health.
Tom Maher, Frame of Mind judge and Director of Services at SPMHS, said: “The annual Frame of Mind competition from WIMS offers young filmmakers a creative platform to express positive ideas about mental health and wellbeing."
"The films showcased the creative talents of the young people and demonstrated their understanding of how to live positive, mentally healthy lives."
"In this 10th anniversary year of our Frame of Mind competition, the winning filmmakers now have the opportunity to reach even more audiences on the Screen Ireland Short Film Player, which will hopefully have a positive influence on the national conversation about mental health and wellbeing.”
Désirée Finnegan, Chief Executive of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, said: "Screen Ireland is delighted to support the 10th anniversary of the WIMS Frame of Mind competition. This year's initiative has been a fantastic opportunity for students to develop and showcase their skills in filmmaking and storytelling on screen, helping raise mental health awareness. Our sincere congratulations to all of the students and schools that participated, and to the shortlisted and winning films."
