COLOUR
A documentary about racism and mental health
within humanitarian organisations
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The above video is a trailer. You can find the full documentary in the 'Access' section.
SYNOPSIS
Colour is a documentary that explores colonial continuities within humanitarian organisations, particularly highlighting the issue of racism in the workplace and its effects on the mental health and well-being of staff. Originating from the research project “Racism and Mental Health: A Qualitative Study with Humanitarian Workers” led by Dr. Hannah Strohmeier at the Center for Global Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the film portrays the lived experiences of staff based in Nairobi alongside scientific data and information on the topic. Colour reveals the limited organisational discourse on the critical issue of racism and its relation to mental health. By amplifying the voices of staff, the film advocates for increased dialogue and action to create a more equitable and supportive environment for all humanitarian workers.
The film premiered in September 2024 and has already won the award for "Best Health and Medicine Subject Related Film" at the July 2024 edition of the Berlin Indie Film Festival. It has also been accepted to the Africa International Human Rights Film Festival 2024 and the International Film Festival The Hague 2024.
Specifications
Produced and directed by: Dr. Hannah Strohmeier
Funded by: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Released: 2024
Years of production: 2023/24
Running time: 64 minutes
Location: Nairobi and Malindi, Republic of Kenya
Language: English
Subtitle option: English
Subjects: Colonial continuities, humanitarian workers, mental health, racism, workplace well-being
You can find more details about the research behind the documentary, as well as the full
film credits, in the 'About' section.
Details about past and upcoming events, as well as guidance on organising your own screening event, can be found in the 'Screenings' section.
REVIEWS
The film Colour makes an important contribution to our understanding of health as not just an absence of physical illness - it addresses the impact of experiences of racism and discrimination on mental health, inseparable from our feelings of well-being. In my view, we as international institutions with a mandate of care have a big responsibility in this context, and we need to critically examine our own institutional structures, prevent discrimination and racism and call it out when we see it. It is everyone’s job to recognise and act against such behaviour.
Dr. Beate Kampmann
Professor of Global Health & Scientific Director
Center for Global Health,
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Access to the documentary
The documentary Colour is a non-commercial research output and available for free to everyone!
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