2013 Film Festival:

Bill W.
Bill W. tells the story of William G. Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, a man included in TIME Magazine’s 100 Persons of the 20th Century. Interviews, recreations, and rare archival material reveal how Bill Wilson, a hopeless drunk near death from his alcoholism, found a way out of his own addiction and then forged a path for countless others to follow. With Bill as its driving force, A.A. grew from a handful of men to a worldwide fellowship of over 2 million men and women – a success that made him an icon within A.A., but also an alcoholic unable to be a member of the very society he had created. A reluctant hero, Bill Wilson lived a life of sacrifice and service, and left a legacy that continues every day, all around the world.
 

Buck
“Your horse is a mirror to your soul, and sometimes you may not like what you see. Sometimes, you will.” So says Buck Brannaman, a true American cowboy and sage on horseback who travels the country for nine grueling months a year helping horses with people problems.
 
BUCK, a richly textured and visually stunning film, follows Brannaman from his abusive childhood to his phenomenally successful approach to horses. A real-life “horse-whisperer”, he eschews the violence of his upbringing and teaches people to communicate with their horses through leadership and sensitivity, not punishment. Buck possesses near magical abilities as he dramatically transforms horses – and people – with his understanding, compassion and respect. In this film, the animal-human relationship becomes a metaphor for facing the daily challenges of life. A truly American story about an unsung hero, BUCK is about an ordinary man who has made an extraordinary life despite tremendous odds.




Healing in Community: Trauma, Growth and Recovery
Healing in the Community: Trauma, Growth and Recovery illustrates how the Western Massachusetts Consortium in Greenfield and Franklin County create peer-led and trauma-informed services based in a community. This documentary highlights important information for service providers, administers, and frontline staff working in mental health and substance abuse programs and the communities, peers, and family members that they serve.

Healing in the Community recently won a Bronze Telly Award in the Film/Video: Non-Broadcast Productions – Social Issues Category. The Telly Awards is the premier award honoring the finest film and video productions, groundbreaking web commercials, videos and films, and outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs. Its mission is to strengthen the visual arts community by inspiring, promoting, and supporting creativity. This documentary was created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in conjunction with Westat.
 

Permanent Supportive Housing: An Evidence-Based Practice Fostering Health, Home and Community

The Permanent Supportive Housing: An Evidence-Based Practice – Fostering Health, Home and Community video highlights the activities of service providers in Tennessee, Michigan and Oklahoma as they address the needs of persons with mental illnesses and/or substance use disorders in the homeless services system. Designed to complement SAMHSA’s award-winning Permanent Supportive Housing Evidence-Based Practices KIT, the video demonstrates the importance of developing effective assessment and treatment practices. It showcases three sites as exemplars to spark discussion, reflection and action within agencies around the country. As a result, housing programs in various environments will be able to implement evidence-based principles and further the goal of reducing homelessness. This video was developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in conjunction with Westat.