Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program - Institute of Population and Public Health

Laurier Wellbeing in Film Forum (LWIFF) is an initiative in which films are used as a catalyst for collective discussion and awareness raising on topics concerning population health, wellbeing, and the role of the social and structural determinants of health. LWIFF chooses films that offer perspectives from across different lived experiences to begin to understand the forms of inequity faced by different communities. This past LWIFF season, one of the films shown was Paris is Burning. This documentary follows the lives of drag queens living in New York City and their "house" culture. For this film night, LWIFF partnered with the Aids Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, and area (ACCKWA). ACCKWA helped facilitate a discussion that surfaced the realities of harm for 2SLGBTQ+ people, the stigma and discrimination the community faces, and the need for safe spaces to support resilience, social inclusion and prestige for 2SLGBTQ+ folks. Another month, LWIFF showed two local films. The first film was called "Recollections and Imaginings," the other, "Stories from Land Back Camp." For this film night LWIFF partnered with Land Back Camp, a Kitchener based Land Back movement fuelled by the IndigiQueer, Two Spirit, and LGBTQ+ community. Land Back Camp was co-founded by Bangishimo Johnston and Amy Smoke who co-created this LWIFF event and facilitated the discussion after the films. With Amy and Bangishimo's guidance, the audience engaged in discussions on the lack of safe space for the urban Indigenous community in the region, and the ongoing work of Land Back Camp in creating a more equitable Waterloo region. These are two examples of how LWIFF works towards bettering local communities' health and wellbeing by using films as a catalyst for conversation, collaboration, while strengthening public engagement, and awareness. The film nights are held at the local Princess Twin Cinema where they are screened for free and are physically accessible to the public.