'Beyond Words' - Short Film About Depression Wins Art With Impact's May 2017 Mental Health Film Competition

San Francisco, California, May 1, 2017 (Newswire.com) - Art With Impact (AWI) is excited to congratulate Sharon Nyarko for the film "Beyond Words," which is the May 2017 winner and 35th addition to AWI's OLIVE Film Collection. The film addresses depression and how often it is trivialized and downplayed, revealing the power that words have over actions people take and the impact of stigma on reaching out for support.

Sharon Nyarko is a 19-year-old independent digital storyteller and second-year undergraduate Neuroscience specialist at the University of Toronto. Her research interests include brain function, biological basis of mental illness, and the development of more effective support schemes for people with mental health disorders. "Beyond Words" is Sharon's first publicized project as Director and Producer, born out of a passion to challenge the status quo of socio-cultural misconceptions about the scope, causes and effects of mental illness, and to generate relevant discussions and solutions. 

Sharon created the film to clear up misconceptions around depression that it is simply a transient emotion, stating that it is "beyond gender, culture, religion." Although she has made other films before, this is her first film about mental illness. We look forward to seeing more of the amazing work Sharon will create!

Are you a filmmaker or mental health advocate with a passion for storytelling? Our film competition deadlines run monthly, and upcoming opportunities to submit are May 31, June 30 and July 31. All winning films receive a $1,000 cash prize. Learn more here. 

Source: Art With Impact, www.artwithimpact.org