A new mental health film festival launches at The Source this month for World Mental Health Day, writes Francesca Lombardo

Tongues on Fire – the charity organisation behind the UK Asian Film Festival (UKAFF) – will launch Unspoken, a bold new mental health film festival designed to challenge stigma and amplify voices around emotional wellbeing.

Founded in 1997, Tongues on Fire produces the UK Asian Film Festival, celebrating the richness of South Asian culture, history, and storytelling. With Unspoken, the organisation extends its mission, creating a platform where cinema sparks courageous conversations about mental health — a subject too often silenced within families and communities.

The films in this first edition explore hidden struggles that shape emotional lives, shining a light on unvoiced tensions around heritage, identity, and faith.

At 5:45 pm, the evening will feature the launch of the book Social Justice, Social Discrimination and Mental Health: Theory, Practice, and Professional Issues (Tribe, R. & Bhugra, D. (2025), Brunner-Routledge). The session includes a talk with Professor Rachel Tribe and Professor Dinesh Bhugra CBE, followed by a panel with Sudha Bhuchar and others. Signed copies will be available for purchase.

Programme Highlights

17:00 – Doors open and welcome
17:45 – Book launch: Social Justice, Social Discrimination and Mental Health
18:00 – 20:30 – Screening of Mogul Mowgli (Main Auditorium) + panel discussion
20:30 – 21:30 – Networking and close

Mental health remains one of the most taboo and misunderstood issues across many communities. For South Asians in particular, emotional pain is often inherited, hidden, or ignored. Unspoken provides a vital space to confront this silence through film and discussion — offering insight, empathy, and the possibility of collective healing.

The festival is presented in association with Careif (Centre for Applied Research and Innovation in Mental Health) and the Psychiatry Research Trust (PRT), a charity supporting research and education in mental health.

As a pilot initiative, Unspoken has been made possible through sponsorship and the dedication of volunteers, enabling access to the venue and film licensing. The long-term vision is to establish Unspoken as an annual festival that continues to support cultural and community-based mental health engagement through cinema.

Tickets are available now, with refunds up to seven days before the event. Attendees under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

To book, visit: thesource-stratford.co.uk
Special offer: Unlimited £5 tickets available with code FRIENDSOFTHESOURCE via Eventbrite.

The inaugural event takes place on Friday, 10 October 2025 at The Source, Source Studios (formerly Stratford Circus), Theatre Square, Stratford, London E15 1BX, from 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm.

World Mental Health Day is on 10 October

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