Tinted Lens
15 May 2017
Cardiff University has teamed up with Chapter Arts Centre and Film Hub Wales to deliver a day of dementia friendly film screenings and activities on Wednesday 17 May.
‘Tinted Lens: A Festival of the Mind, Memory and Ageing’ will include several films, workshops, a virtual reality experience designed to put you in the shoes of someone living with dementia, a photobooth, guest speakers, performances from Everyman Theatre Company and Re:Live, information sessions, stalls and lots more.
A relaxed and friendly environment
Dementia friendly film screenings include Their Finest (10.30am), Calamity Jane: Singalong (2pm)and Mad to be Normal (7.30pm). All will be shown without adverts and have slightly brighter lighting in the auditorium, for people living with dementia to enjoy a film in a relaxed and friendly environment.
Also being shown is the premiere of Forget Me Not: The Documentary (6pm) - a short film about the Forget Me Not Chorus who offer weekly singing sessions to help combat the loneliness and isolation of living with dementia. The Forget-Me-Nots will be performing live in the Cinema Foyer prior to the event (5.30pm) and will be joined by award winning Welsh choir, Only Men Aloud, who recently chose Alzheimer’s Society Cymru as their charity of the year.
Katie Featherstone, Reader from the School of Healthcare Sciences at Cardiff University, who is leading the University’s involvement in the event, comments: “My research is focused on improving the quality of care for people with dementia and an important part of that work is collaborating with carers and dementia sufferers to ensure the research reflects their needs and addresses the wider social exclusion and invisibility they experience...”
“This festival is part of our wider commitment to challenge this social exclusion and to extend access to the arts.”
Ellie Russell, Chapter’s Dementia Project Officer, added: “I’m so excited to be working with so many incredible partners on this day, and to have the opportunity to play a role in breaking down some of the barriers that can prevent people with dementia leading full and rich lives...”
“I believe that cinema should be accessible to all, and that promoting inclusivity and embracing diversity has the power to enrich the lives of everyone in society.”
“I’ve seen how isolating a dementia diagnosis can be, both for the person living with dementia and for their families and friends, and I hope the day will not only raise awareness of dementia, but provide a relaxed, supportive and inclusive environment for people to come together to enjoy some really fantastic films and activities.”
For more information and a full schedule visit www.chapter.org.
