INDUCT research communication shortlisted for short film award.

A short film sharing research findings from the Interdisciplinary Network for Dementia Using Current Technology (INDUCT) has been shortlisted for an Award and will be screened at the Keswick Film Festival on 26 March 2022 at Theatre by the Lake in the North of England.

The film was directed by Dr Sarah Wallcook at the Stockholm Gerontology Research Centre and a member of Prof. Louise Nygård and Dr Camilla Malinowsky’s CACTUS research group (Cognitive Accessibility of everyday Technology Use when living at home and in Society) at Karolinska Institutet. The main message communicates her INDUCT PhD research about how our digital world impacts participation in everyday life among older people, particularly those living with dementia. The film is called I Think I Know My Own Mind and it expresses findings gathered from interviews with 315 older people in Sweden, the UK and the USA who shared their technological successes, curiosity, frustrations, and dejection.  

To create the film during the Covid-19 pandemic, Sarah commissioned Jilly Jarman of UK-based BlueJam Arts, and musician record producer, Ronald Amanze, who himself lives with dementia and has a particular interest in meaningful co-production through cultural expression and the creative arts. The team worked remotely over six-months using phone, email, Zoom and Twitter and have still never met in person.

Ronald explains: “Coming in the lockdown, this project was something beautiful to do, and something that I really needed to give me purpose and to feel a part of something bigger. With the right technology, you can connect with people all around the world and never need to meet them to build a good relationship. For me, the right technology was using Garageband, which I’m familiar with, and sending files by email, but for someone else that might be different. Often people from services invite me to be a part of projects, but they aren’t inclusive, and they don’t involve me meaningfully, which frustrates me and makes me feel like a token in a conversation. With ‘I Think I Know My Own Mind’ I have been properly included from the start and the shortlisting for an Osprey Award makes me feel recognised for what I can do, and what I bring to the table when I am involved meaningfully.”

The Osprey Film Awards celebrate films with a connection to Cumbria. I Think I Know My Own Mind is one of ten films shortlisted to win on the 26 March screening at the Keswick Film Festival. To watch Sarah, Jilly and Ronald’s film, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJhRRg2ugO8.