Facing Light – 2025.05.20

The Rui Cunha Foundation opens on Tuesday, May 20th at 6:00pm, the Book Launch & Retrospective Exhibition“Facing Light”, about 10 Years of Struggle in Promoting Mental Health through the award-winning short film of the same title, released in 2014, and produced by the Macao Populace Mental Health Promotion Association(MPMHPA), co-organizer of the event.

The Book and Exhibition showcase around 80 photos of various sizes, including highlights from the shooting of the film “Facing Light”, details of the services provided by community volunteers over the past ten years, and some forgotten photos of their participation in the important work of the Association for the affected people, their families, friends, and society in general.

The original film is 48 minutes long and uses realistic stories to reflect the discrimination and difficulties faced by mentally ill people, both in the community (neighborhood, school, etc.) and in the domestic environment of family relationships.

According to the MPMHPA, «screenwriter and director Yu Zhiyun tells the story of the protagonist Ah Sen, who suffers from mental illness due to adverse circumstances, but has a strong sense of responsibility. During his recovery, he works hard to find employment opportunities» The film has been shown in numerous schools in Macau, and at meetings with other social organizations, serving as a starting point for discussing this problem and social stigma, with interesting results and the ability to touch and inspire audiences.

«After three years of the epidemic, and the subsequent economic downturn, the happiness index of Macau citizens has declined. The Macao Populace Mental Health Promotion Association hopes to show Macau citizens real stories of people who have worked hard under difficult circumstances and managed to achieve results» they further state.

Meanwhile, the Rui Cunha Foundation will also host on Thursday, May 22nd at 2:30pm, a Seminar about mental illness, the consequences of the first film “Facing Light” on local population a decade later, the MPMHPA’s project to promote and raise awareness, and the invaluable work of specialists and volunteers.

The exhibition will only be on display until Saturday, May 24th, 2025.

Admission is free.

Don’t miss it!

For Macau, Further and Higher!

 

2025.05.22 – Facing Light Symposium