Date
Friday, 10 October 2025 - 10:00am to Saturday, 11 October 2025 - 6:00pm
Location
British Council Chennai

The British Council, in collaboration with YRG Foundation, is delighted to present Break the Silence: A Mental Health Art & Film Festival under the theme “The Power of Creative Expression & Movement in Healing.” 

This two-day cultural festival creates a safe and inclusive space to explore mental health through art, storytelling, and cinema. It brings together artists, filmmakers, psychologists, advocates, and the community to reflect on resilience, healing, and the role of creativity in supporting mental well-being. 

Please note:

  • Entry to the event is free and open to all aged 18 and above.
  • RSVP is mandatory due to limited seating. 

Date: Friday 10 October 2025 & Saturday 11 October 2025

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (both days) 

Venue: British Council Chennai Library, 737, Anna Salai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600002.   

Register here

The festival will feature: 

Day 1 – Friday, 10 October 2025

10.00 a.m – 10.45 a.m

Opening Ceremony & Keynote Addresses 

  • Janaka Pushpanathan – Director, British Council South India
  • Sunil Suhas Solomon – Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins & Chairman, YRG Foundation
  • Thara Rangaswamy – Co-Founder & Vice Chair, Schizophrenia Research Foundation
  • Suresh Kumar – Former Professor of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, Chennai
  • Sr. Stella Mary – Principal, Stella Maris College

10.45 a.m – 12.00 p.m

Art Walk: Voices Through Canvas

12.00 p.m –12.30 p.m

Exploration of Healing Garden and Art & Therapeutic Corner

01.30 p.m – 3.00 p.m

Short film screening

3.30 p.m – 4.30 p.m

Panel Discussion on “Cinema as Mirror: Mental Health in Film” moderated by Priya Menon – Journalist & Author.

Panellists:

  • Lakshmi Ramakrishnan – Actor & Director
  • R Mangala – Joint Director, SCARF
  • Amudhan R P – Documentary Filmmaker, Founder of CIDSFF & Marupakkam
  • Valarmathi Subramaniam – Head of the Visual Communication Department,
    Vels University
  • Khatija Rahman – Director & Trustee, AR Rahman Foundation

Day 2 – Saturday, 11 October 2025

10.00 a.m – 11.30 a.m

Panel Discussion on “From Boardrooms to Schoolyards: Reimagining Mental Wellbeing” moderated by A K Srikrishnan – COO, YRG Foundation 

Panellists:

  • Gangapriya Chakraverti – Managing Director, Ford Business Solutions
  • Narayan Hariharan – Chief Executive, AMM Foundation
  • Ashwin Suren – Advocate, High Court of Madras & Secretary, Alliance Française of Madras
  • Pavithra Arunachaleeswaran – Consultant Psychiatrist, SCARF 

11:30 a.m – 1:30 p.m

Screening of Lakshmi Ramachandran’s Film

2:30 p.m – 3:30 p.m

Panel Discussion on “Yoga, Art & Mental Health: Pathways to Wellness” moderated by L Ramakrishna – Vice President, SAATHII

Panellists:

  • Mala Chinnappa – Advertising Art Director
  • Lekha Parameswaran – Entrepreneur & Yoga Teacher
  • Lata Madhu – Founder, Collage
  • Preetha Ramasubramanian – Dance Movement Psychotherapist

4:00 p.m – 4:45 p.m

Awards for short films contest

4:45 p.m – 5:30 p.m

Embodied Healing: “Horn Ok Please!”, an Expressive Arts Therapy Session held by Training Sideways, facilitated by Sunil Vishnu and Komal Palicha.

Register here

For more information please write to Chennailibraryevent@britishcouncil.org

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