Journalism students participate in YRG Film Festival 2025

Saveetha L, III BA English

Stills from the reels 

11 July: YRG Foundation recently announced a film festival to create awareness on the importance of mental health, called Break the Silence, where college students from Chennai and Bengaluru were encouraged to submit short films and reels about mental health. The students of Journalism, from the Department of English, actively participated and submitted ten reels on a variety of mental health concerns.

The students created the reels based on their research about a relevant mental health issue pertaining mostly to youngsters. They displayed enthusiasm and good team work while making the reels. They were assisted by their course teacher in organizing and executing their ideas. Their work lent unique perspectives to the themes they chose. 

“It was a great experience, making a reel for a cause and trying to create awareness about something like mental health, especially at this time where awareness about these issues is very much needed,” said Mathangi, a third-year Journalism student who made an animated reel on anxiety for the festival.

Another student, Harini, from III BA English, shared how it was a great learning experience for her: “I was aware of my topic ‘trauma bond’ before, but the initiative prompted me to look through for more information on Instagram, where many professional psychologists and therapists create carousel posts to share information that is digestible to the audience, as well as to educate them. I learned how intricate a role emotional manipulation could play in our lives through society's existing power dynamics even if it's within an intimate relationship, a place of trust.”

There are exciting cash prizes for the top three reels or short films: Rs. 30,000/- for the first place, Rs.15,000 for the second, and Rs.7,500 for the third. The winners will be announced on the day of the film festival in October.

Students filming their reels