A new home grown film event is coming to the city on Tuesday 3 December, as local filmmaker and artist Diyodi Devinda Menon launches the very first Lie Feed Film Festival at the Lock Works Cinema. The event brings together filmmakers, young people, creatives and the wider community to explore how social media and digital culture influence the way we see ourselves and each other.
The festival is the final celebration of MythBusters: Digital Take Back, a creative project that worked with young people and community groups to challenge the unrealistic images, pressure and misinformation that many people feel online. The project was previously supported by Arts Council England and has gathered strong interest across Wolverhampton.
The Lie Feed Film Festival will present a collection of short films chosen for their emotional honesty and powerful storytelling. Each film offers a different perspective on themes such as mental health, identity, self worth, and the gap between online appearance and real life.
“We live in a world where everything looks perfect on the screen but often feels very different in real life,” says Festival Director Diyodi Menon. “This festival is a space where we can finally talk about it, feel it, and see it through the eyes of filmmakers who are brave enough to tell the truth.”
A showcase of short films that explore truth, illusion, social media, mental health and identity
A look at the work created during the MythBusters Digital Take Back project
Messages from artists, activists and educators
Open discussions about the emotional effects of digital culture
A chance for filmmakers, students and community members to connect
Awards that recognise creativity, storytelling and performance
The judging panel includes voices from education, human rights, creativity and community leadership:
Diyodi Menon
Damayanthi Muthukumaranage, feminist artist and advocate for women and social equality
Dr Tharumal Wanniaarachchi, researcher and academic at ECMS Wolverhampton
Dr Nimalka Fernando, international human rights campaigner and speaker
“This festival is very important for our community,” says Dr Tharumal. “It gives people a chance to understand how digital culture affects the emotions and confidence of young people. It also celebrates the talent and courage of filmmakers who are willing to speak honestly.”
MythBusters is an arts and media project created to help young people understand the difference between online appearances and real life. Through workshops and creative sessions, participants explored topics such as mental health, identity and digital pressure, and learned how to create their own content that promotes honesty and emotional awareness.
Date: Tuesday 3 December
Time: 5pm to 8pm
Venue: Lock Works Cinema, Wolverhampton.
Organised by: Humanity Media CIC
