Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival 2012 opens today.

Barnaby Southcombe and Jack Bond among guests.

by Jennie Kermode

I, Anna director Barnaby Southcombe and celebrated arthouse maverick Jack Bond will be among the guests at the sixth annual Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival, which opens today. With screenings in both Glasgow and Edinburgh, the festival sets out to showcase great films that can change attitudes about mental health issues, and it's theme this year is 'walk in my shoes'.

The festival will provide an early opportunity for Scots to see I, Anna, starring Gabriel Byrne and Charlotte Rampling, which will also be shown at the upcoming London Film Festival. Other highlights include outré science fiction film Anti-Clock and Hugh Hudson's remarkable, very personal documentary Rupture: Living With My Broken Brain, a portrait of his former Bond girl wife Maryam D'Abo. There will be another chance to see homegrown favourite The Angels' Share and an opportunity to preview the Northern Lights Film Project's unique documentary work, featuring material contributed by both amateur and professional filmmakers from all across Scotland. There are also short films and a chance to meet some of the creative talent involved.

The festival runs from 8 to 24 October. It is supported by the Mental Health Foundation.

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