Film fest to tell story of addicts’ recovery

THE heroic path to recovery that many addicts have chosen will be highlighted at this year’s South African Recovery Film Festival.

The festival, held in partnership with the South African College of Applied Psychology (Sacap), forms part of the International Recovery Month initiative, which sees thousands of events take place around the world.

The festival will be held at the Labia Theatre in Cape Town and at the Bioscope in Johannesburg from tonight until Sunday.

Festival organiser Dougie Dudgeon said: “Everyone knows someone who is negatively affected by substance abuse, whether alcohol or drugs. Process addictions such as sex, gambling, eating problems, gaming and technology are seemingly increasing. The problems are all too evident, and the impacts on every level of society all too obvious.”

He said the festival encouraged those in recovery to unite as active members of society, and that honesty was central to recovery.

The festival opens tonight with the premiere of (DIS)Honesty – The Truth about Lies, a film about the ambivalent culture of truth. Directed by Yael Melamede, and featuring Professor Dan Ariely, a psychology specialist and author of the best-selling book The Honest Truth About Dishonesty, it takes a candid look at how and why we lie.

Kentse Radebe, research development manager at Sacap, said: “Many of our more ‘ordinary lies’ can and do lead to devastating shame, loss of trust, financial ruin, broken relationships and a social isolation that can be hard to recover from.”

Sacap chief executive Lance Katz said recovery was not the preserve of a few “superhuman” elite, but a possibility for all.

On Saturday, the Prospect Counselling Practice will host a Recovery Quilt event from 1pm to 6pm at the Labia.

Participants can write, paint or stitch to share stories.

Tickets cost R50 per show at www.webtickets.co.za. Visit www. south african recovery filmfestival.com